Oct 12, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Philosophy, BS Major in


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Majors and Minors

This program exposes the student to central concepts and values in the philosophical tradition and provides specialization in an area of philosophy that complements the student's core competence in a professional, technical or scientific area.

The BS in philosophy enhances professional, technical or scientific areas of understanding and prepares students, no matter their career path, to engage complex problems reflectively and develop the communication and analytical skills required to address ethical issues in a global world. Students become acquainted with a range of philosophical approaches and develop core skills in logical and critical reasoning; in analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating complex information with rigor and clarity; in communicating effectively, both orally and in writing; and in understanding and working with diverse perspectives. The major both complements and supports students' scientific, professional and technical education. In addition, it also gives students a competitive edge for further graduate and professional education.

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 124, with at least 62 in liberal arts and sciences


Major Requirements - Semester Hours: 48


  1. A minimum of 30 s.h. in philosophy as follows: 18 s.h. philosophy core requirements and 12 s.h. in a specialized area of philosophy that complements B (see below).

  2. A minimum of 18 s.h. in a professional, scientific or technical core competence area. This can be a minor in an area outside of philosophy, an individually designed area (in consultation with philosophy advisor), or a second major outside of philosophy, 18 s.h. of which may count toward this competence area for the B.S. in philosophy.

Multi-disciplinary option: a student who has a major in another field (or majors in other fields) may, under advisement and at discretion of the Department Chair, count one 100-level course in one (and no more than one) other major,  if suitable, toward the philosophy major in the Philosophy Specialization category of the major (see program requirements below).

No one philosophy course may satisfy two or more requirements within the major. Thus, for example, if a student takes PHI 014  to satisfy part of the Philosophy Core Requirements, that course cannot also satisfy a requirement in the Philosophy Applied Ethics specialization. In addition, where appropriate and under departmental advisement and approval by the Department Chair, variable topics PHI courses may be substituted for courses in the specialization portion of this program.

NOTE: Philosophy majors may use no more than three 1-credit courses to satisfy the minimum 30-credit PHI requirement of the philosophy major.

• Students interested in graduate school in philosophy are strongly advised to take the following courses:  PHI 141; 143; 154; 14 or 170; 180, 180a or 180b

• Students interested in law school are strongly advised to take the following courses:

PHI 15, 120, 121; 150 or 154

Philosophy Core Requirements - Semester Hours: 18


One Intro Level Course - Semester Hours: 3

Any 3 or 4 credit PHI course below 100-level

Area Philosophy Coursework – Semester Hours: 15

15 semester hours in 100-level Philosophy coursework as detailed below:

1) Reasoning – Semester Hours 3: 150, 152, 154

2) History of Philosophy – Semester Hours 3: 114, 141, 143, 145, 147, 148, 182

3) Value – Semester Hours 3:
130, 131, 133, 136, 137, 138, 166, 170

4) Knowledge & Reality – Semester Hours 3: 161, 163, 164, 165, 168, 180, 180a, 180b

5) Additional 100-level Philosophy Course – Semester Hours 3: 1 course (3 or 4 s.h.), selected from any 100-level PHI course

Philosophy Area of Specialization - Semester Hours: 12


Choose one of the following areas of specialization in philosophy.

Note: Multi-disciplinary option:  a student who has a major in another field (or majors in other fields) may, under advisement and at discretion of Dept. Chair, count one 100-level course in one (and no more than one) other major,  if suitable, toward the philosophy major in the Specialization category of the major.

Philosophy Specialization in Applied Ethics

Philosophy Specialization in Philosophy of Mind/Cognitive Science

Philosophy Specialization in Society and Politics

Philosophy Specialization in Science and Technology

Choose one course from the following - Semester Hours: 3

Choose one course from the following - Semester Hours: 3

Professional, Scientific or Technical Core Competence - Semester Hours: 18


A student must complete a series of courses designed to provide knowledge in a professional, scientific, or technical area outside of philosophy, which complements the student’s studies within philosophy. Such a professional, scientific or technical core will consist of at least 18 semester hours and can be satisfied in one of the following ways:

Completion of:

  • A minor in an area outside of philosophy.

  • An individually designed professional, scientific or technical core, subject to the approval of the student’s philosophy adviser who will consult with the appropriate other department(s). Examples of an individually designed core might be pre-medical studies, pre-law studies, or other professional areas.

  • A second major outside of philosophy, 18 semester hours of which will count toward the BS in philosophy.

Departmental Honors


A student does not have to be a member of Honors College to do Departmental Honors. The Philosophy Department encourages any Philosophy major with an overall GPA of at least 3.4 and a department GPA of at least 3.5 in philosophy to consider writing an Honors Thesis and standing for Departmental Honors. A minimum of 15 s.h. in philosophy is required – 18 s.h. in philosophy is strongly recommended – before attempting an honors thesis. Departmental Honors involves developing an independent research project, in consultation with a philosophy department faculty advisor.  The project culminates in a 30- to 50-page essay, which a student defends before a committee of philosophy department faculty. It is recommended that students begin to consult with a faculty advisor in the spring of their junior year. Departmental Honors work should be carried out over a period of two semesters – usually the fall and spring of senior year – with the goal of completing the thesis by mid-April of the senior year, allowing time for presentation, defense, and revision. With the approval of the Department Chairperson, the student registers for PHI 193, Honors Essay in each of those semesters.

Complete BS Requirements


BS Requirements  in Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Majors and Minors