Undergraduate Program
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BA Requirements | Double Majors | Honors Program | Minor in Philosophy | Minor in Bioethics
Philosophy poses such fundamental questions as: What can we know? How should we live?, and How do the results of human inquiry, obtained so far, hang together? It is an excellent preparation for professional studies such as law and medicine; it provides perspective on other disciplines such as psychology, mathematics, literature, and political science; and it centers on a set of questions that thinking people cannot avoid. At Hopkins it can be studied in a variety of ways.
A number of our courses are designed to provide broad introductions to the subject. Both 150.111 Philosophic Classics and 150.112 Philosophic Problems cover a wide range of topics, the former through the study of some of the major texts of Western thought, the latter by more systematic examination of representative issues. Either one will show a student a variety of approaches to philosophical problems. The courses 150.201 and 150.205 offer historically oriented introductions to the subject, giving the student a basic grasp of the development of philosophy in two of its major periods. Other courses, such as 150.118 Introduction to Deductive and Inductive Logic, 150.223 Aesthetics, and 150.220 Moral Philosophy, are designed for students with an interest in the particular areas they cover. All of these courses are readily available without prior study of philosophy.
The 400-level courses are open to graduate students as well as to undergraduates. Some require no previous course in philosophy. Others presuppose some familiarity with philosophy, such as would be provided by one of the introductory courses. Still others require more specific preparation. A student with questions about whether he/she has the background for a particular 400-level course should consult either the instructor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
A student who wants to study an area of philosophy not provided for in the regular curriculum or undertaking a special project of writing and research, should consult with a faculty member about taking 150.510-511 Directed Study. An undergraduate who has the proper background may enroll in a graduate seminar if the instructor approves.
Requirements for the BA
Philosophy majors must take 11 departmental courses.
A minimum of 6 courses must be at the 300 level or higher. Of the two general introductory courses, 150.111 Philosophic Classics and 150.112 Philosophic Problems, only one may count toward the major, and 2 total 100 level courses may count towards the major.
Majors are required to take the “Undergraduate Seminar,” preferably in the junior year.
Other courses must be distributed by taking at least one course in each of the five following categories:
- Ancient philosophy
- Modern philosophy
- Logic, philosophy of science, or philosophy of mathematics
- Philosophy of mind, theory of knowledge, philosophy of language, or metaphysics.
- Ethics, aesthetics, or political philosophy
- The first two categories are normally satisfied by taking Introduction to Greek Philosophy and Introduction to the History of Modern Philosophy.
The student thus has four or five further electives after satisfying the distribution requirements. Well-qualified majors may be admitted to a graduate seminar during the senior year. They should consult their major adviser. Courses in which a grade of D is received may not count toward the major, nor may courses taken pass/fail.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these updated requirements, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Double Majors
The Department encourages linking the study of philosophy with the study of other disciplines. For example, the subject matter and course requirements of the Philosophy and Psychology departments are such as to make a double major both practical and intriguing. Similarly, knowledge of literature or the history of art is pertinent to the study of aesthetics; a solid understanding of science is valuable for those interested in the philosophy of science; and students of ethics benefit considerably by combining their work with study of political theory and of the political realities in which morality must function. Members of the Department are available to assist students in planning double majors especially tailored to their interests.
Honors Program
Students with an overall GPA of 3.0 and a Philosophy GPA of 3.5 or higher (or outstanding recommendations from three department members) are eligible for the Senior Honors Thesis program. In addition to the 10 courses required for the major, successful applicants take two courses, 150.550 and 150.551, using them to write a thesis of about 50 pages under the supervision of a faculty member. The thesis must be completed prior to spring vacation of senior year. If the student withdraws prior to completion of a thesis, a pass/fail grade will be awarded.
The grade for the thesis will depend on the thesis itself and an oral examination about it, conducted by the thesis adviser and two other faculty members. Graduation Honors will be awarded to those whose work receives an A- or better.
For more information about the Honors Program, consult the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Minor in Philosophy
Philosophy minors must take seven departmental courses, which should include the following:
At least one course in the history of philosophy, either ancient or modern.
At least one course in two of the following areas:
1. Logic, philosophy of science, or philosophy of mathematics
2. Ethics, aesthetics, or political philosophy
3. Philosophy of mind, theory of knowledge, philosophy of language, or metaphysics.
Either 150.111 Philosophic Classics or 150.112 Philosophic Problems, but not both, may count as one of the seven courses. Neither is a required course.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these updated requirements, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Minor in Bioethics
The practice of medicine, the development of public health policies, and advances in the biomedical sciences raise fundamental moral and philosophical issues. The bioethics program is designed to provide students with an understanding of these issues, and the background and the conceptual tools to think about them clearly. The program is a collaboration between the Berman Institute of Bioethics and the Department of Philosophy, and draws on the resources of both.
The requirements for the bioethics minor consist of eight courses. These must include
- 150.219 Bioethics
- 150.220 Introduction to Moral Philosophy
- Either 020.151 and 020.152 (General Biology I and II) OR 020.306 and 020.306 (Biochemistry and Cell Biology)
- At least two upper-level seminars offered by the Bioethics program
- Courses totaling six credits, which can be either upper-level bioethics seminars not counted in fulfillment of the previous requirement, courses cross-listed in the bioethics program, or other courses approved by the program's advisory committee. A list of these courses can be obtained from the Program Director.
Style DIV, please skip.
Style DIV, please skip.