Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy Roadmap
120 Total Units Required
Minimum Number of Units in the Major: 41
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.
| First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 114 | Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice (A2) 1 | 3 |
| GE Area A (PHIL 110 Recommended) 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area B: Quantitative Reasoning (B4) 3 | 3 | |
| GE Area C | 3 | |
| GE Area D | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| GE Area A | 3 | |
| GE Area B: Physical Science (B1) and Laboratory Science (B3) 4 | 3-4 | |
| GE Area E | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Two 5 | 6 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| PHIL 205 | Formal Logic I (Major Core) | 3 |
| GE Area B: Life Science (B2) and Laboratory Science (B3) 4 | 3-4 | |
| GE Area C | 3 | |
| GE Area D | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| PHIL 320GW | Philosophical Analysis - GWAR (Major Core) | 3 |
| PHIL 450 | Ethics (Major Core, UD-C, SJ) | 3 |
| GE Area C | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 5 | 6 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| PHIL 300 | Academic and Professional Pathways in Philosophy (Major Core) | 1 |
| PHIL 303 | Modern Philosophy (Major Core, UD-C) | 3 |
| PHIL 321 | Being and Knowing (Major Core) | 3 |
| GE Area F ± | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-B: Upper-Division Physical and/or Life Sciences | 3 | |
| U.S. and California Government | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| History (3 units) - Take One 6 | 3 | |
| Normative Issues (6 units) - Take One 7 | 3 | |
| Metaphysics & Epistemology (6 units) - Take One 8 | 3 | |
| Electives (9 units) - Take One 9 | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Seventh Semester | ||
| Electives (9 units) - Take One 7 | 3 | |
| Normative Issues (6 units) - Take One 7 | 3 | |
| Metaphysics & Epistemology (6 units) - Take One 8 | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| PHIL 696 | Directed Reading: Learning Outcomes (Major Core) | 1 |
| Electives (9 units) - Take One 9 | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Three 5 | 10 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Total Units | 120-122 | |
- 1
ENG 114 can only be taken if you complete Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and select ENG 114; if you choose ENG 104/ENG 105 through DSP you will satisfy A2 upon successful completion of ENG 105 in the second semester; multilingual students may be advised into alternative English courses.
- 2
To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.
- 3
To determine the best B4 course option, students should complete the online advising activity at mathadvising.sfsu.edu. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 4
Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill B3 if not already satisfied.
- 5
Complementary Studies for the Philosophy Major
12 units of Complementary Studies are required of all candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. These units must come from courses bearing a prefix other than PHIL, and not cross-listed with PHIL. Philosophy majors are given a multitude of pathways toward completing this requirement, each of which is designed to facilitate graduation in a timely manner and deepen the student’s knowledge and appreciation of a philosophical topic in a multi-disciplinary way. Philosophy majors may, with the approval of a department advisor, elect to apply 12 units in a single foreign language of their choosing or courses taken in an approved study abroad program (e.g., CSU Study Abroad). Otherwise, with the approval of a department advisor, the student may take 12 units of courses that complement an area of philosophical specialization. Philosophy is rich in such specializations. Here are some illustrative philosophical specializations in which studying philosophy and studying other disciplines is complementary: Philosophy of the Arts, Ancient Philosophy, Asian Philosophy, Bioethics/Medical Ethics, Business Ethics, Philosophy of Cinema, Philosophy of Dance, Philosophy of Economics, Environmental Philosophy, Global Justice, Islamic Philosophy, Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of Law, Philosophy of Literature, Logic and Philosophy of Mathematics, Philosophy of Music, Philosophy of Mind, Modern European Philosophy, Philosophy of Music, Philosophy of Perception, Philosophy of Photography, Philosophy of Psychology/Cognitive Science, Political Philosophy and Social Justice, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Sexuality, Philosophy of Science and Technology, Philosophy and Society, Philosophy of Social Science, Philosophy of Sport, Philosophy of Under-represented Groups, and Philosophy of Women and Gender. To accommodate emerging areas of philosophical study, students are encouraged to design 12 unit modules for the review and approval of the department advisor.
- 6
History (3 units)
PHIL 301 Ancient Philosophy (3 units) (UD-C)
PHIL 302 Medieval Philosophy (3 units) (UD-C)
PHIL 410 Topics in the History of Philosophy (3 units)
PHIL 516 Islamic Philosophy (3 units) (UD-C, GP)
- 7
Normative Issues (6 units)
PHIL 304 Ethics Bowl (3 units) (SJ)
PHIL 330 Political Philosophy (3 units) (UD-C, SJ)
PHIL 335 Law and Society (3 units) (UD-D, AERM, SJ)
PHIL 375 Peace Law and Human Rights in the U.S. (3 units) (UD-D, GP, SJ)
PHIL 378 Philosophy of Criminal Law (3 units) (UD-C, SJ)
PHIL 380 Philosophy of Law (3 units) (UD-C, SJ)
PHIL 383 Ethics in Medicine (3 units) (UD-C, SJ)
PHIL 384 Philosophy of Research Ethics (3 units) (UD-C, GP, SJ)
PHIL 395 Ethical Issues: Science and Technology (3 units) (UD-B, SJ)
PHIL 435 Human Rights in Global Perspective (3 units) (UD-C, GP, SJ)
PHIL 436 Islamic Political Philosophy (3 units) (UD-C, GP, SJ)
PHIL 451 Feminist Moral Issues (3 units) (UD-C, AERM, GP, SJ)
PHIL 460 Philosophy of Art (3 units) (UD-C, GP)
PHIL 470 Environmental Ethics (3 units) (UD-C, ES, SJ)
PHIL 494 Philosophy and Personal Development (3 units) (UD-C)
- 8
Metaphysics & Epistemology (6 units)
Select Two. At least one course must be non-GE. The three GE courses are PHIL 350, PHIL 351, and PHIL 621:
PHIL 350 Philosophy of Science (3 units) (UD-B)
PHIL 351 Philosophy of Risk (3 units) (UD-B, ES)
PHIL 605 Metaphysics (3 units)
PHIL 610 Theory of Knowledge (3 units)
PHIL 620 Philosophy of Mind (3 units)
PHIL 621 Minds, Brains, and Computers (3 units) (UD-B)
PHIL 630 Philosophy of Language (3 units)
- 9
Electives (9 units)
Any PHIL course not used to satisfy a previous requirement can be used as an elective. At least 3 units must be an upper-division PHIL course. The remaining 6 units may be lower- or upper-division.
- ±
Given catalog rights, fall 2023 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course.