Students planning to major in Philosophy should ideally sequence courses as follows:

• Philosophy 101 and/or 200 level metaphysics or epistemology,
  • 200-level ethics or social/political, and 211 logic.
  • Then take 300-level area courses.
• Required courses in the history of philosophy that should be taken as soon as the student decides to major in philosophy, normally during the junior year:
  • Philosophy 430 – Great Thinkers of the Ancient Period and
  • Philosophy 432 – Great Thinkers of the Modern Period
• Next, take 500-level and 600-level courses.
• Students must fulfill the capstone or research requirement in their senior year:
  • Philosophy 681 or Philosophy 685.
• It is strongly recommended that students become proficient in at least one related academic discipline.

Majors will be asked to submit a paper for inclusion in a portfolio that is kept in the department. Typically, this will be a paper written for the senior capstone or research seminar. It should be stressed that this is not an additional requirement for graduation as a major. Rather, it is part of the department's ongoing efforts to evaluate and improve our major program.