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.
Students whose main interests in philosophy are ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of law or public policy (and who may wish to pursue graduate work in law, political science, economics and related areas) will probably want to choose the ethics and public policy 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 systemically 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 public policy concentration-specific outcomes
- Demonstrate a good knowledge of public policy in areas such as politics, economics and law
- Demonstrate a good knowledge of philosophical questions about public policy in areas such as politics, economics and law
Degree requirements for Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a concentration in ethics and public policy
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| 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 |
| • Additional major requirements | ||
| PHIL 300 | Philosophical Concepts | 3 |
| or PHIL 301 | Metaphysics | |
| or PHIL 302 | Epistemology | |
| or PHIL 303 | Philosophy of Language | |
| or PHIL 304 | Philosophy of Mind | |
| or PHIL 332 | Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence | |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Normative Ethics | ||
| Metaethics | ||
| Social and Political Philosophy | ||
| • Major electives | ||
| PHIL elective (any level) | 3 | |
| Non-PHIL courses (from list below) | 6 | |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| 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 | |
| Experiential fine arts 2 | 1-3 | |
| Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement) | 0-6 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 47-55 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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.
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 major requirements (choose two)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CRJS 324 | Courts and Sentencing | 3 |
| CRJS 355 | Criminological Theory | 3 |
| ECON 301 | Microeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECON 302 | Macroeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECON 419 | History of Economic Thought | 3 |
| POLI 310 | Public Policy | 3 |
| POLI 314 | U.S. Constitutional Law: Structure of Government | 3 |
| POLI 315 | Courts and Politics | 3 |
| SOCY 302 | Contemporary Social Problems | 3 |
| SOCY 430 | Politics, Power and Ideology | 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.
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| UNIV 101 | Introduction to the University | 1 |
UNIV 111  Play 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 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 | 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 (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 104 or PHIL 103 | History of Modern Philosophy or History of Ancient and Medieval 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 320 | Philosophy of Law or Normative Ethics or Metaethics or Social and Political Philosophy | 3 |
| Non-PHIL course (from list) | 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 |
| Non-PHIL course (from list) | 3 | |
| Open electives | 9 | |
| 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 Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| PHIL elective | 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 | |
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 diversities in the human experience. 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.