Overview
The major in Philosophy leads to the degree of Bachelor of Arts. To satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences writing requirement in the discipline, students majoring in philosophy should take at least two (2) (properly approved writing and communication) philosophy courses.
Curriculum Requirements for Philosophy Majors (no track)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PHI 210 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| or PHI 215 | Logic and Law | |
| PHI 271 | Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| or PHI 272 | Modern Philosophy | |
| or PHI 373 | Nineteenth Century Philosophy | |
| Select one course at the 300 level | 3 | |
| Select one of the following 300 level courses: | 3 | |
| Ethics | ||
| Social and Political Philosophy | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Philosophy of Love | ||
| Effective Altruism: Making A Difference | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Theory of Knowledge | ||
| Philosophy of Language | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Philosophy of Mind | ||
| Metaphysics | ||
| Philosophy of Space and Time | ||
| Select six credit hours at the 500 level | 6 | |
| Select two additional philosophy courses | 6 | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts & Humanities Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| People and Society Cognate | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate | 9 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Language Requirement | 3 | |
| Minor | 15 | |
| Electives | 45 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Curriculum Requirements for Philosophy Majors with the Pre-Law Track
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PHI 210 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| or PHI 215 | Logic and Law | |
| PHI 271 | Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| or PHI 272 | Modern Philosophy | |
| PHI 330 | Ethics | 3 |
| or PHI 331 | Social and Political Philosophy | |
| PHI 332 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
| or PHI 333 | Philosophical foundations of criminal law | |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Theory of Knowledge | ||
| Philosophy of Language | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Select two 500-level courses | 6 | |
| Select two additional PHI courses | 6 | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts & Humanities Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| People and Society Cognate | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate | 9 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Language Requirement | 3 | |
| Minor | 15 | |
| Electives | 45 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Curriculum Requirements for Philosophy Majors with the Pre-Med Track
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PHI 210 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| PHI 271 | Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| or PHI 272 | Modern Philosophy | |
| PHI 330 | Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 334 | Biomedical Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 340 | Theory of Knowledge | 3 |
| or PHI 344 | Philosophy of Mind | |
| PHI 343 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| PHI 546 | Evidence and Knowledge in Medicine | 3 |
| Select two 500-level courses | 6 | |
| Select two additional PHI courses | 6 | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts & Humanities Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| People and Society Cognate | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate | 9 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Language Requirement | 3 | |
| Minor | 15 | |
| Electives | 42 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- *
A grade of C- or higher and an overall GPA of 2.0 are required.
- **
Elective courses may be chosen to fit individual needs.
Suggested Plan of Study (no track)
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| PHI 100 Level Course or PHI 210 | 3 | |
| MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| UMX 100 | The University of Miami Experience | 0 |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| Natural Science Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| WRS 106 or ENG 106 | First-Year Writing II or Writing About Literature and Culture | 3 |
| PHI 100 Level Course or PHI 210 | 3 | |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHI 200 Level Course (History of Philosophy) | 3 | |
| PHI 300 Level Course (Ethics) | 3 | |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHI 300 Level Course | 3 | |
| PHI 300 Level Course | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHI 300 Level Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philosophy) | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHI 300 Level Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philosophy) | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHI 500 Level Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philosophy) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHI 500 Level Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philosophy) | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philososphy) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Suggested Plan of Study with Pre-Law Track
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| Natural Science Course | 3 | |
| PHI 100 Level Course or PHI 215 or PHI 210 | 3 | |
| MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| UMX 100 | The University of Miami Experience | 0 |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| WRS 106 or ENG 106 | First-Year Writing II or Writing About Literature and Culture | 3 |
| PHI 100 Level Course or PHI 215 or PHI 210 | 3 | |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHI 200 Level Course (History of Philosophy) | 3 | |
| PHI 300 Level Course (Ethics) | 3 | |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHI 332 or 333 | Philosophy of Law or Philosophical foundations of criminal law | 3 |
| PHI 300 Level Course | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHI 300 Level Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philosophy) | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHI 300 Level Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philosophy) | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHI 500 Level Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philosophy) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHI 500 Level Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philosophy) | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philososphy) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Suggested Plan of Study with Pre-Med Track
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| PHI 100 Level Course or PHI 210 | 3 | |
| MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| UMX 100 | The University of Miami Experience | 0 |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| Natural Science Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| WRS 106 or ENG 106 | First-Year Writing II or Writing About Literature and Culture | 3 |
| PHI 100 Level Course or PHI 210 | 3 | |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHI 200 Level Course (History of Philosophy) | 3 | |
| PHI 300 Level Course (Ethics) | 3 | |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHI 334 | Biomedical Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 343 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHI 300 Level Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philosophy) | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHI 300 Level Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philosophy) | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHI 546 | Evidence and Knowledge in Medicine | 3 |
| Minor Course (Non-Philosophy) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHI 500 Level Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philosophy) | 3 | |
| Minor Course (Non-Philososphy) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Mission
Philosophy majors should be able to think critically and imaginatively about philosophical questions and foundational issues in other disciplines. They should have a solid understanding of contemporary and historical philosophical texts; they should be able to evaluate complex philosophical arguments and to determine the logical validity or invalidity of arguments in any sphere.
Student Learning Outcomes
- All undergraduate majors will demonstrate the ability to evaluate evidence and arguments.
- All undergraduate majors will demonstrate the ability to think critically about philosophical issues.
- All undergraduate majors will demonstrate a specialized knowledge of at least one philosophical topic or area.
- All undergraduate majors who take writing-credit courses will demonstrate the ability to:
- (a) summarize the main ideas of historical or contemporary philosophical theories in written form,
- (b) analyze the fundamental differences among important philosophical concepts in several paragraphs, and
- (c) apply these concepts in a resolution of current debates in solid writing.
