DEPARTMENT CHAIR
Mitchell Avila
DEPARTMENT OFFICE
Humanities 214
DEPARTMENT WEBSITE
http://hss.fullerton.edu/philosophy
PROGRAMS OFFERED
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Concentration in Social, Moral and
Legal Philosophy for the Professions
Minor in Philosophy
FACULTY
Mitchell Avila, Heather Battaly, Matthew Calarco, Amy Coplan, John Davis, Emily S. Lee, JeeLoo Liu, Ryan Nichols, Shari Starrett
Emeriti Faculty: Craig K. Ihara, Merrill Ring, J. Michael Russell
ADVISERS
For advisement about the major or minor in philosophy, please contact Mitchell Avila, Department Chair. For information on the Concentration in Social, Moral and Legal Philosophy for the Professions, please contact John Davis or Mitchell Avila.
INTRODUCTION
Philosophy began when people first questioned the accounts poets and priests had handed down about the structure of the world and the meaning of human life. Since then philosophers have helped create and explore virtually every aspect of our cultural life, including science, religion, art and politics. To study philosophy, therefore, is to engage in a classic form of liberal education in which powers of reasoning and conceptual analysis are explicitly developed. The study of philosophy includes: (1) the development of critical thinking and writing skills; (2) the investigation of conceptual problems encountered in the course of reflecting about experience; (3) the assessment of assumptions underlying other sciences and arts; and (4) the exploration of intellectual and cultural history from a broad perspective. Philosophy is not a “high unit” major. It is possible for many students to obtain the benefits of a philosophically based liberal education while also majoring in another discipline. The Philosophy Department also encourages minors, which can be tailored to the student’s individual interests or other fields of study. Majoring or minoring in philosophy is an excellent way of preparing for law school and other careers that involve facility in reasoning, analysis and information processing.
Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes
The following goals and learning outcomes have been established for students pursuing a degree in philosophy:
Critical thinking
Demonstrate a thorough understanding of original texts
Use sound arguments and strong reasoning to support assertions
Make careful selection and presentation of evidence and argument to support assertions and (when applicable) include carefully constructed refutations of the opposing view
Critical writing
Demonstrate good structure, succinct expression of ideas and superb writing skills
Knowledge
Demonstrate knowledge of specific periods of historical philosophy, specific major currents of the 20th-21st century philosophical investigation and several methodologies employed by philosophers
Social/global awareness
Exposure to issues of culture, ethnicity and gender
Cultivate a global perspective
Examine and critically assess normative standards governing social relations, practices and institutions, including a wide range of human activities dependent upon value judgments
AWARDS IN PHILOSOPHY
The Paul C. Hayner Memorial Award, to the outstanding graduating senior in philosophy; the William H. Alamshah Memorial Prize, for the best undergraduate philosophy essay; the Claire and Craig Ihara Award for contribution to the philosophical community.
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PHILOSOPHY
The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy requires a minimum of 120 units, which includes courses for the major, General Education, all university requirements and free electives. Students complete a minimum of 39 units in general philosophy or 39 units in the concentration. The general philosophy program requires the following:
Argumentation and Writing Requirement (3 units)
Philosophy 315 Philosophical Argument and Writing (3)
Required courses in the history of philosophy before 1900 (9 units)
Philosophy 290 History of Philosophy: Greek Philosophy (3)
Philosophy 300 History of Philosophy: Rationalism and Empiricism (3)
Philosophy 301 History of Philosophy: Kant and the 19th Century (3)
Additional history of philosophy requirement (6 units)
Two of the following: Philosophy 291, 323, 343, 350, 379, 380, 381, 383
Other course requirements (3 units each from a and b)
a. Ethics: Philosophy 345 or 410
b. Metaphysics, Epistemology: Philosophy 420, 430, 435, 440
Seminar requirement (3 units)
Three units (one course) from Philosophy 447T, 455, 460, 470, 480 490.
Electives (12 units)
Choose 12 units of philosophy courses, no more than six lower-division, which have not been used to fulfill other requirements.
CONCENTRATION IN SOCIAL, MORAL AND LEGAL PHILOSOPHY FOR THE PROFESSIONS
This concentration requires a total of 39 units and prepares students for post-baccalaureate professional studies and eventually a career in their chosen field. Students who complete the Concentration in Social, Moral and Legal Philosophy for the Professions while earning their Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy should be equipped with the intellectual skills (i.e., critical reading and analysis skills) necessary in order to successfully apply to, enter and graduate from competitive professional graduate programs such as law, business and administration.
