Major in Philosophy

The Major in Philosophy at Cal State Long Beach provides an intellectually rigorous program of study in a supportive environment. It consists of a minimum of 36 units, which makes it an excellent choice for a double-major. Most philosophy courses are GE-certified, which means that students can double-count their major courses for GE. There is also ample flexibility to shape the major to their particular interests and needs.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Lower-Division:

The following three courses are required for the major:

  • PHIL203: History of Early Western Philosophy
  • PHIL204: History of Modern Western Philosophy
  • PHIL270: Symbolic Logic

Upper-Division:

Two courses from the following list are required to satisfy the distribution area of Historical Traditions and Figures:

  • PHIL306: Philosophies of China and Japan
  • PHIL307: Philosophies of India
  • PHIL413: Continental Rationalism
  • PHIL414: British Empiricism
  • PHIL415: Marx
  • PHIL416: Pragmatism
  • PHIL417: Phenomenology
  • PHIL418: Existentialism
  • PHIL419: Analytic Philosophy
  • PHIL420: Foucault
  • PHIL421: Plato
  • PHIL422: Aristotle
  • PHIL423: Kant
  • PHIL424: Hegel
  • PHIL425: Wittgenstein
  • PHIL490: Special Topics: Early Philosophy
  • PHIL491: Special Topics: The Modern Tradition
  • PHIL492: Special Topics: Twentieth Century Philosophy

Two courses from the following list are required to satisfy the distribution area of Logic, Metaphysics, and Epistemology:

  • PHIL330: Philosophy of Religion
  • PHIL342: Metaphysics
  • PHIL348: Personal Identity
  • PHIL370: Rationality and Decisions
  • PHIL381: Philosophy of Science
  • PHIL382: Theory of Knowledge
  • PHIL448: Freedom and Agency
  • PHIL475: Truth and Fact
  • PHIL482: Introduction to Cognitive Science
  • PHIL483: Philosophical Psychology
  • PHIL484: Philosophy of Language
  • PHIL493: Special Topics: Metaphysical Studies
  • PHIL494: Special Topics: Epistemological Studies
  • PHIL495: Special Topics: Logic and Semantics

Two courses from the following list are required to satisfy the distribution area of Values and Evaluation:

  • PHIL351: Political Philosophy
  • PHIL352: Philosophy of Law
  • PHIL360: Environmental Ethics
  • PHIL361: Philosophy of Art
  • PHIL363: Ethical Theory
  • PHIL400: Business Ethics
  • PHIL402: Engineering Ethics
  • PHIL403: Medical Ethics
  • PHIL404: Ethics and Artificial Intelligence
  • PHIL405: Philosophy and Literature
  • PHIL451: Liberty and Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in American Law
  • PHIL455: Philosophical Perspectives on Sex and Love
  • PHIL496: Special Topics: Value and Evaluation

Upper-Division Electives:

Six units of upper-division coursework are electives. These can be selected from any upper-division Philosophy course. ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ can count up to six units of Honors coursework toward the Major. Up to six units of Directed Study coursework may also be counted.

Any of the above upper-division courses

  • PHIL489: Philosophy Internship
  • PHIL497H: Undergraduate Honors Seminar
  • PHIL498H: Undergraduate Honors Thesis
  • PHIL499: Directed Studies

Additional Elective:

One Philosophy course from either lower- or upper-division.

Advising

ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ looking for more information about pursuing the Major in Philosophy should contact the incoming Department Chair,

Dr. Cory Wright
Department of Philosophy
Mcintosh Humanities Building Room 917
cory.wright@csulb.edu

For more generic questions, students can also use the ATLAS advising center. ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ who would prefer advising by faculty should contact the CLA Dean’s Office to request that the Department of Philosophy be given advising support.