Philosophy

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Minimum number of credits required to complete the major: 30

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: A grade of C- or better is required in any Philosophy courses counting towards major.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in the courses in the major field that are credited toward the major.

Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: PHI 475; HON 498/499 on a topic in Philosophy and advised (or co-advised) by a philosophy faculty member.

Courses satisfying the writing intensive requirement within the major: PHI 201, PHI 344, PHI 346, PHI 432, and PHI 475

Residency requirement: Majors in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences require a minimum of 15 institutional credits in the major.

Contact Information: Kirsten Jacobson, Chair, Department of Philosophy, Room 109, The Maples. 581-3848, kirsten.jacobson@maine.edu; Jennifer Bowen, Administrative Specialist II, Department of Philosophy, The Maples, 581-3865.

The requirements listed on this page are specific to this particular major. Students are also responsible for meeting any graduation requirements set out by their college. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) should make sure to review those requirements as stated on the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences page of the catalog.

For more information about our undergraduate program, program learning outcomes, internships, special resources and programs, and research and career opportunities, see our web site at https://umaine.edu/philosophy/.

Information about the Philosophy major

Requirements: a minimum of 30 credit hours in philosophy

At least 21 credit hours (7 courses) in philosophy must be upper level courses, i.e., courses above the 100 level.

Three credit hours in Ethics:
PHI 230 - Ethics Credits: 3
or
PHI 240 - Social and Political Philosophy Credits: 3
or
PHI 244 - Philosophy of Law Credits: 3
or
PHI 344 - Theories of Justice Credits: 3
Three credit hours in logic:
PHI 103 - Methods of Reasoning Credits: 3
or
PHI 250 - Formal Logic Credits: 3
Nine hours in the History of Philosophy including:
PHI 210 - History of Ancient Philosophy Credits: 3
or

PHI 221 - Classical Chinese Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 312 - History of Modern Philosophy Credits: 3
and one of the following:

PHI 210 - History of Ancient Philosophy
PHI 212 - Hegel and 19th Century Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 214 - 20th Century Continental Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 221 - Classical Chinese Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 287 - Religions and Philosophies of the East: Buddhism Credits: 3
PHI 317 - Existentialism and Phenomenology Credits: 3
PHI 342 - Marxist Philosophy I: The Philosophy of Karl Marx Credits: 3
PHI 346 - The Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi Credits: 3
PHI 420 - Topics in Recent Continental Philosophy Credits: 3
Capstone Course:
PHI 475 - Junior/Senior Philosophy Seminar Credits: 3
(Requirement may be waived if relevant thesis is pursued via HON 498 and 499. Department approval is required. Contact the chair of the Department of Philosophy prior to pursuing this route to discuss this process and secure permission.)

Completion of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requirement for the B.A. degree (for students admitted for Fall 2011 and after), including a minor outside the field of the major or a double major. For students admitted prior to Fall 2011, the old B.A. requirements remain in effect unless you choose to adopt the new B.A. requirements. If you have questions, please contact your advisor.

First Year

Two philosophy courses without prerequisites at the 100- or 200-level.

Second Year

Two courses that meet the department’s history requirement
One course that meets the department’s ethics requirement

Third Year

One course that meets the department’s logic requirement
One course that meets the department’s history requirement
One elective at the 200 level or higher

Fourth Year

Two upper level philosophy courses, including PHI 475 (if not taken in Junior Year)

List of Philosophy Courses

PHI 100 - Contemporary Moral Problems Credits: 3
PHI 102 - Introduction to Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 103 - Methods of Reasoning Credits: 3
PHI 104 - Existentialism and Literature Credits: 3
PHI 105 - Introduction to Religious Studies Credits: 3
PHI 132 - Life, Technology and Evolution Credits: 3
PHI 201 - Becoming a Philosopher Credits: 3
PHI 210 - History of Ancient Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 212 - Hegel and 19th Century Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 214 - 20th Century Continental Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 221 - Classical Chinese Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 230 - Ethics Credits: 3
PHI 231 - Topics in Applied Ethics Credits: 3
PHI 232 - Environmental Ethics Credits: 3
PHI 233 - Business Ethics Credits: 3
PHI 235 - Biomedical Ethics Credits: 3
PHI 236 - Feminist Ethical, Social and Political Theory Credits: 3
PHI 240 - Social and Political Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 242 - Ethics in Professional Life Credits: 3
PHI 244 - Philosophy of Law Credits: 3
PHI 250 - Formal Logic Credits: 3
PHI 262 - Philosophy of Art Credits: 3
PHI 287 - Religions and Philosophies of the East: Buddhism Credits: 3
PHI 312 - History of Modern Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 317 - Existentialism and Phenomenology Credits: 3
PHI 332 - Environmental Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 342 - Marxist Philosophy I: The Philosophy of Karl Marx Credits: 3
PHI 344 - Theories of Justice Credits: 3
PHI 345 - Global Justice Credits: 3
PHI 346 - The Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi Credits: 3
PHI 351 - Topics in Philosophy and Literature Credits: 3
PHI 360 - Metaphysics Credits: 3
PHI 420 - Topics in Recent Continental Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 431 - Advanced Topics in the Philosophy of Art Credits: 3
PHI 432 - Environmental Justice Credits: 3
PHI 465 - Advanced Topics in Philosophy Credits: 3
PHI 466 - Readings in Philosophy Credits: 1-3
PHI 475 - Junior/Senior Philosophy Seminar Credits: 3
PHI 566 See Graduate Catalog for list of Graduate Level courses

Elective Credits

Elective credits may be used to meet remaining general education, college, B.A., or department requirements.