Argumentation and Writing Requirement (3 units)
Philosophy 315 Philosophical Argument and Writing (3)
Pre-1900 History Sequence (9 units)
Philosophy 290 Greek Philosophy (3)
Philosophy 300 Rationalism and Empiricism (3)
Philosophy 301 Kant and 19th Century (3)
Ethics, Social/Political Philosophy (6 units)
Choose two of the following:
Philosophy 345 Social and Political Philosophy (3)
Philosophy 355 Philosophy of Law (3)
Philosophy 382 Marx and Marxism (3)
Philosophy 410 Ethical Theory (3)
Applied Ethics, Social/Political Philosophy (3 units)
Choose one of the following:
Philosophy 312 Business and Professional Ethics (3)
Philosophy 313 Environmental Ethics (3)
Philosophy 314 Medical Ethics (3)
Philosophy 320 Contemporary Moral Issues (3)
Philosophy 377 Philosophical Approaches to Race, Class and Gender (3)
Core Topics in Philosophy (6 units)
Choose two of the following:
Philosophy 303 Intro to Philosophy of Science (3)
Philosophy 323 Existentialism (3)
Philosophy 348 Philosophy of Religion (3)
Philosophy 380 Analytical Philosophy 1900 to 1950 (3)
Philosophy 381 Analytic Tradition: 1950 to the Present (3)
Philosophy 383 Postmodernism (3)
Philosophy 420 Metaphysics (3)
Philosophy 430 Epistemology (3)
Philosophy 440 Philosophy of Mind (3)
Philosophy 405 Advanced Topics in Applied Legal Reasoning (3)
Philosophy 493 Senior Internship in Ethics and Society (3)
Electives (6 units)
Six units of philosophy courses that have not been used to fulfill other requirements. No more than six lower-division units may count toward electives in the major.
MINOR IN PHILOSOPHY
Students in other disciplines often find that a background in philosophy enriches their university experience and enhances work done in other fields in preparation for specific careers. The minor in philosophy requires 21 units in philosophy, at least 12 of which must be upper division. Up to nine units taken in fulfillment of general education requirements may be counted toward the minor. The Department of Philosophy offers two ways of pursuing the minor. The Alternative B minor is especially appropriate for students preparing for professional degrees in law or medicine.
Alternative A:
Among the 21 units, at least six from the following courses: Philosophy 290, 291, 300, 301; and either a seminar or three units of Philosophy 499.
Alternative B:
Among the 21 units, at least 15 to be chosen from philosophy courses correlative to the student’s major or intended post-baccalaureate field, as approved by the philosophy adviser.
RECOMMENDED COURSEWORK FOR PHILOSOPHY MAJORS
A program in philosophy profits greatly from the study of psychology, the natural and social sciences, and literature. Students are advised to supplement their studies in philosophy with coursework offered in these fields and in fields closely related to their philosophical interests.
Students who are planning to attend graduate school in philosophy are urged to acquire proficiency in a foreign language, and to include in their programs as many of the following as possible:
Philosophy 303 Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (3)
Philosophy 345 Social and Political Philosophy (3)
Philosophy 368 First Course in Symbolic Logic (3)
Philosophy 375 Introduction to the Philosophy of Language (3)
Philosophy 380 Analytic Philosophy (3)
Philosophy 410 Ethical Theory (3)
Philosophy 420 Metaphysics (3)
Philosophy 430 Epistemology (3)
Philosophy 440 Philosophy of Mind (3)
Philosophy 455 Seminar in Values (3)
Students interested in pursuing admission to law school are advised to include in their programs as many of the following as possible:
Philosophy 312 Business and Professional Ethics (3)
Philosophy 313 Environmental Ethics (3)
Philosophy 314 Medical Ethics (3)
Philosophy 345 Social and Political Philosophy (3)
Philosophy 355 Philosophy of Law (3)
Philosophy 368 First Course in Symbolic Logic (3)
Philosophy 410 Ethical Theory (3)
Philosophy 455 Seminar in Values (3)
TRANSFER CREDIT
Work completed in philosophy at other institutions may be counted toward the major, subject to the rules of the university and the following departmental rules: (1) only seminars can fulfill the seminar requirement; (2) only upper-division work can fulfill upper-division requirements; (3) in no case can more than six units of lower-division work taken at another institution count toward the major requirement of 39 units. Six units of philosophy taken at another university may be counted toward the minor.
CREDENTIAL INFORMATION
The Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy may be effectively combined with subject matter studies necessary for the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (K-8). Undergraduates are encouraged to work with the Center for Careers in Teaching (657-278-7130) as early as possible in their academic careers to plan efficient course selections for general education, the major and electives. With careful planning, it may be possible to enter the credential program in the senior year of the bachelor’s degree. Postgraduate students should contact the Admission to Teacher Education office in the College of Education (657-278-3352) to obtain information on attending an overview presentation.
PHILOSOPHY COURSES
Courses are designated as PHIL in the class schedule.
