Philosophy
Major: Philosophy
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Total Credit Hours: 182.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years); No Co-op (Four years); Three Co-op (Five years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 38.0101
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 25-1126
About the Program
- Ethical Theory and Practice
- Philosophy and Law
- Philosophy, Technology, and Science
The philosophy BA includes approximately 50.0 credits of free electives, which makes it possible for many students to double major. The Drexel philosophy program also offers a minor in philosophy (24.0 credits) and certificate programs in Ethical Theory and Practice, Philosophy, Arts and Humanities, and Philosophy, Science, and Technology (18.0 credits each).
Additional Information
For more information about Drexel philosophy classes and programs, please visit the Department of English & Philosophy website or drop by to see our director anytime. The Department of English & Philosophy is located in MacAlister Hall, room 5044. The director can be contacted at:
Dr. Peter Amato
Director of Programs in Philosophy
Department of English and Philosophy
MacAlister 5030
215-895-1353
peterama@drexel.edu
Degree Requirements
As an alternative to PHIL 421 [WI] , PHIL 431 [WI] , and PHIL 461 [WI] , students may select PHIL T480 Special Topics, PHIL 481 [WI] Philosophical School or Movement, or PHIL 485 [WI] Major Philosopher class with program approval.
Students participating in the cooperative education program will be enrolled in the required prep course, COOP 101, generally three terms before their co-op begins. As of September 2020, COOP 101 will be one credit.
| College of Arts and Sciences Requirements | ||
| CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
| ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
| ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
| PHIL 105 | Critical Reasoning | 3.0 |
| UNIV H101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
| UNIV H201 | Looking Forward: Academics and Careers | 1.0 |
| Two Studies in Diversity Electives | 6.0 | |
| Two International Studies Electives | 6.0 | |
| Two Math Electives | 6.0 | |
| Two Natural Science Electives | 6.0 | |
| Four Social and Behavioral Sciences Electives | 12.0 | |
| Select two of the following: | 6.0 | |
| History of Art I: Ancient to Medieval | ||
| History of Art II: Renaissance to Romanticism | ||
| History of Art III: Modern Art | ||
| Language Requirement | 8.0 | |
| Major Requirements - All Concentrations | ||
| COM 230 | Techniques of Speaking | 3.0 |
| PHIL 101 | Introduction to Western Philosophy | 3.0 |
| PHIL 211 | Metaphysics: Philosophy of Reality | 3.0 |
| PHIL 212 | Ancient Philosophy | 3.0 |
| PHIL 214 | Modern Philosophy | 3.0 |
| PHIL 215 | Contemporary Philosophy | 3.0 |
| PHIL 221 | Epistemology: Philosophy of Knowledge | 3.0 |
| PHIL 251 | Ethics | 3.0 |
| PHIL 421 [WI] | Seminar in Ancient Philosophy | 3.0 |
| PHIL 431 [WI] | Seminar in Modern Philosophy | 3.0 |
| PHIL 461 [WI] | Seminar in Contemporary Philosophy | 3.0 |
| Professional Ethics Elective | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Business Ethics | ||
| Ethics and the Media | ||
| Ethics and Information Technology | ||
| Engineering Ethics | ||
| Ethics and Design Professions | ||
| Biomedical Ethics | ||
| Ethics of Human Enhancement | ||
| Organizational Ethics | ||
| Ethics in Sports Management | ||
| Criminal Justice Ethics | ||
| Global Ethical Issues | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Thesis or Non-Thesis Option | 9.0 | |
| Thesis Option: | ||
| Senior Essay I: Research & Thesis Development | ||
| Senior Essay II: Argument Construction | ||
| Senior Essay III: Defense | ||
| Non-Thesis Option: | ||
| Seminar in a Philosophical School | ||
| Seminar in a Major Philosopher | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| Environmental Philosophy | ||
| Philosophy of Technology | ||
| Philosophy of Medicine | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Philosophy in Literature | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Electives | ||
| Free Electives | 51.0 | |
| Concentration Option | 21.0 | |
| General Philosophy Concentration: | ||
| Symbolic Logic I | ||
| Aesthetics: Philosophy of Art | ||
or PHIL 218 | Philosophy of Mathematics | |
| Seminar in a Philosophical School | ||
| Seminar in a Major Philosopher | ||
Select one of the following courses: | ||
| Symbolic Logic II | ||
| Business Ethics | ||
| Ethics and the Media | ||
| Ethics and Information Technology | ||
| Engineering Ethics | ||
| Ethics and Design Professions | ||
