The Philosophy Department contributes a number of courses to the Marquette Core Curriculum, including Foundation-Tier Courses, Discovery-Tier Courses, Writing-Intensive Courses, and second-level Engaging Social Systems and Values (ESSV) Courses.

Foundation-Tier Courses

In addition to PHIL 1001 (Foundations in Philosophy), the Philosophy Department faculty regularly teaches sections of CORE 1929 (Foundations in Methods of Inquiry). 

Discovery-Tier Courses

Students must take at least four courses in their chosen Discovery-Tier theme: at least one in the Humanities, one in Natural Science and Mathematics, and one in Social Science. The Philosophy Department offers multiple Humanities courses each semester, spanning most if not all of the Discovery-Tier themes. (It also offers one Natural Science and Mathematics course: INCG 2010 / PHIL 2010.) Up to two courses can count towards fulfilling both MCC Discovery-Tier requirements and the major requirements of primary Philosophy majors. 

Basic Needs and Justice

PHIL 3501 – Philosophy of War and Peace
PHIL 3660 – Marx and Marxism
PHIL 3710 – Political Philosophy
PHIL 3751 – Philosophy and History of Crime and Punishment
PHIL 4320 – Contemporary Ethical Problems
PHIL 4330 – Business Ethics
PHIL 4335 – Biomedical Ethics

Cognition, Intelligence, Memory

INCG 2010 / PHIL 2010 – Introduction to Cognitive Science
PHIL 3370 – Philosophy of Art   
PHIL 3450 – Epistemology         
PHIL 3460 – Philosophy of Language   
PHIL 3504 – Ethics and the Function of Reason in Human Life
PHIL 3620 – Medieval Philosophy         
PHIL 3650 – Early Modern Philosophy  
PHIL 4450 – Philosophy of Mind

* INCG 2010 / PHIL 2010 counts as a Natural Science and Mathematics (NSM) course, not a Humanities (HUM) course.

Crossing Boundaries

PHIL 3390 – Latin American Philosophy
PHIL 3507 – Global Justice
PHIL 3508 – Caribbean Philosophy
PHIL 3780 – Africana Philosophy

Expanding Our Horizons

PHIL 3350 – Philosophy of the Environment
PHIL 3410 – Metaphysics
PHIL 3470 – Philosophy of Technology
PHIL 3610 – Ancient Philosophy 
PHIL 3770 – Feminist Philosophy 
PHIL 4470 – Philosophy of Science

Individuals and Communities

PHIL 2310 – Theory of Ethics
PHIL 3503 – The Ethics of Intimacy
PHIL 3506 – Philosophy of Race
PHIL 3509 – Philosophy of Disability
PHIL 3710 – Political Philosophy

Writing-Intensive Courses

PHIL 3505 – Philosophy of Film
PHIL 3610 – Ancient Philosophy
PHIL 4540 – Philosophy of Education
PHIL 4954 – Writing-Intensive Seminar in Philosophy

Engaging Social Systems and Values 2 Courses

PHIL 3502 – Narrating Freedom: Gender, Race and Mass Incarceration
PHIL 3507 – Global Justice
PHIL 4931 – Topics in Philosophy: Justice, Freedom and the Arts (must submit waiver to MCC Director)

Culminating Experience

Philosophy faculty teach half of the numerous sections of CORE 4929 The Service of Faith and Promotion of Justice, a culminating course that further integrates the Marquette Core experience, emphasizing reflection on and application of knowledge and skills developed in the Core. A special focus on vocation and discernment invites students to evaluate their course work at Marquette alongside their own worldview.

[Updated Mar 2025]