Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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Philosophy Major (BA)


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Philosophy Major- Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Please see the UNLV College of Liberal Arts, Interdisciplinary Degrees web page at www.unlv.edu/philosophy for information about department programs, faculty and facilities.  Degree worksheets and 4/5 year plan for the major are available at https://www.unlv.edu/degree/ba-philosophy.

Please see advising information at the UNLV Wilson Advising Center at www.liberalarts.unlv.edu/WAC/.

 Accreditation

Institution - Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities www.nwccu.org

Learning Outcomes

Goal I: To exhibit facility in the theory and practice of argumentation, reasoning, and critical thinking;

Students shall be able to:

  1. Master the practice of reasoning well including
    • The ability to construct clear and concise summarizations and assessments of the reasoning in complex passages by
      • Extracting their conclusions,
      • Distilling the lines of reasoning in support of those conclusions, and
      • Evaluating how well such reasoning supports those conclusions.
    • The ability to construct cogent arguments for their own conclusions and to express their reasoning in a coherent and convincing manner.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of, and competence with, the theory, of argumentation and logic through their abilities to:
    • Describe different approaches to logical theory, and to articulate their aims and scope,
    • Define and apply central concepts and techniques of logical theory,
    • Describe major results of logical theory, and
    • Sketch how to arrive at those results.

Goal II: To demonstrate an understanding of the classics of Western philosophy form antiquity to the present;

Students shall be able to:

  • Identify major  works or figures from at least three periods of the history of Western philosophy,
  • Articulate and, when appropriate, compare or contrast, the overall philosophical positions taken by these works or figures,
  • Summarize the major motivations or  arguments for these positions,
  • Present objections that have been raised or could be raised to these positions,
  • Assess the relative merits of these arguments and objections.

Goal III: To demonstrate knowledge about central problems in major branches of contemporary philosophical theory, such as metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and the philosophy of science;

Students shall be able to:

  • Identify central issues or debates in at least three core areas of contemporary philosophical theory,
  • Articulate and, when appropriate, compare or contrast, different views that might be taken with respect to these issues,
  • Summarize major motivations or arguments for these alternative positions,
  • Assess the relative merits of these arguments and objections.

University Graduation Requirements

 

Philosophy Degree Requirements - Total: 120 Credits


General Education Requirements - Subtotal: 36-38 Credits


First-Year Seminar - Credits: 2-3


English Composition - Credits: 6


Second-Year Seminar - Credits: 3


Constitutions - Credits: 4


Mathematics - Credits: 3


Distribution Requirement - Credits: 18-19


Please see Distribution Requirements  for more information.

  • Humanities and Fine Arts: 9 Credits
    • Two courses 3 credits each from two different humanities areas - 6 credits
    • One course in fine arts- 3 credits
  • Social Science
    • Automatically satisfied by Major requirements
  • Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking: 9-10 credits

Multicultural and International


Multicultural, one 3 credit course required
International, one 3 credit course required

These courses may overlap with general education and major requirements.  A single course may not meet the multicultural and international requirements simultaneously. For the list of approved multicultural and international courses, go to: http://facultysenate.unlv.edu/students

Major Requirements - BA in Philosophy - Subtotal: 60 Credits


Foreign Language/Foreign Culture - Credits: 6

Humanities - Credits: 6

Fine Arts - Credits: 6

Electives - Credits: 22-24


Total Credits: 120


Philosophy Major: Law and Justice Concentration - Credits 12


Majors may choose their electives to fulfill the requirements for a legal studies centered concentration.

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