| Biomedical Ethics | ||
| Ethics of Human Enhancement | ||
| Organizational Ethics | ||
| Ethics in Sports Management | ||
| Criminal Justice Ethics | ||
| Global Ethical Issues | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
Select two of the following courses: | ||
| Environmental Philosophy | ||
| Philosophy of Technology | ||
| Philosophy of Medicine | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Philosophy in Literature | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Philosophy & Law Concentration: | ||
| Symbolic Logic I | ||
| Symbolic Logic II | ||
| Social & Political Philosophy | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Seminar in a Philosophical School | ||
or PHIL 485 | Seminar in a Major Philosopher | |
Select one of the following courses: | ||
| Business Ethics | ||
| Ethics and the Media | ||
| Ethics and Information Technology | ||
| Engineering Ethics | ||
| Ethics and Design Professions | ||
| Biomedical Ethics | ||
| Ethics of Human Enhancement | ||
| Organizational Ethics | ||
| Ethics in Sports Management | ||
| Criminal Justice Ethics | ||
| Global Ethical Issues | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Ethical Theory & Practice Concentration: | ||
| Introduction to Eastern Philosophy | ||
| Aesthetics: Philosophy of Art | ||
or PHIL 241 | Social & Political Philosophy | |
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Seminar in a Philosophical School | ||
| Seminar in a Major Philosopher | ||
Select one of the following courses: | ||
| Business Ethics | ||
| Ethics and the Media | ||
| Ethics and Information Technology | ||
| Engineering Ethics | ||
| Ethics and Design Professions | ||
| Biomedical Ethics | ||
| Ethics of Human Enhancement | ||
| Organizational Ethics | ||
| Ethics in Sports Management | ||
| Criminal Justice Ethics | ||
| Global Ethical Issues | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Philosophy, Technology & Science Concentration: | ||
| Symbolic Logic I | ||
| Symbolic Logic II | ||
| Philosophy of Mathematics | ||
or PHIL 231 | Aesthetics: Philosophy of Art | |
| Philosophy of Technology | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Seminar in a Philosophical School | ||
| Seminar in a Major Philosopher | ||
| Total Credits | 182.0 | |
| * | Students are required to take a minimum of two consecutive courses in a foreign language and must complete at least through the 103 level. Reaching at least the 201 level is recommended for students considering graduate school in Philosophy. |
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.
Sample Plan of Study
Students participating in the cooperative education program will be enrolled in the required prep course, COOP 101, generally three terms before their co-op begins. As of September 2020, COOP 101 will be one credit.
| Term 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 or 111 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research English Composition I | 3.0 |
| PHIL 101 | Introduction to Western Philosophy | 3.0 |
| PHIL 105 | Critical Reasoning | 3.0 |
| UNIV H101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
| Language elective* | 4.0 | |
| Math elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 17.0 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
| ENGL 102 or 112 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing English Composition II | 3.0 |
| PHIL 111 or 102 | Symbolic Logic I Introduction to Eastern Philosophy | 3.0 |
| Math elective | 3.0 | |
| Language elective | 4.0 | |
| Social Science elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 17.0 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| ENGL 103 or 113 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres English Composition III | 3.0 |
| PHIL 251 | Ethics | 3.0 |
| Diversity elective | 3.0 | |
| Natural Science elective | 3.0 | |
| Social Science elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 4 | ||
| ARTH 101 or 102 | History of Art I: Ancient to Medieval History of Art II: Renaissance to Romanticism | 3.0 |
| PHIL 211 | Metaphysics: Philosophy of Reality | 3.0 |
| PHIL 212 | Ancient Philosophy | 3.0 |
| Diversity elective | 3.0 | |
| Natural Science elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 5 | ||
| ARTH 102 or 103 | History of Art II: Renaissance to Romanticism History of Art III: Modern Art | 3.0 |
| PHIL 214 | Modern Philosophy | 3.0 |
| PHIL 221 | Epistemology: Philosophy of Knowledge | 3.0 |
| PHIL 481 [WI] | Seminar in a Philosophical School | 3.0 |
| Social Science elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 6 | ||
| COM 230 | Techniques of Speaking | 3.0 |
