Skip to main content
Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences

Under Review

The 2023-2024 requirements are not yet finalized and are subject to change so long as this notice is in place. While the information presented is generally reliable, you should confirm the information later this summer when requirements are finalized.
Department of Philosophy

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

Students on Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or Spring 2022 requirements PHILBA

The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy emphasizes study of the history of philosophy and training in contemporary philosophical research. Philosophy majors develop skill in identifying and critically evaluating arguments, thinking clearly and independently, writing analytically, and applying principles of logic and good reasoning. They acquire an understanding of the history of Western Philosophy and of fundamental issues regarding central philosophical topics. They learn how to develop and defend their own philosophical views. Philosophy fosters an open-minded, non-dogmatic attitude, the ability to offer and accept criticism without personalizing it, and the capacity to tolerate uncertainty. The major is designed for maximum flexibility in the choice of courses and is ideal as a stand-alone major supplemented by electives in other disciplines, or as part of a double major. Philosophy provides training for any career requiring analytical skills, intellectual discipline, and facility in considering issues from diverse viewpoints. Philosophy majors work in many fields, including law, medicine, business, public service, education, media, and more.

Requirements

The major requires at least 30 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Symbolic Logic. One (1) course:
    • PHIL-P 250 Introductory Symbolic Logic
  2. History of Philosophy. One (1) course:
    • PHIL-P 201 Ancient Greek Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 205 Modern Jewish Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 211 Early Modern Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 301 Medieval Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 304 19th Century Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 305 Topics in the Philosophy of Judaism
    • PHIL-P 319 American Pragmatism
    • PHIL-P 328 Philosophies of India
    • PHIL-P 330 Marxist Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 335 Phenomenology and Existentialism
    • PHIL-P 374 Early Chinese Philosophy
  3. Ethics and Value Theory. One (1) course:
    • PHIL-P 332 Feminism and Value
    • PHIL-P 340 Classics in Ethics
    • PHIL-P 342 Problems of Ethics
    • PHIL-P 343 Classics in Social and Political Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 345 Problems in Social and Political Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 346 Classics in Philosophy of Art
    • PHIL-P 347 Contemporary Controversies in Philosophy of Art
    • PHIL-P 375 Philosophy of Law
    • PHIL-P 393 Biomedical Ethics
  4. Epistemology and Metaphysics. One (1) course:
    • PHIL-P 310 Topics in Metaphysics
    • PHIL-P 312 Topics in the Theory of Knowledge
    • PHIL-P 320 Philosophy of Language
    • PHIL-P 360 Philosophy of Mind
    • PHIL-P 366 Philosophy of Action
  5. Research Course. One (1) course:
    • PHIL-P 401 History of Philosophy: Special Topics
    • PHIL-P 470 Special Topics in Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 498 Honors Thesis Directed Research
    • PHIL-P 499 Honors Thesis
  6. Electives. At least five (5) additional courses:
    • One (1) of:
      • PHIL-P 103 Gender, Sexuality and Race
      • PHIL-P 105 Critical Thinking
      • PHIL-P 106 Introduction to Problems of Philosophy
      • PHIL-P 107 Philosophy and the Environment
      • PHIL-P 135 Introduction to Existentialism
      • PHIL-P 141 Introduction to Ethical Theories and Problems
      • PHIL-P 145 Liberty and Justice: A Philosophical Introduction
      • PHIL-P 150 Elementary Logic
      • PHIL-P 200 Problems of Philosophy
      • PHIL-P 240 Business and Morality - Ethics in Context
    • PHIL-P 201 Ancient Greek Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 205 Modern Jewish Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 211 Early Modern Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 242 Applied Ethics
    • PHIL-P 246 Introduction to Philosophy and Art
    • PHIL-P 251 Intermediate Symbolic Logic
    • PHIL-P 270 Introductory Topics in Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 300 Philosophical Methods and Writing
    • PHIL-P 301 Medieval Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 304 19th Century Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 305 Topics in the Philosophy of Judaism
    • PHIL-P 310 Topics in Metaphysics
    • PHIL-P 312 Topics in the Theory of Knowledge
    • PHIL-P 319 American Pragmatism
    • PHIL-P 320 Philosophy of Language
    • PHIL-P 328 Philosophies of India
    • PHIL-P 330 Marxist Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 332 Feminism and Value
    • PHIL-P 335 Phenomenology and Existentialism
    • PHIL-P 340 Classics in Ethics
    • PHIL-P 342 Problems of Ethics
    • PHIL-P 343 Classics in Social and Political Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 345 Problems in Social and Political Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 346 Classics in Philosophy of Art
    • PHIL-P 347 Contemporary Controversies in Philosophy of Art
    • PHIL-P 348 Philosophy and Literature
    • PHIL-P 350 Logic of Sets
    • PHIL-P 352 Logic and Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 360 Philosophy of Mind
    • PHIL-P 363 Philosophy and Psychoanalysis
    • PHIL-P 366 Philosophy of Action
    • PHIL-P 370 Topics in Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 371 Philosophy of Religion
    • PHIL-P 374 Early Chinese Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 375 Philosophy of Law
    • PHIL-P 376 Leadership and Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 393 Biomedical Ethics
    • PHIL-P 401 History of Philosophy: Special Topics
    • PHIL-P 470 Special Topics in Philosophy
    • One (1) of:
      • PHIL-X 471 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship in Philosophy
      • PHIL-X 473 Internship in Philosophy
    • PHIL-X 490 Readings in Philosophy
  7. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

Major Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100-499 level with the PHIL subject area prefix--as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken--as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent--except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception

The above courses cannot be applied toward the College Breadth requirement in the major.

Exclusions

The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements or the College Breadth requirement:

  • No common exclusions

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science (PHILPOLSBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religious Studies (PHILRELBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy (POLSPHILBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Philosophy (RELPHILBA)
  • Minor in Philosophy (PHILMIN)
  • Minor in Philosophy of Mind and Cognition (PHILMCMIN)
  • Minor in Philosophy of the Arts (PHILARMIN)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.