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Department of Philosophy
B.A. with a Major in Philosophy
Minor in Philosophy
1421 University Hall (UH)
312–996–3022
http://www.uic.edu/depts/phil
Administration: Chair, Bill Hart
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Neal Grossman, nealg@uic.edu
Philosophy is the study of beliefs, values, and
wisdom. It develops the skills that are fundamental to reasoning clearly and evaluating the cogency of arguments found in everyday contexts such as
politics, religion, and morality. Philosophers identify and discuss our basic beliefs and practices. For example, what is the difference between real
science and pseudoscience? How can we be free if we are the products of genes and environment? Is it ever permissible to break the law? Is a doctor ever justified in lying to a patient? Are we justified in claiming knowledge?
Many employers are looking for job candidates who can reason well, articulate a viewpoint, defend their beliefs in writing, and solve abstract problems. Philosophical education is important in preparing for careers in business, engineering, law, medicine, and the sciences.
B.A. with a Major in Philosophy
Students select from the Major in Philosophy or the Major in Philosophy with Departmental Distinction.
Degree Requirements—Major in Philosophy
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Philosophy degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| B.A. with a Major in Philosophy |
|
| Degree Requirements |
Hours |
| LAS Course Requirements |
43–64 |
| Major Requirements |
31 |
| Electives |
25–46 |
| Minimum Total Hours—B.A. with a Major in |
|
| Philosophy |
120 |
LAS Course Requirements
See Course Requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for a list of courses to meet this requirement.
Major Requirements
Of the 31 semester hours required for the major, students must complete at least 12 semester hours at the 400-level, excluding the one hour of credit earned in PHIL 400.
| Courses |
Hours |
| Three philosophy courses, 1 from each of 3 of |
|
| these 5 groups: |
9 |
| |
|
| Group 1: |
|
PHIL 220—Ancient Philosophy I: Plato and His
Predecessors (3) |
|
| PHIL 420—Plato (3) |
|
| |
|
| Group 2: |
|
PHIL 221—Ancient Philosophy II: Aristotle and His
Successors (3) |
|
| PHIL 421—Aristotle (3) |
|
| |
|
| Group 3: |
|
| PHIL 422—Medieval Philosophy (3) |
|
| |
|
| Group 4: |
|
PHIL 223—History of Modern Philosophy I: Descartes
and His Successors (3) |
|
| PHIL 423—Studies in Early Modern Philosophy (3) |
|
| |
|
| Group 5: |
|
PHIL 224—History of Modern Philosophy II: Kant and
His Predecessors (3) |
|
| PHIL 424—Kant (3) |
|
| PHIL 102—Introductory Logica |
3 |
| PHIL 210—Symbolic Logic |
3 |
| |
|
| Two courses from the following list: |
6 |
| PHIL 201—Theory of Knowledge (3) |
|
| PHIL 202—Philosophy of Psychology (3) |
|
| PHIL 203—Metaphysics (3) |
|
PHIL 204—Introduction to the Philosophy of
Science (3) |
|
| PHIL 211—Inductive Logic and Decision Making (3) |
|
| PHIL 226—Twentieth-Century Analytic Philosophy (3) |
|
| PHIL 227—Continental Philosophy I: Phenomenology |
|
| and Existentialism (3) |
|
| PHIL 241—Philosophy of Religion (3) |
|
| PHIL 401—Theory of Knowledge (3) |
|
| PHIL 403—Metaphysics (3) |
|
| PHIL 404—Philosophy of Science (3) |
|
| PHIL 406—Philosophy of Language (3) |
|
| PHIL 426—Analysis and Logical Empiricism (3) |
|
| PHIL 427—Continental Philosophy II: |
|
| European Thought Since 1960 (3) |
|
| PHIL 441—Topics in Philosophy of Religion (3) |
|
| |
|
| One course from the following list: |
3 |
PHIL 230—Topics in Ethics and Political
Philosophy (3) |
|
| PHIL 232—Sex Roles: Moral and Political Issues (3) |
|
| PHIL 234—Philosophy and Film (3) |
|
| PHIL 430—Ethics (3) |
|
| PHIL 431—Social/Political Philosophy (3) |
|
| PHIL 432—Topics in Ethics (3) |
|
| PHIL 433—Topics in Social/Political Philosophy (3) |
|
| |
|
| Two additional philosophy courses, at least |
|
| one of which must be above the 100-level |
6 |
| PHIL 400—Philosophical Writingb |
1 |
| Total Hours—Major Requirements |
31 |
a PHIL 102 also fulfills the LAS quantitative reasoning requirement.
b PHIL 400 also fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement. Must be taken in conjunction with 400-level courses as designated in the Schedule of Classes.
Electives
| Courses |
Hours |
| Total Hours—Electives |
25–46 |
Degree Requirements—Major in Philosophy with Departmental Distinction
The major with departmental distinction is designed for serious students who intend to continue studying philosophy in graduate school or who plan to enter law or other professional schools. Students may declare themselves as candidates after completion of 16 hours of philosophy. A GPA of 3.70/4.00 in the philosophy courses selected as satisfying the major with departmental distinction and a 3.50/4.00 overall GPA are required for granting the degree.
