Academic Learning Compact: Philosophy

The major in philosophy will provide you with a thorough knowledge of philosophical problems and arguments as well as critical thinking skills applicable to a wide variety of intellectual areas. You will become familiar with key positions in the history of Western philosophy, learn how to navigate the contemporary philosophical terrain and acquire a working knowledge of formal logic. You will learn how to represent complex arguments in a clear and fair fashion, to evaluate them for cogency and to construct arguments of your own. Finally, you will become practiced in writing about abstract and elusive topics in a critical and compelling manner.

Additional information is available from the description of this major.

Before Graduating You Must

• Earn minimum grades of C in all courses satisfying the major's distribution requirements, thereby demonstrating achievement of SLOs 1-3.
• Complete a model paper in a 4000-level philosophy class with a minimum grade of B, thereby demonstrating achievement of SLOs 4-7.
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Skills You Will Acquire in the Major (SLOs)

1. Identify, describe and explain the major questions addressed, the range of answers offered and the methods employed in the history of Western philosophy.
2. Identify, describe and explain the major arguments and options in core areas of contemporary philosophy, such as ethics, epistemology and metaphysics.
3. Employ the fundamental tools of formal logic, including the propositional and predicate calculus.
4. Discern the structure of arguments, to represent them fairly and clearly and to evaluate them for cogency.
5. Formulate original arguments, anticipating objections and responding in a conscientious fashion.
6. Read and discuss complex philosophical texts from both historical sources and contemporary works.
7. Speak and write clearly and persuasively about abstract and conceptually elusive matters.

Table Key: I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Assessment Types:
Papers and exams.