Philosophy (BA)
The philosophy major at Loyola is extremely customizable and easily suited to your goals. Of the 11 courses required for the major, only 3 are fixed: PHIL 274 Logic, PHIL 304 History of Ancient Philosophy, and PHIL 309 Classical Modern Philosophy. Beyond that, you have flexibility to chart your own course. You can also choose to specialize in one of four areas: Ethics & Values (E&V); Law, Society, & Social Justice (LSSJ); Mind & Science (M&S); or Existence, Meaning, & Culture (EMC). (See Philosophy Major Specializations for more details.)
For further information, please contact the Philosophy Undergraduate Program Director Richard Kim.
Curriculum
Note that Philosophy majors are exempt from the general LUC PHIL 130 Philosophy & Persons CORE requirement.
All majors must take at least eleven (11) courses in philosophy. Seven of these courses must be at the 300-level (eight, if PHIL 301 Symbolic Logic is taken). Note that 300-level courses have a prerequisite of two philosophy courses. Each student's major program must include:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| Ethics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Ethics | ||
| Social and Political Philosophy | ||
| Business Ethics | ||
| Health Care Ethics | ||
| Contemporary Ethical Issues | ||
| Ethics and Education | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Culture and Civilization | ||
| Philosophy and Gender | ||
300-level equivalent | ||
| Epistemology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Philosophy & Persons | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Metaphysics | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Theory of Knowledge | ||
| Philosophy of Mind | ||
| Aesthetics | ||
| Judgment and Decision-Making | ||
300-level equivalent | ||
| Formal Logic | ||
| PHIL 274 | Logic | 3 |
| or PHIL 301 | Symbolic Logic | |
| Ancient Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 304 | History of Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| Classical Modern Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 309 | Classical Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| Philosophy Capstone Seminar | ||
| Select one philosophy capstone seminar in a historical period or in a contemporary issue: 1 | 3 | |
| Seminar in Ancient Philosophy | ||
| Seminar in Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Capstone Seminar in Classical Modern Philosophy | ||
| Capstone Seminar in Contemporary Philosophy | ||
| Capstone Seminar on a Topic in Philosophy | ||
| Electives | ||
| Five other elective philosophy courses, of which at least four must be at the 300-level | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
- 1
The department offers one capstone in each major specialization area each year.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
- First year—two core courses—in metaphysics/epistemology and ethics/social political (as above)
- Second year—three courses—in logic, ancient philosophy, and classical modern philosophy (PHIL 274 Logic / PHIL 301 Symbolic Logic, PHIL 304 History of Ancient Philosophy, PHIL 309 Classical Modern Philosophy)
- Third year—three courses—all electives, at least two at the 300-level
- Fourth year—three courses—two 300-level electives, plus a capstone seminar course
(Optional) Philosophy Major Specializations
Specializing within the major is not required. Declaring a general philosophy major is common and allows for the greatest flexibility in your course selection.
That said, choosing to pursue a philosophy specialization can help you to:
- Identify what fields within philosophy you find most fascinating and relevant;
- Plan a course of study within your major that emphasizes your interests;
- Signal to future employers and graduate schools the specific focus of your undergraduate degree.
The four areas of specialization within the philosophy major are: Ethics & Values (E&V); Law, Society, & Social Justice (LSSJ); Mind & Science (M&S); or Existence, Meaning, & Culture (EMC).
Specialization in Ethics and Values
Courses in the E&V specialization focus on ethical and moral issues, investigating how meaning, value, and moral responsibility operate to constitute an ethical human life. E&V courses each address some of the following topics: meta questions about value, the status of moral judgments, the nature of freedom, etc.; normative questions that encompass personal ethical choices, how individuals and groups should live together in a society, or ways to make ethical judgments; and applied questions about, for example, health care, education, or the environment. Potential topics include: Is moral value culturally relative? What makes something good? What is a good human life? Should voluntary euthanasia be legalized? What obligations does each person have, both to themselves and each other? Here concerns about moral rights, needs, capabilities, and character often play a role in deciding how we should go about making choices, especially when other people’s interests are involved.
