Philosophy Major/Minor

Philosophers seek wisdom by asking fundamental questions about what there is (metaphysics), what we can know (epistemology), what kinds of people we should be (ethics), what is beauty (aesthetics), and how we should reason (logic). A major in philosophy will help students to develop critical reading and thinking skills to answer some of life's most difficult questions.

Otterbein College's philosophy program prepares students go on to graduate or professional schools, usually in law, medicine or business. It also is a good background for many careers, including teaching, nursing, art, communication, psychology and music.

For information on how philosophy majors perform on the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) and the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), click here.

All of the following philosophy courses are 5 credit hours each (except, possibly, for PHIL 390 and 490).

Major (Entering Fall 2009 - Present)

Additional electives to reach a minimum of 45 total hours. PHIL 120 (Effective Thinking) does not count toward the 45 required hours. At least 10 hours at the 300/400 level must be taken in an Otterbein classroom.

Electives

PHIL 130 - Ethics
PHIL 200/300 - Greek Philosophy
PHIL 210/310 - Early Modern Philosophy
PHIL 220/320 - Existentialism
PHIL 260 - Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 280 - Environmental Philosophy
PHIL 330 - Knowledge and Reality
PHIL 340 - Philosophy of Language and Mind
PHIL 350 - Contemporary Ethics and Meta-ethics
PHIL 355 - Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics
PHIL 360 - Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 390 - Independent Study
PHIL 490 - Internship

Requirements in the major (at least 45 total hours):

Core Studies (take all of these):

PHIL 100 - Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 125 - Symbolic Logic
PHIL 410 - Special Topics in Philosophy
PHIL 400 - Seminar in Philosophy

History (choose at least one):

PHIL 300 - Greek Philosophy
PHIL 310 - Early Modern Philosophy

Value Theory (choose at least one):

PHIL 280 - Environmental Philosophy
PHIL 355 - Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics
PHIL 350 - Contemporary Ethics and Meta-ethics
PHIL 360 - Social and Political Philosophy

Metaphysics and Epistemology (choose at least one):

PHIL 330 - Knowledge and Reality
PHIL 340 - Philosophy of Language and Mind

Minor (Entering Fall 2009 - Present)

Required (at least 25 hours):

PHIL 120 (Effective Thinking) or 125 (Symbolic Logic)
PHIL 300 (Greek Philosophy) or 310 (Early Modern Philosophy)
At least one more course at the 300-level or above.
Remaining hours from among any other PHIL courses.

Major (Entering Before Fall 2009)

Additional electives to reach a minimum of 45 total hours with no more than 10 of the electives from among PHIL 100/120/130. At least 15 of the 45 hours must be taken at the 300/400 level and in an Otterbein classroom.