Philosophy

Faculty

Kevin M. Nordberg, Ph.D., Chair
Harold W. Baillie, Ph.D.
David W. Black, Ph.D.
Edward J. Capestany, Ph.D., Emeritus
Timothy K. Casey, Ph.D.
Matthew J. Fairbanks, Ph.D., Emeritus
Paul E. Granahan, M.A., Adjunct
Christina Gschwandtner, Ph.D.
Daniel P. Haggerty, Ph.D.
Richard J. Klonoski, Ph.D.
Ronald McKinney, S.J., Ph.D.
Sharon M. Meagher, Ph.D.
J. Patrick Mohr, S.J., Ph.D.
Ann A. Pang-White, Ph.D.
William V. Rowe, Ph.D.
Patrick A. Tully, Ph.D.

Overview

The basic objectives of the Philosophy Department may be stated as follows:

1. To inspire the student to confront the philosophical problems implicit in the experience of self, others and the universe, together with the question of their relations to ultimate transcendence (God and immortality);

2. To develop in the student habits of clear, critical thinking within the framework of both an adequate philosophical methodology and accepted norms of scholarship;

3. To introduce the student to reading critically the great philosophers, past and present; and

4. Finally, to help the student to formulate for himself or herself a philosophy of life or worldview consistent with the objectives of liberal education at a Catholic university.

For the Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, the major must take 24 credits (eight courses) in Philosophy in addition to the 6 credits required of all students. These 24 credits must include a logic course and at least two courses on the 300 or 400 level. Majors should take logic before the senior year.

See also the Philosophy offerings in the SJLA Program.

Minor in Philosophy

A minor in Philosophy consists of 18 credits – the 6 credits required of all students and 12 additional credits. Seven distinct philosophy minors are available: the traditional open minor, Ethical Issues of Professional Life, Philosophy and Commercial Life, Pre-Law, History of Philosophy, Philosophy and Religious Life, and Philosophy and Science. Course listings for specific minors are available on the Philosophy Department Web page or in the Philosophy Department office.

Philosophy Curriculum
Dept. and No.				Descriptive Title of Course	Credits
				FIRST YEAR	FALL	SPRING
MAJOR (GE PHIL)		PHIL 120-210		Introduction to Philosophy - Ethics	3	3
GE WRTG-SPCH		WRTG 107-COMM 100		Composition - Public Speaking	3	3
GE C/IL		C/IL 102		Computing and Information Literacy		3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Electives	3	3
GE QUAN		QUANT ELECT		Elective	3
GE NSCI-S/BH		NSCI ELECT - S/BH ELECT		Natural Science Elective - Social/Behavioral Elective	3
GE FSEM-PHED		INTD 100 - PHED ELECT		Freshman Seminar - Physical Education	1	1
					16	16
				SECOND YEAR
MAJOR (GE PHIL)		PHIL 200 or 300 level		Second-year Electives	3	3
GE T/RS		T/RS 121-122		Theology I & II	3	3
GE HUMN		FOREIGN LANGUAGE 1		Humanities Electives	3	3
GE S/BH-NSCI		S/BH ELECT - NSCI ELECT		Social/Behavioral Elective - Natural Science Elective	3	3
GE ELECT		ELECT		Electives	3	3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education	1	1
					16	16
				THIRD YEAR
MAJOR		PHIL 200 or 300 level		Third-year Electives	3	6
COGNATE		ELECT 2		Electives	9	9
GE ELECT		ELECT		Electives	3	3
					15	18
				FOURTH YEAR
MAJOR		PHIL 300 or 400 level		Fourth-year Electives	6	3
COGNATE		ELECT 2		Electives	9	9
GE ELECT		ELECT		Electives	3	3
					18	15
					Total: 130 Credits
1 Foreign language is recommended by department. 2 In the Cognate area of 24 hours, the department requires that 12 credits be focused in one field. It should be noted that 6 credits not required by the department in the major area are added to the free area in senior year. These may be taken in any field, including Philosophy.