E&V Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Ethics (suggested) | ||
| Social and Political Philosophy | ||
| Health Care Ethics | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Culture and Civilization | ||
300-level equivalent | ||
| Metaphysics/Epistemology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Philosophy & Persons | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Metaphysics | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Theory of Knowledge | ||
| Philosophy of Mind | ||
| Aesthetics | ||
| Judgment and Decision-Making | ||
300-level equivalent | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select three 300-level E&V electives 1 | 9 | |
| Philosophy | ||
| Any 300-level philosophy course | 3 | |
| Any level philosophy course | 3 | |
| PHIL 274 | Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 304 | History of Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 309 | Classical Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| Capstone | ||
| E&V capstone seminar | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
- 1
e.g., PHIL 310 Issues in Philosophy of Human Nature, PHIL 321 Ethics and Society, PHIL 324 Topics in Ethics, PHIL 388 History of Ethics
Suggested Course Sequence
Year One (2 Courses)
- Ethics course
- Metaphysics/Epistemology course
Year Two (3 courses)
- Logic course
- Ancient Philosophy or Classical Modern Philosophy
- 300-level E&V course
Year Three (3 courses)
- Classical Modern Philosophy or Ancient Philosophy
- 300-level E&V course
- Philosophy elective
Year Four (3 courses)
- 300-level E&V course
- 300-level philosophy elective
- E&V Capstone Seminar
Specialization in Law, Society and Social Justice
Courses in the LSSJ specialization focus on questions of justice—which is to say questions of how we should best live together, structure our societies, and justify our systems of law— developing the ability to critically examine our existing communities, societies, and laws. Students with an LSSJ specialization gain a solid understanding of the philosophical foundations of law, politics, and governance, as well as insight into theories of social justice, economic justice, racial justice, gender justice, environmental justice, etc. LSSJ specialists are thus well-equipped to pursue advanced study of these questions (for example, in law school), to engage in socio-political critique, and/or to strive for positive social and political change.
LSSJ Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Social and Political Philosophy (suggested) | ||
| Health Care Ethics | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Culture and Civilization | ||
300-level equivalent | ||
| Metaphysics/Epistemology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Philosophy & Persons | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Metaphysics | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Theory of Knowledge | ||
| Philosophy of Mind | ||
| Aesthetics | ||
| Judgment and Decision-Making | ||
300-level equivalent | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select three 300-level LSSJ electives: | 9 | |
| Ethics and Society | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Political Philosophy | ||
| Topics in Political Philosophy | ||
| Philosophy | ||
| Any 300-level philosophy course | 3 | |
| Any level philosophy course | 3 | |
| PHIL 274 | Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 304 | History of Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 309 | Classical Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| Capstone | ||
| LSSJ capstone seminar | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Suggested Course Sequence
Year One (2 Courses)
- Ethics course
- Metaphysics/Epistemology course
Year Two (3 courses)
- Logic course
- Ancient Philosophy or Classical Modern Philosophy
- 300-level LSSJ course
Year Three (3 courses)
- Classical Modern Philosophy or Ancient Philosophy
- 300-level LSSJ course
- Philosophy elective
Year Four (3 courses)
- 300-level LSSJ course
- 300-level philosophy elective
- LSSJ Capstone Seminar
Specialization in Mind and Science
Courses in the M&S specialization focus on topics in epistemology (the study of knowledge) and metaphysics (the study of reality and first principles), with a particular emphasis on philosophy of science and the philosophy of mind. Topics in epistemology include the nature of justification, certainty, belief, truth, and good reasoning; the nature of scientific inquiry; the roles of values in science; and decolonizing knowledge. Metaphysics covers issues that lie at the foundation of other disciplines, including the nature or existence of reality, soul, body, mind, God, freedom, and human persons. Addressing both historical and contemporary approaches to these topics, an M&S specialization complements further study in the fields of neuroscience, psychology, biology, physics, chemistry, medicine, mathematics, and other related disciplines.
