Georgia College & State University

Philosophy B.A.

Philosophy is at the core of the liberal arts. Our program offers a wide variety of discussion-based seminars in both Western and non-Western philosophy. Working with primary texts, we help students to develop their critical thinking and writing skills. Our courses concentrate on issues that are relevant to students' lives such as how to live, the nature of justice, the role of reason and emotion in a good life, and the meaning and role of art in our lives.

After graduation our students have gone on to graduate school, law school, the Peace Corps, nonprofit organization, and private industry.

Core Areas A-E

Satisfactorily complete core Areas A-E, as listed in the Core Curriculum section of this catalog.

Core Curriculum

Georgia College, in cooperation with other institutions of the University System of Georgia, has adopted a core curriculum to allow the transfer of credit from one University System institution to another without penalty to the student. The University System's core curriculum is comprised of five areas: Areas A - E.

Students successfully completing an Area A-E course at one University System institution will receive full credit in Areas A-E for the course upon transfer to another System institution, even if the area has not been completed, as long as the course is within the area hour limitations of either the sending institution or the receiving institution and the student does not change from a non-science major to a science major.

Georgia College's approved core curriculum courses for Areas A, B, C, D, and E are listed below. Courses not listed here are not approved for these areas.

In this section

• Area A: Communication Skills
• Area A2: Quantitative Skills
• Area B: Institutional Options
• Area C1: Humanities and Ethics
• Area C2: Fine Arts
• Area D: Natural Sciences, Math, and Technology for Non-Science Majors
• Area D: Natural Sciences, Math, and Technology for Science Majors
• Area D: Natural Sciences, Math, and Technology for Health Professions Majors
• Area E: Social Sciences
• Area F: Courses Appropriate to the Student's Major Field

Total Credit Hours: 42

Area F

• Phil 2010: Survey of Philosophy
• Phil 2020: Logical & Critical Thinking
• Foreign Language
• Any 1000-2000 level course in Arts, Econ, Hist, Idst, Musc, Pols, Psyc, Reli, Rhet, Soci, or Thea

Total Credit Hours: 18

Major Requirements

Required Courses

Satisfactorily complete one course from three of the following five areas:

Area 1: Ethics

• Phil 4410: Ethical Theory
• Phil 4680: Environmental Ethics
• Phil 4950: Special Topics

Area 2: History of Philosophy

• Phil 4605: Existentialism
• Phil 4950: Special Topics

Area 3: Non-Western Philosophy

• Phil 4305: Myth, Magic and Psychoanalysis
• Phil 4420: Philosophy of Religion
• Phil 4610: Confucianism & Daoism
• Phil 4950: Special Topics

Area 4: Philosophy of Art

• Phil 4310: Phil of Art & Art of Living
• Phil 4950: Special Topics

Area 5: Social and Political Philosophy

• Phil 4340: Social & Political Philosophy
• Phil 4675: Philosophy of Law
• Phil 4950: Special Topics

Major Electives

Satisfactorily complete an additional 15 hours of 3000-4000 Philosophy courses. Students may use this area to complete optional concentrations in Aesthetics, Pre-Law, or Religion. Students may also substitute one course from a related discipline with the approval of the department chair.

Total Credit Hours: 15

Optional Aesthetics Concentration

Satisfactorily complete at least 12 hours from the following courses, distributed as follows:

Philosophy or Religion Courses

• Phil 4310: Phil of Art & Art of Living
• Reli 3610: Religion, Media and Culture
• Reli 3700: Religion and Science Fiction

Other Disciplines

• Arts 4950: Special Topics
• Arts 4985: Advanced Studio Problems
• Engl 4226: Topics in Shakespeare
• Engl 4330: Restoration & 18th Cent Lit
• Engl 4335: English Romanticism
• Engl 4337: Victorian Literature
• Engl 4338: 19th-Century English Novel
• Engl 4440: Modern Drama
• Engl 4740: Women & Popular Culture
• Engl 4810: Film Studies
• Engl 4820: Jane Austen on Film
• Engl 4830: Topics in Film, TV, New Media
• Musc 3650: Jazz History
• Musc 3660: American Music
• Musc 4800: Studies in World Music

Optional Pre-Law Concentration

Students may complete a concentration in Pre-Law as part of their Philosophy major by completing the following courses. These courses may be used toward electives in the major.

• Phil 4340: Social & Political Philosophy
• Phil 4410: Ethical Theory
• Phil 4675: Philosophy of Law
• Phil 4680: Environmental Ethics

Total Credit Hours: 12

Optional Religion Concentration

Students may complete a concentration in Religion as part of their Philosophy major by completing four of the following courses. These courses may be used toward electives in the major.

• Reli 3950 Special Topics: History of Buddhism in Asia
• Phil 4950 Special Topics: Philosophy of Religion
• Reli 3950 Special Topics: South Asian Buddhism
• Reli 3940 Hindu Religious Tradition
• Phil 4950 Special Topics: Confucianism and Daoism
• Reli 3310 The Hebrew Bible
• Reli 3950 Special Topics: Introduction to Hinduism
• Hist 4405 Religion in American History
• Soci 4950 Special Topics: Sociology of Religion

Total Credit Hours: 12

Senior Capstone

Students will submit a research paper written in a Philosophy course to a conference or journal in consultation with the advisor.

Electives

For students who must take the 1001, 1002, and/or 2001 foreign language courses, these courses will be applied to electives and will reduce the total number of elective credits available.

Total Credit Hours: 18-36

Total Credit Hours: 120

Other Requirements

• A grade of C or better must be earned in each course that counts toward major requirements and in the senior capstone.
• A minimum of 39 hours overall must be at the 3000-4000 level.
• The first-year academic seminar must be completed with a satisfactory grade. Students who transfer to GCSU are exempt from this requirement.
• Exit Survey / Information
• Portfolio of papers to include Senior Thesis

Our small class sizes allow faculty to mentor students in ways that are highly conducive to student success at GC as well as after graduation:

• Our majors are highly successful in the LSAT and have been successful in some of the most important Law Schools in the nation, such as the University of Chicago, University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and Mercer. Meet Caitlin Banks at UGA Law School.
• Our majors have been highly successful in getting into and thriving, in excellent PhD programs such as Pennsylvania State University and University of Hawaii. Some of our alumni include Maria Bermudez, Brooke Judie, and Kailah Jeffries.
• Our majors have been successful in attending Seminary and Theology programs after graduation. Learn more about Courtney Henry, who is attending Columbia Theological Seminary.
• Our majors have been highly successful in attending Graduate Programs internationally, such as the highly acclaimed Fudan University in China. Meet Bobby McCullough, MA Fudan University, China; and is currently a PhD student at the University of Hawaii.
• Our students have been successful in careers in the private sector, non-profit organizations, and starting their businesses. Get to know Jennifer Nguyen, who is pursuing a career in Political and Legislative Affairs in Washington DC.