Curriculum

Coursework in Philosophy: Diversity and Challenge

The philosophy department is continually expanding and updating its course offerings, both to stay current with philosophy scholarship and to offer students greater opportunity to relate philosophy to other fields of interest. For example, our introduction of courses in business ethics and philosophy of law has been so successful that the department now offers them every year. There is also an increased student interest in other types of applied ethics, such as bioethics and environmental ethics. Courses such as Philosophy and Gender, and courses that relate philosophy to social issues such as homelessness, balance more traditional offerings.

Philosophy classes at CSB and SJU are lively and challenging, with students encouraged and expected to share their ideas. Flexibility is a distinguishing feature of the program, thanks to the department’s size and the diversity of its faculty. Professors often teach courses on subjects that especially interest them, and they consistently pass their own enthusiasm on to their students.

Students majoring in philosophy complete the following courses: Ancient Philosophy, Modern Philosophy, and Logic. Typical students also take courses in Metaphysics, Moral Philosophy and 20th Century Continental Philosophers. Majors must choose an additional four courses, three of which must be upper division.

Students minoring in philosophy complete five courses, three of which must be upper division. Philosophy courses are open to all students, and class discussions benefit from the broad range of interests and backgrounds among the students.