Philosophy Undergraduate Major (BA, BS, HBA, HBS)
This program is available at the following locations:
- Corvallis
- Ecampus
An undergraduate major in philosophy provides a broad education and intellectual skills that are useful in many occupations and areas of life. It is also a valuable background for graduate study in philosophy and religious studies and for advanced study in such professional fields as law and public service.
Major Code: 955
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Write philosophically rigorous papers that demonstrate key critical thinking skills, including comprehension and analysis of contemporary and historical philosophical texts and the ability to organize their writing around philosophically appropriate arguments.
- Apply philosophical arguments and concepts, including those from traditional styles or schools of philosophy, in ways which demonstrate an engagement with some aspect of our shared world.
- Apply some of the key philosophical texts and ideas from at least one non-traditional area of philosophy in their written work.
- At least 48 total credits of PHL courses.
- At least 24 credits must be upper-division.
- No courses used to satisfy the requirements of major may be taken S/U.
- Only courses with C– or better will be accepted for the major.
- Students must have a 2.5 GPA in those courses used to satisfy the requirements of the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophical Foundations | ||
| Select four courses from the following: | 12-16 | |
| *REASONING AND WRITING | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY | ||
| +*THE MEANING OF EXISTENCE | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS | ||
| +*POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHIST TRADITIONS | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO HINDU TRADITIONS | ||
| +*KNOWERS, KNOWING, AND THE KNOWN | ||
| +*ETHICS OF DIVERSITY | ||
| *HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY | ||
| DEDUCTIVE LOGIC | ||
| *WORLD VIEWS AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES | ||
| *BIOMEDICAL ETHICS | ||
| Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) | ||
| PHL 407 | ^SEMINAR | 3 |
| Beyond OSU | ||
| PHL 497 | +PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT | 2 |
| Difference, Power, and Oppression - Advanced (DPOA) | ||
| PHL 467/REL 467 | +DECOLONIZING THE CANON | 4 |
| Diversity | ||
| Select one course from the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| *INTRODUCTION TO HINDU TRADITIONS | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO ISLAMIC TRADITIONS | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO DISABILITY STUDIES | ||
| +*ETHICS OF DIVERSITY | ||
| INTELLECTUAL ISSUES OF MEXICO AND MEXICAN AMERICANS | ||
| *FIRST FREEDOM: RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND INTOLERANCE | ||
| *PHILOSOPHIES OF CHINA | ||
| *PHILOSOPHY AND THE ARTS | ||
| FEMINIST PHILOSOPHIES | ||
| HISTORY OF BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY | ||
| NATIVE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHIES | ||
| Additional Required Philosophy Credits 2 | 19-24 | |
| Remaining Core Ed, CLA Core, BA/BS Requirements and Electives | 127-132 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
Some special topics courses (PHL 299, PHL 399, PHL 499, as well as some WIC seminar courses (PHL 407) and some “Great Figures” seminars (PHL 411), will satisfy the Philosophy major’s Diversity requirement. Check with professor or advisor
- 2
Select sufficient additional credits of PHL coursework as necessary to meet the 48 total credit requirement and 24 total upper-division credit requirement
Major Code: 955
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
Bachelor of Arts
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Philosophical Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Language 111 | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| Philosophical Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Language 112 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Philosophical Foundations | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Language 113 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Philosophical Foundations | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Language 211 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| PHL 467 | +DECOLONIZING THE CANON | 4 |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Diversity Course | 3-4 | |
| Language 212 | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Language 213 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Additional Upper-Division Philosophy Course | 3-4 | |
| Additional Philosophy Course | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| Additional Upper-Division Philosophy Course | 4 | |
| Additional Philosophy Course | 3 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Additional Upper-Division Philosophy Course | 3-4 | |
| Additional Upper-Division Philosophy Course | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHL 407 | ^SEMINAR | 3 |
| PHL 497 | +PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT | 2 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
Bachelor of Science
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Philosophical Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| BS Computer Science | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| Philosophical Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| BS Science | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Philosophical Foundations | 3-4 | |
| BS Math or Stats | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Philosophical Foundations | 3-4 | |
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| PHL 467 | +DECOLONIZING THE CANON | 4 |
| Diversity Course | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Additional Upper-Division Philosophy Course | 3-4 | |
| Additional Philosophy Course | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Additional Upper-Division Philosophy Course | 3-4 | |
| Additional Philosophy Course | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Additional Upper-Division Philosophy Course | 3-4 | |
| Additional Upper-Division Philosophy Course | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHL 407 | ^SEMINAR | 3 |
| PHL 497 | +PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT | 2 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course