The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a concentration in philosophy and science is an interdisciplinary curriculum requiring a minimum of 120 credits, with at least 30 of those credits in the major area, at least half of which must be upper-level.
Students with a strong interest in the philosophy of science and the relation between philosophy and science (and those considering graduate work in an area of science) will probably want to choose the philosophy and science concentration.
Student learning outcomes
Philosophy core outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a good knowledge of and facility with the methods and concepts of modern, analytic philosophy
- Demonstrate a good knowledge of the current state of academic discussion of some of the central philosophical topics
- Demonstrate some knowledge of the history of philosophy, including both major themes and movements and some specific figures and systems
- Demonstrate the ability to think critically and systematically about philosophical problems, both abstract and practical, and to write clearly and cogently about them
- Demonstrate the ability to construct and analyze arguments clearly and cogently, independently of their subject matter
Philosophy and science concentration-specific outcomes
- Demonstrate a good knowledge of philosophical questions about scientific inquiry including but not limited to questions about scientific explanation, the confirmation and disconfirmation of scientific theories, and what distinguishes science from non-science
- Demonstrate a good knowledge of a particular area of science including the research methods of that area of science
Degree requirements for Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a concentration in philosophy and science
Course | Title | Hours |
| 30 |
| |
PHIL 103 | History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
PHIL 104 | History of Modern Philosophy | 3 |
PHIL 222 | Logic | 3 |
PHIL 490 | Seminar in Philosophy | 3 |
| |
PHIL 331 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| 6 |
| Philosophical Concepts | |
| Metaphysics | |
| Epistemology | |
| Philosophy of Language | |
| Philosophy of Mind | |
| Philosophy of Law | |
| Normative Ethics | |
| Metaethics | |
| Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence | |
| Social and Political Philosophy | |
| |
| 9 |
HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
PHIL 201 | Introduction to Ethics 1 | 3 |
or PHIL 202 | Ethics of Artificial Intelligence |
or PHIL 211 | History of Ethics |
or PHIL 212 | Ethics and Applications |
or PHIL 213 | Ethics and Health Care |
or PHIL 214 | Ethics and Business |
2 | 1-3 |
| 0-6 |
| 47-55 |
Total Hours | 120 |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Scientific focus areas
Anthropology
Course | Title | Hours |
| Archaeological Theory | |
| Archaeological Methods and Research Design |
| |
Bioinformatics
Course | Title | Hours |
| Integrative Life Sciences Research | |
| |
Chemistry
Course | Title | Hours |
| Quantitative Analysis | |
| Experiencing Science |
| |
Computer science
Course | Title | Hours |
| Introduction to the Theory of Computation | |
| |
Economics
Course | Title | Hours |
| Contemporary Economic Issues | |
| |
Environmental studies
Course | Title | Hours |
| Integrative Life Sciences Research | |
| |
Mathematical sciences
Course | Title | Hours |
| Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning | |
| |
Political science
Course | Title | Hours |
| Research Methods in Political Science | |
| |
Psychology
Course | Title | Hours |
| Experimental Methods 1 | |
| |
Sociology
Course | Title | Hours |
| Research Methods in Political Science | |
| |
Physics
Course | Title | Hours |
| Modern Physics | |
| Experiencing Science |
| |
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
Freshman year |
Fall semester | Hours |
UNIV 101 | Introduction to the University | 1 |
UNIV 111 Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I () | 3 |
| 1-3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Term Hours: | 14-16 |
Spring semester | |
HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II () | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 6 |
| Term Hours: | 16 |
Sophomore year |
Fall semester | |
PHIL 103
| History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
or History of Modern Philosophy | 3 |
PHIL 201
| Introduction to Ethics 1
or Ethics of Artificial Intelligence 1 or History of Ethics 1 or Ethics and Applications 1 or Ethics and Health Care 1 or Ethics and Business 1 | 3 |
UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication () | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 |
Spring semester | |
PHIL 104
| History of Modern Philosophy
or History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
PHIL 222 | Logic | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 |
Junior year |
Fall semester | |
PHIL 331 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| 9 |
| 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 |
Spring semester | |
PHIL 300
| Philosophical Concepts
or Metaphysics or Epistemology or Philosophy of Language or Philosophy of Mind or Philosophy of Law or Normative Ethics or Metaethics or Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence or Social and Political Philosophy | 3 |
| 9 |
| 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 |
Senior year |
Fall semester | |
PHIL 300
| Philosophical Concepts
or Metaphysics or Epistemology or Philosophy of Language or Philosophy of Mind or Philosophy of Law or Normative Ethics or Metaethics or Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence or Social and Political Philosophy | 3 |
| 9 |
| 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 |
Spring semester | |
PHIL 490 | Seminar in Philosophy | 3 |
| 12 |
| Term Hours: | 15 |
| Total Hours: | 120-122 |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.