M&S Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Ethics | ||
| Social and Political Philosophy | ||
| Health Care Ethics | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Culture and Civilization | ||
300-level equivalent | ||
| Metaphysics/Epistemology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Philosophy & Persons | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Metaphysics | ||
| Philosophy of Science (highly suggested) | ||
| Theory of Knowledge | ||
| Philosophy of Mind (highly suggested) | ||
| Aesthetics | ||
| Judgment and Decision-Making | ||
300-level equivalent | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select three 300-level M&S electives 1 | 9 | |
| Philosophy | ||
| Any 300-level philosophy course | 3 | |
| Any level philosophy course | 3 | |
| PHIL 274 | Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 304 | History of Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 309 | Classical Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| Capstone | ||
| M&S capstone seminar | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
- 1
e.g., PHIL 311 Issues in Metaphysics, PHIL 325 Ethics & Case Based Reasoning, PHIL 330 Theory of Knowledge, PHIL 333 Language: Theories Ancient & Modern, PHIL 355 Neuroethics, PHIL 369 Philosophy of Medicine, PHIL 381 Philosophy of Science, PHIL 382 Philosophy of Social Science, PHIL 383 Philosophy of Psychology
Suggested Course Sequence
Year One (2 Courses)
- Ethics course
- Metaphysics/Epistemology course
Year Two (3 courses)
- Logic course
- Ancient Philosophy or Classical Modern Philosophy
- 300-level M&S course
Year Three (3 courses)
- Classical Modern Philosophy or Ancient Philosophy
- 300-level M&S course
- Philosophy elective
Year Four (3 courses)
- 300-level M&S course
- 300-level philosophy elective
- M&S Capstone Seminar
Specialization in Existence, Meaning and Culture
Courses in the EMC specialization ask about how we find meaning, both as individuals and as parts of communities and cultures that precede and might outlast us. What does it mean to be a person? What is it like to be a person? How do we respond to, critique, and carry on the past? EMC courses are broadly conversant with and build upon 19th and 20th century European philosophy, focusing on issues in phenomenology (the study of experience), hermeneutics (the study of interpretation), existentialism, philosophical anthropology, feminist philosophy, gender theory, critical race theory, and aesthetics. Topics in these areas intersect with, but are not reducible to, issues in metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. Specific approaches may be historical and/or conceptual, analytic and/or continental, intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary.
EMC Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Ethics (suggested) | ||
| Social and Political Philosophy | ||
| Health Care Ethics | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Culture and Civilization | ||
300-level equivalent | ||
| Metaphysics/Epistemology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Philosophy & Persons | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Metaphysics | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Theory of Knowledge | ||
| Philosophy of Mind | ||
| Aesthetics | ||
| Judgment and Decision-Making | ||
300-level equivalent | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select three 300-level EMC electives | 9 | |
| Philosophy of Art | ||
| Studies in Philososphy & Literature | ||
| Political Philosophy | ||
| Topics in Political Philosophy | ||
| Contemporary European Philosophy | ||
| Philosophy | ||
| Any 300-level philosophy course | 3 | |
| Any level philosophy course | 3 | |
| PHIL 274 | Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 304 | History of Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 309 | Classical Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| Capstone | ||
| EMC capstone seminar | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Suggested Course Sequence
Year One (2 Courses)
- Ethics course
- Metaphysics/Epistemology course
Year Two (3 courses)
- Logic course
- Ancient Philosophy or Classical Modern Philosophy
- 300-level EMC course
Year Three (3 courses)
- Classical Modern Philosophy or Ancient Philosophy
- 300-level EMC course
- Philosophy elective
Year Four (3 courses)
- 300-level EMC course
- 300-level philosophy elective
- EMC Capstone Seminar
Learning Outcomes
Graduating Philosophy majors from Loyola University of Chicago are expected to demonstrate progress in three areas of philosophical knowledge – the history of philosophy; moral philosophy and related areas; and in the perennial philosophical problems related to knowledge and reality – as well as progress towards the mastery of philosophical methods and modes of expression.
- Demonstrate a general familiarity with major figures, schools and debates ranging from ancient Greece through the 20th century.
- Be able to recognize the significance of historical philosophy to ongoing philosophical debates and contemporary issues.
- Be able to recognize and appreciate the diversity of philosophical methodology across history.
- Be able to apply insights drawn from their study of the history of philosophy to ongoing philosophical debates.
In moral philosophy, students should...
- Demonstrate a general familiarity with the major theories of normative ethics.
- Be able to explain the issues at stake in some of the standard meta-ethical disputes in philosophy, for example moral relativism and other issues related to the objectivity of morality.
- Be able to apply such philosophical theories to analyze a range of moral issues from the individual to the social and political.
Regarding perennial philosophical problems, students should…
- Demonstrate a general familiarity with classical philosophical problems related to the nature of knowledge; the relationship between other varieties of inquiry, especially natural science, and philosophical wisdom; the nature of reality; the nature and existence of God; and the nature of human persons.
- Explain the significance of these problems and the arguments for and against various proposed responses to them.
- Be able to apply this understanding to construct and defend their own positions on at least some of these issues.
Regarding philosophical methodology, students should be able to…
- Interpret philosophical texts, especially be able to recognize and isolate central philosophical claims and the reasons offered in their defense.
- Recognize and evaluate the structure of a philosophical argument.
- Construct and articulate philosophical claims of their own, including the use of other philosophical work to clarify that claim and place it into appropriate context.
- Defend a philosophical claim, both orally and in writing, demonstrating especially a self-critical awareness of the weaknesses of one’s own position and the value of rigorous argument and clarity of expression.