Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts (745)
Program Coordinator
Michael J. Seidler, michael.seidler@wku.edu
Philosophy, thought Socrates, begins with the recognition that an unexamined life is not worth living. Accordingly, those who study philosophy question how to understand ourselves and our relationships to other persons, to society, to nature, to the universe, and, for some, to God.
Philosophy develops our ability to challenge the obvious, trains us to analyze and synthesize ideas, and shows us both how to defend and how to criticize normative claims about actions, policies, and ways of life. By carefully examining and discussing both traditional and contemporary works, it cultivates habits of honest reflection, careful reasoning, and clear thinking.
Program Requirements (31 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
The major in philosophy requires a minimum of 31 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least 18 hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above. A minor or second major is required.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Logic, Epistemology, and Metaphysics | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Logic, Argument, and Practical Reasoning | ||
| Symbolic Logic | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Philosophy of Mind: Minds and Machines | ||
| Philosophy of Language | ||
| Metaphysics and Epistemology | ||
| Advanced Logic | ||
| History of Philosophy | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Analytic Philosophy | ||
| Plato and Aristotle | ||
| Skeptics, Stoics, and Epicureans | ||
| Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Early Modern Moral Philosophy | ||
| Descartes and Hume | ||
| Kant and Idealism | ||
| Leibniz and Locke | ||
| 20th Century Philosophy | ||
| Existentialism | ||
| Readings in Ancient or Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Readings in Modern or Contemporary Philosophy | ||
| Introduction to Political Theory | ||
| Ethics and Values | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Racial Justice | ||
| Philosophy and Popular Culture | ||
| Philosophy of Public Space; Reason, Action & Violence | ||
| Why Are Bad People Bad? | ||
| Philosophy and Gender Theory | ||
| Aesthetics | ||
| Biomedical Ethics | ||
| Social Ethics | ||
| War and Peace | ||
| Marx and Critical Theory | ||
| Early Modern Moral Philosophy | ||
| Ethical Theory | ||
| Existentialism | ||
| Philosophy and Old Age | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Senior Seminar | ||
| PHIL 496 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Electives | ||
| Any philosophy course or the following courses: | 12 | |
| The Meaning of Life; Atheism to Zen | ||
| Confucianism | ||
| Daoism | ||
| Total Hours | 31 | |
An honors option is available for ambitious and high-achieving students seeking additional opportunities for intensive philosophical investigation. This may be pursued through honors-enriched versions of any philosophy course, and by writing a formal honors thesis in addition to the 31-hour program requirement. More details about an honors degree in philosophy can be obtained by contacting the department chair or any philosophy faculty member.
Finish in Four Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| COMM 145 or ENG 100 | 3 | ENG 100 or COMM 145 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | MATH 109 (or higher) | 3 |
| Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with lab | 3-4 |
| Philosophy: Logic, Epistemology, and Metaphysics Course | 3 | Philosophy: Logic, Epistemology, and Metaphysics Course | 3 |
| PHIL 101, PHIL 102, or PHIL 103 | 3 | Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Science | 3 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| RELS 200 or ENG 200 | 3 | ENG 300 | 3 |
| Philosophy: Ethics and Values Course | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 |
| Philosophy: History of Philosophy Course | 3 | Philosophy: History of Philosophy Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | Philosophy: Ethics and Values Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Philosophy: Elective Course | 3 | Philosophy: Elective Course | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | PHIL 496 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Philosophy: Elective Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120-121 | |||