Philosophy
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The Department of Philosophy offers programs of study that lead to the Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts, and Bachelor of Arts.
Visit the Department for current offerings.
For information on advanced degrees, see graduate Philosophy.
Major in Philosophy
Students completing a Major in Philosophy must take at least 42 approved credits in Philosophy (or accepted equivalent courses), including at least 30 upper-level credits, subject to requirements below.
Preparatory Courses
The Department of Philosophy recommends, but does not require, that students considering study in philosophy complete one or more introductory courses in the discipline, selected from amongst PHIL 100, 101, 102, 120, 125, 211, 212, 235, 250, 260, or Arts One. Any preparatory courses completed may be applied to the Additional Philosophy at Any Level requirement, below.
Area Requirements
Students must complete courses in each of the following areas, as indicated:
- Symbolic Logic: PHIL 220
- Value Theory: at least one of PHIL 2301 or 3301
- Epistemology/Metaphysics: at least one of PHIL 2401 or 3401
- History of Philosophy: at least 6 credits from PHIL 310, 311, 313, 314, 315, 316, 371, 378, 388, or ASIA 372
1Students considering graduate study in Philosophy are encouraged to complete all four of PHIL 230, 240, 330 and 340.
Research Requirement
Students must complete the following:
- Research Seminar: at least one of PHIL 418, 426, 431, 432, 440, 450, 452, 455, 469, or 491
Additional Upper-level Philosophy
Students are required to complete a total of 30 upper-level credits in Philosophy2,3 including any upper-level courses taken to meet the Area Requirements or the Research Requirement.
Additional Philosophy at Any Level
In addition to Area Requirement, Research Requirement, and Upper-level requirement courses, students must complete additional courses in Philosophy at any level2,3 in order to meet the total number of credits (42) required for the Major. These credits may include preparatory courses.
2Credit for PHIL 400 and PHIL 401 is not permitted toward any specialization in Philosophy, including the Major. 3ASIA 372 is permitted toward either the upper-level Philosophy requirement or the Additional Philosophy at Any Level requirement.
Combined Major in Philosophy and Economics
Visit the Department for current Economics course and program information.
Admission to the program is subject to the admission restrictions and application processes that pertain currently to the Major in Economics. In addition to faculty requirements, the program has Economics and Philosophy requirements.
Economics Requirements
Students take an 18-credit core plus ECON 490 and 9 credits of electives in economics of which at least 3 credits must be at the 300-/400-level. The 18-credit core consists of ECON 101, 102, 301 (or 304 or 201 or 206), 302 (or 305 or 202 or 207), 325, and 326. Students are strongly advised to take ECON 318 and ECON 319 (equivalent to PHIL 362 and PHIL 363).
Philosophy Requirements
Students take an 18-credit core plus 12 credits of electives at the 300-/400-level. The elective credits may not (except with departmental permission) include PHIL 400, 401. The 18-credit core consists of PHIL 220, 230, 240, 330, 340, and 491, plus 3 credits of history of philosophy from PHIL 310, 311, 314, or 315.
Combined Major in Philosophy and Political Science
Admission to the program is subject to the admission restrictions and application processes that pertain currently to the Major in Political Science. In addition to faculty requirements, the program has philosophy and political science requirements.
Philosophy Requirements: Students take an 18-credit core plus 12 credits of electives at the 300-/400-level. The 18-credit core consists of PHIL 230, 240, 330, 340, and any two of the following: PHIL 335, 338, 431, and/or 461, and 491. Students may use any 300-/400-level philosophy courses to fulfill their elective requirements excluding PHIL 400 and 401.
Political Science Requirements: Students take an 18-credit core plus 12 credits of electives at the 300-/400-level. The 18-credit core consists of POLI 100, 101, 110, 240, 380, and 3 credits selected from courses numbered 340-349.
Honours in Philosophy
Students are encouraged to apply to the Department for admission to the Honours program by the end of their second year. Applicants are normally expected to have obtained a grade of at least 80% in at least two of PHIL 220, 230 or 240. A recommendation from a philosophy instructor is also required.
For an Honours degree a student must complete at least 60 credits (and no more than 72 credits) in Philosophy, subject to the following requirements.
First Year
3 credits from PHIL 100 (6), 101 (3), 102 (3), 150 (3), 120 (3), 125 (3), 211 (3), 212 (3), 260 (3) or Arts One are recommended.
Second, Third and Fourth Years
Second, third, and fourth years of the program require that students complete:
- 15 credits from: PHIL 220, 230, 240, 330, 340
- 6 credits of 300-level history of Philosophy from PHIL 310, 311, 314, 315
- 12 credits from: PHIL 390, 490; and
- an additional 24 credits from third- and fourth-year Philosophy courses (excluding 400, 401) to provide a total of at least 48 third- and fourth-year credits (including the third- and fourth-year credits required above).
Minor in Philosophy
Students must take at least 30 credits (and no more than 42 credits) in Philosophy. At least 18 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above (excluding PHIL 400, 401).
Major in History and Philosophy of Science
See History.
Major in Cognitive Systems: Mind, Language, and Computation
For a program description and admission requirements, see Cognitive Systems (Arts).
Lower-level requirements
- PSYC 100 (or 101 and 102)
- CPSC 110 (or 103 and 107)1, 121
- LING 100 or LING 201
- COGS 200
- PHIL 220 or PHIL 3202
- PHIL 240
- One of STAT 200, 201, 241, PSYC 218, or 2783
Upper-level requirements
- COGS 300, 303, 401, 402
- PSYC 304 or PSYC 309
- PSYC 365
- Nine credits of philosophy courses taken from this list: PHIL 351, PHIL 326, PHIL 441, PHIL 451, PHIL 455
- 15 credits of additional Cognitive Systems module courses numbered 300 or higher (chosen from this list)
1While CPSC 110 is the recommended route for students pursuing a program in Cognitive Systems, CPSC 103 and 107 may be taken in its place.
2The prerequisite of PHIL 220 may be waived for PHIL 320 with the consent of the instructor.
3PSYC 278 registration is limited to BSc students. BA students without prior credit for this course should plan to register in PSYC 218. Students intending to enroll in the Minor in Data Science should satisfy this requirement by taking STAT 201.