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Philosophy degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| B.A. with a Major in Philosophy with |
|
| Departmental Distinction Degree Requirements |
Hours |
| LAS Course Requirements |
43–64 |
| Major Requirements |
34 |
| Electives |
22–43 |
| Minimum Total Hours—B.A. with a Major in |
|
| Philosophy with |
|
| Departmental Distinction |
120 |
LAS Course Requirements
See Course Requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for a list of courses to meet this requirement.
Major Requirements
Of the 34 semester hours required for the major with distinction, students must complete at least 15 semester hours at the 400-level, excluding the one hour of credit earned in PHIL 400.
| Courses |
Hours |
| Four philosophy courses, 1 from each of 4 of |
|
| these 5 groups: |
12 |
| |
|
| Group 1: |
|
PHIL 220—Ancient Philosophy I: Plato and His
Predecessors (3) |
|
| PHIL 420—Plato (3) |
|
| |
|
| Group 2: |
|
PHIL 221—Ancient Philosophy II: Aristotle and His
Successors (3) |
|
| PHIL 421—Aristotle (3) |
|
| |
|
| Group 3: |
|
| PHIL 422—Medieval Philosophy (3) |
|
| |
|
| Group 4: |
|
PHIL 223—History of Modern Philosophy I: Descartes
and His Successors (3) |
|
| PHIL 423—Studies in Early Modern Philosophy (3) |
|
| |
|
| Group 5: |
|
| PHIL 224—History of Modern Philosophy II: Kant and |
|
| His Predecessors (3) |
|
| PHIL 424—Kant (3) |
|
| |
|
| The first two courses or the second or third course |
|
| listed below: |
3–6 |
| PHIL 102—Introductory Logica (3) |
|
| PHIL 210—Symbolic Logic (3) |
|
| OR |
|
| PHIL 410—Introduction to Formal Logic (3) |
|
| OR |
|
| PHIL 416—Metalogic I (3) |
|
| |
|
| Two courses from the following list: |
6 |
| PHIL 201—Theory of Knowledge (3) |
|
| PHIL 202—Philosophy of Psychology (3) |
|
| PHIL 203—Metaphysics (3) |
|
PHIL 204—Introduction to the Philosophy of
Science (3) |
|
| PHIL 211—Inductive Logic and Decision Making (3) |
|
| PHIL 226—Twentieth-Century Analytic Philosophy (3) |
|
| PHIL 227—Continental Philosophy I: Phenomenology |
|
| and Existentialism (3) |
|
| PHIL 241—Philosophy of Religion (3) |
|
| PHIL 401—Theory of Knowledge (3) |
|
| PHIL 403—Metaphysics (3) |
|
| PHIL 404—Philosophy of Science (3) |
|
| PHIL 406—Philosophy of Language (3) |
|
| PHIL 426—Analysis and Logical Empiricism (3) |
|
| PHIL 427—Continental Philosophy II: |
|
| European Thought Since 1960 (3) |
|
| PHIL 441—Topics in Philosophy of Religion (3) |
|
| |
|
| Two courses from the following list: |
6 |
PHIL 230—Topics in Ethics and Political
Philosophy (3) |
|
| PHIL 232—Sex Roles: Moral and Political Issues (3) |
|
| PHIL 234—Philosophy and Film (3) |
|
| PHIL 430—Ethics (3) |
|
| PHIL 431—Social/Political Philosophy (3) |
|
| PHIL 432—Topics in Ethics (3) |
|
| PHIL 433—Topics in Social/Political Philosophy (3) |
|
| |
|
| PHIL 400—Philosophical Writingb |
1 |
| Electives |
3–6 |
| Total Hours—Major Requirements |
34 |
a PHIL 102 also fulfills the LAS quantitative reasoning requirement.
b PHIL 400 also fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement. Must be taken in conjunction with 400-level courses as designated in the Schedule of Classes.
Electives
| Courses |
Hours |
| Total Hours—Electives |
22–43 |
Recommended Plan of Study
To view a recommended plan of study for the major in Philosophy and the major in Philosophy with Distinction, please visit the LAS Web site http://www.uic.edu/las/college/info/fygp.
Minor in Philosophy
Students from other disciplines who want to minor in Philosophy must complete 15 semester hours as outlined below:
| Required Courses—Philosophy Minor |
Hours |
| PHIL 102—Introductory Logica |
3 |
| |
|
| Two courses from the following: |
6 |
| PHIL 220—Ancient Philosophy I: Plato and |
|
| His Predecessors (3) |
|
| PHIL 221—Ancient Philosophy II: Aristotle and |
|
| His Successors (3) |
|
| PHIL 223—History of Modern Philosophy I: |
|
| Descartes and His Successors (3) |
|
| PHIL 224—History of Modern Philosophy II: Kant and |
|
| His Predecessors (3) |
|
| |
|
| Two additional philosophy courses, as least one of |
|
| which must be at the 400-level, excluding PHIL 400 |
|
| and independent study courses |
6 |
| Total hours—Philosophy Minor |
15 |
a PHIL 102 also fulfills the LAS quantitative reasoning requirement.
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