UP Core Requirements — 40 credit hours
All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.
See UP Core Requirements
In Philosophy Major Option 2, the core requirement for the Global & Historical Consciousness Habit is satisfied by requirements within the major and one of the three core requirements in the Science & Problem Solving Habit is satisfied by ECN 120 or POL 200 within the major.
PHL 331/336/338/371/372/373/374 and PHL 488 are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.A. in Philosophy.
College of Arts and Sciences B.A. Requirements — 24-33 credit hours
See College Requirements, B.A.
Philosophy Major Option 1 — 27 credit hours
Designed for students who desire to complement an interest in philosophy with an interest in a related field such as business, education, or any of the liberal arts. Students choosing this option should consult with their advisor for specific course recommendations to complement their interests in related fields of study.
Logic – 3 credit hours
History – 6 credit hours
Select two courses from the following:
| PHL 331 | Asian Philosophies: Self & Freedom | 3 |
| PHL 336 | Metaphysics: Native American Philosophy | 3 |
| PHL 338 | Metaphysics: Ancient Greek Metaphysics in Context | 3 |
| PHL 371 | Ancient Greek & Roman Philosophy | 3 |
| PHL 372 | Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
| PHL 373 | Early Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| PHL 374 | Hegel and 19th Century Philosophy | 3 |
Metaphysics or Epistemology - 3 credit hours
Select one course from the following:
| PHL 330 | Metaphysics - A Survey | 3 |
| PHL 331 | Asian Philosophies: Self & Freedom | 3 |
| PHL 332 | Metaphysics: Philosophy of Mind | 3 |
| PHL 333 | Metaphysics: Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| PHL 334 | Close Encounters: Being, Theology, & Cosmology | 3 |
| PHL 335 | Metaphysics: Self and Identity | 3 |
| PHL 336 | Metaphysics: Native American Philosophy | 3 |
| PHL 337 | Metaphysics: Freedom | 3 |
| PHL 338 | Metaphysics: Ancient Greek Metaphysics in Context | 3 |
| PHL 339/THTR 405 | Metaphysics of Shakespeare | 3 |
| PHL 340 | Metaphysics and the Scientific Revolution | 3 |
| PHL 371 | Ancient Greek & Roman Philosophy | 3 |
| PHL 372 | Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
| PHL 373 | Early Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| PHL 374 | Hegel and 19th Century Philosophy | 3 |
| PHL 422 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| PHL 479 | Existentialism | 3 |
Ethics or Politics – 3 credit hours
Select one course from the following:
Pluralism Requirement 0-3 credit hours
If not taken to fulfill one of the requirements above, select one course from the following:
| PHL 314 | Metaphysics: Philosophy and Feminism | 3 |
| PHL 331 | Asian Philosophies: Self & Freedom | 3 |
| PHL 336 | Metaphysics: Native American Philosophy | 3 |
| PHL 408 | Race, Gender, and Colonialism | 3 |
| PHL 410/ETHS 410 | Decolonial Education and Politics | 3 |
One-time course offerings may fulfill the pluralism requirement. Please confirm the eligible yearly course offerings with the department chair.
Option 1 Major Electives - 6-9 credit hours
Any 300 or 400 level philosophy class not already used to fulfill the requirements above, two of which must be 400-level. Students complete nine credit hours of philosophy electives if the course taken to fulfill the History, Metaphysics, or Ethics or Politics requirement also fulfilled the Pluralism requirement.
Capstone - 3 credit hours
Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours
Philosophy Major Option 2 Philosophy, Politics, and Policy — 63 credit hours
This curriculum is designed for students with an interest in philosophy and political science with an emphasis on public policy. Students choosing this option will have a double major in philosophy and political science. A decision to follow this curriculum should be made before the end of the junior year.
Option 2 Required Courses - 39 credit hours
PHL 490/POL 490 must be taken for 3 credit hours.
PHL 490/POL 490 should be completed during the junior year. PHL 488/POL 499 should be completed during the senior year and in the discipline not chosen for the directed study during the junior year.
Select one course from the following - 3 credit hours
| POL 305 | Ancient and Medieval Political Thought | 3 |
| POL 306 | Modern Political Thought | 3 |
| POL 307 | Contemporary Political Theory | 3 |
Pluralism Requirement - 3 credit hours
Select one course from the following:
| PHL 314 | Metaphysics: Philosophy and Feminism | 3 |
| PHL 331 | Asian Philosophies: Self & Freedom | 3 |
| PHL 336 | Metaphysics: Native American Philosophy | 3 |
| PHL 408 | Race, Gender, and Colonialism | 3 |
| PHL 410/ETHS 410 | Decolonial Education and Politics | 3 |
One-time course offerings may fulfill the pluralism requirement. Please confirm the eligible yearly course offerings with the department chair.
Option 2 Major Electives — 18 credit hours
12 upper-division credit hours must be from political science, with 6 credit hours being 400-level. These must include one comparative politics course, one U.S. politics course, and one international relations course.
6 upper-division credit hours must be in philosophy, chosen from those courses not already required.