The coursework for the philosophy major (30 credit hours) is as follows.

1. A student may take up to two 1000-level courses to count toward the major.  Our 1000-level courses are

2. Students are required to take two courses in the history of philosophy: PHIL 2111 Ancient Philosophy; and either PHIL 2214 Seventeenth-Century Philosophy, PHIL 2215 Modern Philosophy, or PHIL 2216 Eighteenth-Century Philosophy.

3. Students are required to take at least two courses in the category - "Value Theory" - and two courses in the category "Metaphysics and Epistemology."

Value Theory

Metaphysics and Epistemology

4. Students are required to take PHIL 2603 Introduction to Symbolic Logic.

5. Of the 10 total courses for the major, two must be at the 4000-level or above.  (Note: Only 3 s.h. of PHIL:4920 Research Practicum may be counted as a 4000-level course towards the major and towards an area requirement.) The remainder of courses for the major can be satisfied with electives, anything at the 2000-level or above.

Note that the above list of requirements for the major is effective Fall 2015.  The previous list of requirements is available here -- catalog.  A student who declared the major prior to Fall 2015 can use the previous list, or a student can opt to re-declare the philosophy under the updated requirements. 

Before Fall 2015:

The B.A. degree requires at least 27 semester hours of credit in courses numbered from 26:61 through 26:198 and must include 26:103 Introduction to Symbolic Logic, 26:111 Ancient Philosophy, and either 26:114 Seventeenth-Century Philosophy, 26:115 Early Modern Philosophy, or 26:116 Eighteenth-Century Philosophy.

The final 12 semester hours of philosophy courses used to complete the departmental requirement must be taken at The University of Iowa. The department may make exceptions for students who pursue approved study abroad during their senior year.