Requirements for the Minor in Philosophy

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR IN PHILOSOPHY

The Philosophy Minor at MSU Texas is designed to complement and strengthen each student’s major field of study. For this reason, the Minor balances basic program requirements with an adaptability to student interest.

Students who declare a Minor in Philosophy are required to complete 18 credit hours of philosophy coursework. At least 6 of these credit hours must be at the upper level. The following outline provides a map toward the completion of the Philosophy Minor:

 Foundations (6 credit hours)

All minors are required to take both of the following two courses:

• PHIL-1033: Introduction to Philosophy*
• PHIL-2033: Ethics

 History of Philosophy (6 credit hours)

All minors are required to take both of the following two courses. Courses taken at one level cannot be repeated at the other level. Students are not required to take these two courses consecutively; one course is not a prerequisite for the other.

• PHIL-2503 or PHIL-4503: History of Western Philosophy I
• PHIL-2513 or PHIL-4513: History of Western Philosophy II

 Additional Courses (6 credit hours)

All minors are required to take any two courses from the following list. Courses taken at one level cannot be repeated at the other level.

• PHIL-2053: Environmental Philosophy
• PHIL-2073: Philosophy of Horror and the Macabre
• PHIL-2083: Philosophy and Film
• PHIL-2103: Health Care Ethics
• PHIL-2203: Philosophy of Race and Racism
• PHIL-2703: Philosophy and Death
• PHIL-2823: Philosophy of Sex, Love, and Friendship
• PHIL-3533: Special Topics in Philosophy**
• PHIL-2311 or PHIL-4133: Political Philosophy
• PHIL-2213 or PHIL-4213: Asian Philosophy & Religion
• PHIL-2223 or PHIL-4223: Feminist Philosophy
• PHIL-2333 or PHIL-4333: Philosophy of Religion
• PHIL-4993: Independent Study in Philosophy***

*Students who have already completed both courses in the History of Philosophy have the option to take a third “Additional Course” instead of “Introduction to Philosophy”

**Students can take PHIL-3533 twice if the course topic changes.

***Instructor permission is required before a student can enroll in an Independent Study.

 “WRITING INTENSIVE” PHILOSOPHY COURSES

MSU Texas students may choose to take two “Writing Intensive” courses instead of taking the university’s “Writing Proficiency Exam.” A full list of Writing Intensive courses can be found here.

Students do not have to minor in Philosophy to take Writing Intensive courses in Philosophy. The following Philosophy courses are currently designated as “Writing Intensive”:

• PHIL-2823: Philosophy of Sex, Love, and Friendship
• PHIL-4333: Philosophy of Religion
• PHIL-4503: History of Western Philosophy I
• PHIL-4513: History of Western Philosophy II