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Department of Philosophy

Minor in Philosophy

Students on Summer 2020, Fall 2020, or Spring 2021 requirements PHILMIN

The Minor in Philosophy allows students to pursue fundamental questions about who we are, what we can know, how we should live, and what there is, as well as related foundational questions regarding a number of special topics. It aims to provide familiarity with central philosophical topics and to help students develop skills in identifying and critically evaluating arguments, thinking clearly and independently, writing analytically, and applying principles of logic and good reasoning.

The Minor is designed to allow students maximum flexibility in pursuing their interests. Students choose three of the department's five different areas of course offerings. They take two courses from one of those three areas, and at least one course from each of the remaining two areas. They take one additional elective course.

Requirements

The minor requires at least 15 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Areas of Study. At least four (4) courses selected from at least three (3) different areas of study. At least two (2) courses must be taken in one area.
    • Logic.
      • PHIL-P 250 Introductory Symbolic Logic
      • PHIL-P 251 Intermediate Symbolic Logic
      • PHIL-P 350 Logic of Sets
      • PHIL-P 352 Logic and Philosophy
    • Ethics and Value Theory.
      • PHIL-P 242 Applied Ethics
      • PHIL-P 246 Introduction to Philosophy and Art
      • 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
    • History of philosophy.
      • 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
    • Epistemology and Metaphysics.
      • 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
    • Special Topics.
      • PHIL-P 270 Introductory Topics in Philosophy
      • PHIL-P 300 Philosophical Methods and Writing
      • PHIL-P 348 Philosophy and Literature
      • PHIL-P 363 Philosophy and Psychoanalysis
      • PHIL-P 370 Topics in Philosophy
      • PHIL-P 371 Philosophy of Religion
      • PHIL-P 376 Leadership and Philosophy
      • PHIL-P 401 History of Philosophy: Special Topics
      • PHIL-P 470 Special Topics in Philosophy
      • PHIL-X 490 Readings in Philosophy
  2. Elective. Additional courses, as needed, to complete remaining requirements:
    • 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 201 Ancient Greek Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 205 Modern Jewish Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 211 Early Modern Philosophy
    • PHIL-P 240 Business and Morality - Ethics in Context
    • PHIL-P 242 Applied Ethics
    • PHIL-P 246 Introduction to Philosophy and Art
    • PHIL-P 250 Introductory Symbolic Logic
    • 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
    • PHIL-P 498 Honors Thesis Directed Research
    • PHIL-P 499 Honors Thesis
    • PHIL-X 471 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship in Philosophy
    • PHIL-X 473 Internship in Philosophy
    • PHIL-X 490 Readings in Philosophy
  3. Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Minor GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the minor—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Minor 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 minor.
    3. Minor Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Minor Residency. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.

Minor 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
Exclusions

The following courses cannot be applied toward minor requirements:

  • PHIL-P 497
Restrictions

The following restrictions apply to the minimum credit hours required in the minor:

  • No more than one (1) PHIL-P 100–199 level course may count toward the minor.

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (PHILBA)
  • 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 of Mind and Cognition (PHILMCMIN)
  • Minor in Philosophy of the Arts (PHILARMIN)

Exceptions to and substitutions for minor 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.