The Philosophy Major
The philosophy major at UNF is designed to appeal to students with diverse needs and interests:
Students who plan to pursue philosophy at the graduate level.- Those who desire philosophical training to pursue other careers (e.g., communications, law, psychology, theology, government) and, above all, those who simply wish to obtain a solid liberal arts education.
- The basic purpose of the undergraduate major in philosophy at UNF is "to introduce interested students to philosophy in ways that will serve them well -- both professionally and personally -- whatever they may go on to after graduation" (from The Philosophy Major, a statement prepared by the American Philosophical Association).
Majors take 30 semester hours of course work:
Required 15 semester hours
- PHH 3100 - Ancient Philosophy
- PHH 3400 - Modern Philosophy
- PHI 3601 - Ethics
- Select One Logic From Either:
- PHI 3130 3.0 G(M) Symbolic Logic
Or select another logic course (consult an advisor for approved logic course)
- PHI 4935 - Philosophy Seminar
Elected 15 semester hours
- Major electives may come from most of the other 3000 and 4000 level philosophy courses.
- At least two electives must come from the 4000 level.
- Only one Directed Independent Study, PHI 4905, can count toward the major.
- All major courses require a "C" or better for graduation.
- Foreign Culture courses, even those that bear a philosophy prefix, do not count toward the major.
Transferring Credits
- Generally, credits can be transferred based on the
- Credits are not transferrable in excess of 30 semester hours, no more than 10 of which may be upper-level credits.
- No more than 15 hours of transfer credit can be used toward the philosophy major.
- It is not uncommon for Philosophy Majors to double major. Some fields of frequent double majors are with Computer Science, History, Literature, Math, Political Science, and Psychology.
- To assist philosophy majors both in focusing their programs of study and in better relating their studies to career objectives, the department encourages students to group their elective courses around the six programs of emphasis or "tracks," which will be reflected in a student's transcript and diploma.
Students are under no obligation to select a particular track; those who make no selection will automatically be assigned to Track 1. Students in any track must still complete all courses required for the major.
Track 1: General Philosophical Studies
Students in this track are free to select their 15 elective hours (five courses) from any courses offered by the program; they are encouraged, however, to include in their program of study courses identified by the different philosophy prefixes--PHH, PHI, PHM, and PHP. A minimum of 6 hours must be taken at the 4000 level.
Select three courses at 3000 Level
- PHH PHI PHM PHP
Select two Courses at 4000 Level
- PHH PHI PHM PHP
Track 2: Advanced Studies
This track is available for students planning graduate study in philosophy. Students choose five courses from the following:
- PHH 4121 Ancient Greek Ethics
- PHI 4220 Philosophy of Language
- PHI 4300 Introduction to Epistemology
- PHI 4320 Philosophy of Mind
- PHI 4400 Philosophy of Science
- PHI 4420 Philosophy of the Social Sciences
- PHI 4453 Philosophy of Psychiatry
- PHI 4500 Metaphysics
- PHI 4930 Topics In Philosophy
- PHM 4340 Contemporary Political Philosophy
- PHP 4410 Kant
- PHP 4782 Phenomenology
Track 3: Literary and Cultural Studies
This track is available for artists, writers, and performers interested in the theoretical foundations of their work; for prospective teachers of literature and the arts; and for students planning graduate work in literary theory or cultural studies. Students choose five courses from the following:
- PHI 3643 Ethics and Literature
- PHI 3684 The Art of Living
- PHI 3700 Philosophy of Religion
- PHI 3800 Aesthetics
- PHI 3880 Philosophy of Film
- PHI 3881 Philosophy of Music
- PHI 3930 Selected Topics
- PHI 3931 East and West: Selected Topics
- PHI 4220 Philosophy of Language
- PHI 4930 Topics In Philosophy
- PHH 3811 Philosophy of Zen Buddhism
- PHM 3020 Philosophy of Love and Sex
- PHP 3786 Existentialism
Track 4: Legal, Political, and Social Studies
This track is available for students planning careers in public affairs, law, management, international relations or for those planning graduate work in social or political theory. Students choose five courses from the following:
- PHI 3632 Ethics of Sex and Gender
- PHI 3670 Moral Conflict
- PHI 3930 Selected Topics
- PHI 4420 Philosophy of the Social Sciences
- PHI 4930 Topics In Philosophy
- PHM 3050 Ethical Issues in Death and Dying
- PHM 3300 Political Philosophy
- PHM 3361 Philosophy of Democracy
- PHM 3400 Philosophy of Law
- PHM 4340 Contemporary Political Philosophy
Track 5: Studies in Applied Ethics
This track is available for pre-professional students who wish to develop a comparative understanding of value issues across professions or are planning graduate work in theoretical or applied ethics. Students choose five courses from the following:
- PHI 3633 Bioethics
- PHI 3640 Environmental Ethics
- PHI 3641 Business Ethics
- PHI 3670 Moral Conflict
- PHI 3684 The Art of Living
- PHI 3930 Selected Topic
- PHI 4453 Philosophy of Psychiatry
- PHI 4930 Topics In Philosophy
- PHM 3100 Social Philosophy
- PHM 3300 Political Philosophy
- PHM 3400 Philosophy of Law
Track 6: Historical and Comparative Studies
This track is available for students interested in exploring the range and diversity of philosophical themes as developed ove
- PHI 3664 Ethics East And West
- PHI 3930 Selected Topics
- PHI 3931 East and West: Selected Topics
- PHI 3935 Ancient Philosophy: Selected Topics
- PHI 4930 Topics In Philosophy
- PHH 3104 Socrates and the Sophists
- PHH 3500 19th Century Philosophy
- PHH 3811 The Philosophy of Zen Buddhism
- PHH 3820 (FC) Chinese Philosophy
- PHH 4121 Ancient Greek Ethics
- PHH 4601 20th Century Continental Philosophy
- PHH 4620 20th Century Philosophy: the Anglo-American Tradition
- PHM 3500 Philosophy of History
- PHP 3790 Pragmatism