Philosophy Major

The Philosophy Major

The Philosophy Major consists of 10 courses (30 credit hours).​

  • Majors who opt for a general Philosophy degree (no concentration) take 3 required courses and 7 Philosophy electives.
  • Majors who opt for a Philosophy major with a concentration take the 3 required courses, 3 courses in their area of concentration, plus 4 Philosophy electives.

Required Courses

  • PHIL 1000: Logic (or PHIL 4000: Modern Logic)​
  • PHIL 1001: Foundations in Philosophy ​
  • CORE 4929: The Service of Faith and Promotion of Justice​

Optional Concentrations

Ethics, Value, and Society

Courses you can choose from include:

PHIL 3350

Philosophy of the Environment

PHIL 3503

The Ethics of Intimacy

PHIL 3504

Ethics and the Function of Reason in Human Life

PHIL 3770

Feminist Philosophy

See Bulletin for complete listing. 

Philosophy and the Health Professions

Courses you can choose from include:

PHIL 3509

Philosophy of Disability

PHIL 4320

Contemporary Ethical Problems

PHIL 4335

Biomedical Ethics

PHIL 4470

Philosophy of Science

See Bulletin for complete listing. 

Philosophy and the Legal Professions

Courses you can choose from include: 

PHIL 3502

Narrating Freedom: Gender, Race and Mass Incarceration

PHIL 3506

Philosophy of Race

PHIL 3660

Marx and Marxism

PHIL 3750

Philosophy of Law

See Bulletin for complete listing. 


 

The Advantages of a Philosophy Major

The philosophy program at Marquette challenges students to gain precision and clarity in their own thinking and to develop the skills to raise creative, critical questions and to see topics and issues from a fresh point of view. The philosophy department offers opportunities for interaction with faculty, presentations and lectures from guest speakers, as well undergraduate groups designed for students interested in philosophy. 

In addition to PHIL 1001 and CORE 4929 that are required for all undergraduates at Marquette, the Philosophy major requires students to take one Logic course (PHIL 1000 / PHIL4000) and seven additional courses in philosophy. Students will work with their advisors to choose seven courses in Philosophy that match their interests. With their advisor’s approval, students may choose one upper-level course outside philosophy that is relevant to their philosophical interests. 

Learning outcomes

  1. Interpret challenging written material clearly.
  2. Analyze arguments effectively.
  3. Create strong arguments and offer objections to the arguments of others and themselves. 

Ready to declare a major or minor in Philosophy?

 

Resources for Undergraduates

Related programs