The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy requires a minimum of 120 credits, with at least 30 of those credits in philosophy. Fifteen of these credits must be selected from upper-level philosophy courses.

Majors intending to pursue graduate studies in philosophy are advised to choose the curriculum outlined below.

Student learning outcomes

Philosophy core outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a good knowledge of and facility with the methods and concepts of modern, analytic philosophy
  2. Demonstrate a good knowledge of the current state of academic discussion of some of the central philosophical topics
  3. Demonstrate some knowledge of the history of philosophy, including both major themes and movements and some specific figures and systems
  4. Demonstrate the ability to think critically and systemically about philosophical problems, both abstract and practical, and to write clearly and cogently about them
  5. Demonstrate the ability to construct and analyze arguments clearly and cogently, independently of their subject matter
 

Degree requirements for Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Course Title Hours
General education
Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser.30
Major requirements
• Major core requirements
PHIL 103History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy3
PHIL 104History of Modern Philosophy3
PHIL 222Logic3
PHIL 490Seminar in Philosophy3
• Additional major requirements
Select three of the following with at least one course each from Group A and Group B.9
Group A
Philosophy of Law
Normative Ethics
Metaethics
Social and Political Philosophy
Group B
Philosophical Concepts
Metaphysics
Epistemology
Philosophy of Language
Philosophy of Mind
Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
Group C
Topics in Philosophy
• Major electives
PHIL electives (any level)6
PHIL elective (300 level or higher)3
Ancillary requirements
HUMS 202Choices in a Consumer Society1
PHIL 201Introduction to Ethics 13
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
Experiential fine arts 21-3
Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement)0-6
Open electives
Select any course.47-55
Total Hours120
1

PHIL 201 satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for diversities in the human experience; PHIL 202 satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning. Students who choose these courses will take additional electives to fulfill degree requirements.

2

Course offered by the School of the Arts

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.

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 semesterHours
UNIV 101 Introduction to the University 1
UNIV 111 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry I Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
Experiential fine arts 1-3
General education course 3
General education course 3
Open elective 3
 Term Hours: 14-16
Spring semester
HUMS 202 Choices in a Consumer Society 1
UNIV 112 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry II Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
General education course 3
General education course 3
Open electives 6
 Term Hours: 16
Sophomore year
Fall semester
PHIL 103 History of Ancient and Medieval 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 (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
Foreign language 101 3
Open elective (or select general education course if PHIL 201 was not selected above) 3
 Term Hours: 15
Spring semester
PHIL 222 Logic 3
Foreign language 102 3
General education course (select BOK to complete breadth of knowledge requirement) 3
General education course (select BOK to complete breadth of knowledge requirement) 3
Open elective 3
 Term Hours: 15
Junior year
Fall semester
PHIL 104 History of Modern Philosophy 3
PHIL 300
Philosophical Concepts
or Metaphysics
or Epistemology
or Philosophy of Language
or Philosophy of Mind
or Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
3
Open electives 9
 Term Hours: 15
Spring semester
PHIL 320
Philosophy of Law
or Normative Ethics
or Metaethics
or Social and Political Philosophy
3
PHIL electives 6
Open electives 6
 Term Hours: 15
Senior year
Fall semester
PHIL 301
Metaphysics
or Philosophical Concepts
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
or Topics in Philosophy
3
PHIL elective (300-level or higher) 3
Open electives 9
 Term Hours: 15
Spring semester
PHIL 490 Seminar in Philosophy 3
Open electives 12
 Term Hours: 15
 Total Hours: 120-122
1

PHIL 201 satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for diversities in the human experience; PHIL 202 satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning. Students who chose this course will take additional electives to fulfill degree requirements.

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.