| PHIL 207 | Symbolic Logic II (or any Professional Ethics elective PHIL 301 - PHIL 340) | 3.0 |
| PHIL 215 | Contemporary Philosophy | 3.0 |
| PHIL 485 [WI] | Seminar in a Major Philosopher | 3.0 |
| Free elective | 3.0 | |
| Social Science elective | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 18.0 | |
| Term 7 | ||
| PHIL 231 or 218 | Aesthetics: Philosophy of Art Philosophy of Mathematics | 3.0 |
| PHIL 421 [WI] | Seminar in Ancient Philosophy | 3.0 |
| UNIV H201 | Looking Forward: Academics and Careers | 1.0 |
| Free electives | 6.0 | |
| Term Credits | 13.0 | |
| Term 8 | ||
| PHIL 431 [WI] | Seminar in Modern Philosophy | 3.0 |
| International Studies elective | 3.0 | |
| Free electives | 9.0 | |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 9 | ||
| International Studies elective | 3.0 | |
| Professional Ethics elective | 3.0 | |
| Free electives | 9.0 | |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 10 | ||
| PHIL 497 [WI] | Senior Essay I: Research & Thesis Development (or Philosophy elective PHIL 341 - PHIL 395) | 3.0 |
| Philosophy elective PHIL 341 - PHIL 391 | 3.0 | |
| Free electives | 6.0 | |
| Term Credits | 12.0 | |
| Term 11 | ||
| PHIL 498 [WI] or 485 [WI] | Senior Essay II: Argument Construction Seminar in a Major Philosopher | 3.0 |
| Free electives | 9.0 | |
| Philosophy Elective PHIL 341 - PHIL 391 | 3.0 | |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Term 12 | ||
| PHIL 461 [WI] ** | Seminar in Contemporary Philosophy | 3.0 |
| PHIL 499 [WI] or 481 [WI] | Senior Essay III: Defense Seminar in a Philosophical School | 3.0 |
| Free electives | 9.0 | |
| Term Credits | 15.0 | |
| Total Credit: 182.0 | ||
| * | Students must complete two consecutive courses in a foreign language and must reach the 103 level. |
| ** | An appropriate 400-level PHIL seminar may be substituted for this requirement with program approval. |
Co-op/Career Opportunities
Opportunities
No major prepares students for success in as wide a variety of careers as philosophy. Because philosophical work helps students develop superior reasoning, communication, and analytical skills, a philosophy major can be an ideal choice for pre-med or pre-law students. It is also particularly valuable as a preparation for graduate study in philosophy, and fields related to it, such as critical media studies, public policy, education, and science, technology, and society (STS). The Drexel philosophy major is an excellent preparation for success in any field of endeavor that values thoughtful reflection, logical thinking, and clear communication. Philosophy majors graduate into a wide range of successful careers in business, industry, law, government, education, and service organizations and agencies as well as many fields of graduate study and research.
In just its first five years, the Drexel philosophy BA program graduated students into careers including teaching, the law, public policy, and academic research.
Co-op Experiences
Philosophy students at Drexel are encouraged to seek out interesting co-op opportunities related to the skills and interests they are developing through their philosophical studies and potential career options they would like to explore. These can be as broad as the difference between an ethics-related co-op that has the student shadowing an ethicist working for a hospital’s board of institutional review, to a student who is interested in aesthetics and politics working with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program in liaison with community groups. Students in philosophy who are pre-law frequently pursue law-related co-ops and co-ops at public and private agencies and organizations that employ lawyers and law students. Students in philosophy who are thinking about careers in academia have the full gamut of writing, editing, and publishing co-ops available to them, as well as research related co-ops they can develop by working with professors. While academically-oriented co-ops and co-ops in the Humanities generally pay less than those in the sciences, business, law, and engineering—if they pay at all—they are still enormously valuable as a way for students to develop a sense of what various careers might actually be like and how they work.
For detailed information on co-op and career opportunities, visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center web page. For further information about co-op and career prospects related to philosophy, contact the Drexel philosophy program director:
Dr. Peter Amato
Director of Programs in Philosophy
Department of English and Philosophy
MacAlister 5030
215-895-1353
peterama@drexel.edu
