Philosophy (BA)

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Offered by the Department of Philosophy and Religion , College of Arts and Sciences .

Admission to the Program

Admission is through a formal declaration of major.

University Requirements

120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better
Completion of college writing requirement
Completion of university mathematics requirement

General Education Requirements

A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas
At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component
No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline

Major Requirements

39 credit hours with grades of C or better including 15 credit hours at the 300-level or above, and up to 6 credit hours in religion

Course Requirements

History of Philosophy (9 credit hours)

PHIL-105 Western Philosophy FA2 (3)
6 credit hours in approved coursework at the 300-level or above

Moral and Political Philosophy (9 credit hours)

PHIL-220 Moral Philosophy FA2 (3)
or
PHIL-235 Theories of Democracy and Human Rights FA2 (3)
6 credit hours in approved coursework at the 300-level or above

Critical Perspectives (6 credit hours)

Complete 6 credit hours from the following:

PHIL-413 Studies in Asian Philosophy (3)
PHIL-416 Feminist Philosophy (3)
PHIL-417 Race and Philosophy (3)
PHIL-418 Chinese Philosophy (3)
PHIL-485 Selected Topics in Philosophy (3) :
Latin American Thought

Philosophy and Film
RELG-210 Non-Western Religious Traditions FA3 (3)
RELG-473 Hinduism (3)
Approved philosophy or religion course

Concentration (9 credit hours)

9 credit hours in a subspecialty in philosophy, such as applied ethics or aesthetics, which may include courses outside the department with approval of the department’s director of undergraduate studies.

Electives (6 credit hours)

6 credit hours in approved coursework

Combined Philosophy (BA) and Philosophy (MA)

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for more information.

In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for combined bachelor’s/master’s programs:

Admission is open to undergraduates with a minimum grade point average of 3.00 overall and in philosophy courses. Applications must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and an academic writing sample. Students should discuss their interest in the program with members of the faculty before submitting a formal application.