Philosophy Major

The Department of Religion and Philosophy offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in philosophy. Students majoring in philosophy should develop some knowledge of the history and current state of the discipline, a grasp of representative philosophical issues and ways of dealing with them, a capacity to apply philosophical methods to intellectual problems, and a sense of how philosophy bears on other disciplines and on human life more generally. Studies leading to a philosophy major should also develop a critical mind, a balance of analytic and interpretive abilities, and a capacity for the imaginative development of abstract formulations and their concrete applications.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a well-developed ability to make and recognize conceptual definitions and distinctions and be capable of identifying assumptions (explicit or otherwise), conclusions, and inferences in both formal and informal arguments.
2. Creatively and charitably juxtapose different perspectives.
3. Engage in professional research at the level of an advanced undergraduate in a way that effectively communicates their ideas.
4. Recognize and negotiate at an intermediate level major debates and theoretic positions in academic philosophy.
5. Proficiently integrate famous epochs, movements, and individuals within the history of philosophy.
6. Accurately contextualize an individual thinker within his or her cultural and historical milieu, and develop sensitivity to the methods, assumptions, and perspectives of different societies.

Major and Minor GPA calculation for Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

To earn a major or minor in philosophy, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 across all of their philosophy courses. Minor and major GPAs are based on the grades earned in all PHI courses that count in the Converse GPA. Transfer credits from other institutions do not figure into the calculation for major or minor GPAs; approved philosophy courses taken at Wofford do count within the major and minor GPA, under the Converse-Wofford program.

• Up to six semester hours in philosophy taken at Wofford may also count toward the major, with the approval of the Program Coordinator. Transfer credit in philosophy from other accredited institutions must be approved by the Office of the Registrar as well as the Program Coordinator.

The major consists of 30 credit hours and the successful completion of the following courses: