The Philosophy Major

Students majoring in philosophy must successfully complete the following requirements (36 credits):

One course in logic:

• PHL 176

Two courses in ethics, from among the following:

• PHL 201
• PHL 205
• PHL 231
• PHL 237
• PHL 243
• PHL 245
• PHL 254
• PHL 276
• PHL 330

Four courses from the history sequence:

• PHL 216
• PHL 217
• PHL 219
• PHL 221
• PHL 223
• PHL 226
• PHL 260

Five 200- or 300-level electives; three of these must be at the 300 level. (One 100-level philosophy course, except for Logic, may replace a 200-level elective.)

Writing Proficiency Requirement for Philosophy Major

Each student is required to produce a substantial amount of writing throughout her/his years as a philosophy major. We recognize, however, that not all course papers rise to the level of excellence. Consequently, we require that each student demonstrate that this excellence has been achieved either:

• by having a paper published, for instance, in an undergraduate journal, in a campus essay magazine, or in another peer-reviewed forum,
• by enrolling in a philosophy course that incorporates a revision process for the final essay (ideally this would include a peer-to-peer workshop component as well),
• by writing a senior thesis, or
• by assembling a senior-year writing portfolio that will include three of the student’s best papers written on a philosophical topic during his or her years at Goucher. This portfolio will be submitted for review to the student’s adviser no later than March 1 of the senior year (or October 1, in the case of a December graduation).

Advising Worksheet (Majors) (PDF)
Grading Rubric (PDF)