VCU PHI Philosophy Major

The requirements for the regular concentration are: 30 credits PHIL with at least 15 upper level credits, including:

PHIL 103 Ancient Greek and Medieval Western Philosophy,
PHIL 104 Modern Western Philosophy,
One of PHIL 201/211/212/213/214 History of Ethics/Ethics and Applications/Ethics and Health Care/Ethics and Business
PHIL 222 Logic,
three of the following, with at least one from each of (a) and (b): (a) PHIL 320 Philosophy of Law, PHIL 327 Ethical Theory, PHIL 335 Social and Political Philosophy; (b) PHIL 301 Mind and Reality, PHIL 302 Reason and Knowledge, PHIL 303 Philosophy of Language; (c) PHIL 391 Topics in Philosophy
PHIL 490 Seminar in Philosophy (as a capstone course)

General Advice:

See your advisor at least once each year (and ideally each semester) to ensure that your course plans make sense relative to the graduation requirements.
We automatically give overrides to our majors for any lower level philosophy course that is full. Just see the secretary.
Take all the lower-level course requirements as soon as possible, since they are prerequisites from some of the advanced requirements, and excellent preparation in any case.
Take one of PHIL 301/302/303/320/327/335/391 as soon as possible since this will satisfy part of the core requirement and permit you to take PHIL 490 Philosophy Seminar.
Take honors sections of PHIL courses wherever possible (since they are typically smaller and more sophisticated). We often have honors sections of the introductory ethics courses. Even if the section is full, we will let you in.
PHIL 490 Philosophy Seminar is offered every semester. It can be taken for credit twice as long as it is on a different topic. If you take it more than once, you may be able to substitute one of the seminars for one of the core requirements (if the topic is appropriate). To satisfy the senior capstone requirement, take PHIL 490 at least once after you have earned senior status (completed 85 credit hours).
Many upper-level courses are offered only once every two years.

Anthony Ellis, Chair: ajellis@vcu.edu

Diane Bentley, Secretary: cdbentley@vcu.edu

Philosophy Home Page

Revised 09/03/2011