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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 331 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 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 | ||
• Scientific focus area | ||
| Choose one of the scientific focus areas listed below. Each focus area consists of a three-credit course on the research methods of a scientific discipline and six upper-level credits in that discipline. | 9 | |
| 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.
Scientific focus areas
Anthropology
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Archaeological Theory | ||
or ANTH 303 | Archaeological Methods and Research Design | |
Select six additional upper-level credits in ANTH courses | ||
Bioinformatics
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Integrative Life Sciences Research | ||
Select six upper-level credits in BNFO courses. | ||
Chemistry
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Analysis | ||
or INSC 300 | Experiencing Science | |
Select six additional upper-level credits in CHEM courses | ||
Computer science
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to the Theory of Computation | ||
Select six additional upper-level credits in CMSC courses | ||
Economics
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Contemporary Economic Issues | ||
Select six additional upper-level credits in ECON courses | ||
Environmental studies
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Integrative Life Sciences Research | ||
Select six additional upper-level credits in ENVS courses | ||
Mathematical sciences
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning | ||
Select six additional upper-level credits in MATH or STAT or OPER courses | ||
Political science
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Research Methods in Political Science | ||
Select six additional upper-level credits in POLI courses | ||
Psychology
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Methods 1 | ||
Select six additional upper-level credits in PSYC courses | ||
This course is restricted to the majors in the relevant program.
Sociology
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Research Methods in Political Science | ||
Select six additional upper-level credits in SOCY courses | ||
Physics
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Physics | ||
or INSC 300 | Experiencing Science | |
Select six additional upper-level credits in PHYS courses (or 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 331 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| Open electives | 9 | |
| Scientific focus area upper-level course | 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 |
| Open electives | 9 | |
| Scientific focus area research methods course | 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 |
| Open electives | 9 | |
| Scientific focus area upper-level course | 3 | |
| 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 scientific and logical reasoning. Students who choose these courses will take additional electives to fulfill degree requirements.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.