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The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a concentration in ethics and philosophy of AI 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.
Students who are interested in the philosophy of technology, the philosophy of cognitive science, or ethical questions concerning the use of artificial intelligence (and who may wish to pursue graduate work involving AI or AI governance) will probably want to choose the ethics and philosophy of AI 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
Ethics and philosophy of AI concentration-specific outcomes
- Demonstrate the ability to describe and analyze ethically relevant features of a variety of different applications of artificial intelligence
- Demonstrate the ability to clearly present and critically analyze arguments about the relationships between artificial intelligence, morality, the human mind and cognition
Degree requirements for Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a concentration in ethics and philosophy of AI
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an advisor. | 30 | |
| Major core requirements | ||
| PHIL 103 | Ancient Greek and Medieval Western Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 104 | Modern Western Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 222 | Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 490 | Seminar in Philosophy | 3 |
| Additional requirements | ||
| HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
| PHIL 327 | Normative Ethics | 3 |
| or PHIL 320 | Philosophy of Law | |
| or PHIL 328 | Metaethics | |
| or PHIL 335 | Social and Political Philosophy | |
| Select two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| Philosophical Concepts | ||
| Metaphysics | ||
| Epistemology | ||
| Philosophy of Language | ||
| Philosophy of Mind | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Philosophy of Medicine | ||
| Experiential fine arts 1 | 1-3 | |
| Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement) | 0-6 | |
| Concentration requirements | ||
| PHIL 202 | Ethics of Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| PHIL 332 | Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| Select two non-PHIL courses from the table below. | 6 | |
| Electives | ||
| Open electives (select any course) | 47-55 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Course offered by the School of the Arts.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Non-PHIL course options for concentration requirements (choose two)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUSN 320 | AI in Business | 3 |
| CMSC 225 | Essentials of Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| ENGR 125 | Practical Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| HUMS 392 | Topics in AI | 3 |
| INFO 292 | Data Preparation for AI | 3 |
| MASC 311 | AI in Mass Media | 3 |
| MATH 170 | The Language of Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| MATH 370 | Mathematical Foundations for Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| Other appropriate courses approved by the Department of Philosophy | ||
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.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| UNIV 101 | Introduction to the University | 1 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (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 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 or PHIL 104 | Ancient Greek and Medieval Western Philosophy or Modern Western Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 202 | Ethics of Artificial Intelligence ((satisfies general education BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning)) | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Foreign language 101 | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| PHIL 104 or PHIL 103 | Modern Western Philosophy or Ancient Greek and Medieval Western Philosophy | 3 |
| 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 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| PHIL 332 | Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| Non-PHIL course (from list) | 3 | |
| Open electives | 9 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| PHIL 327 | Normative Ethics or Philosophy of Law or Metaethics or Social and Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 304 | Philosophy of Mind or Philosophical Concepts or Metaphysics or Epistemology or Philosophy of Language or Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| Open electives | 9 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| PHIL 331 | Philosophy of Science or Philosophical Concepts or Metaphysics or Epistemology or Philosophy of Language or Philosophy of Mind | 3 |
| Non-PHIL course (from list) | 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 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.