Philosophy: Pre-Law

Degree: B.A., Philosophy and Religious Studies
Department of Cultural and Philosophical Inquiry

The discipline of philosophy has been shaped by an intellectual and historical tradition that began some 2500 years ago in Greek culture. “Philosophy” literally means “love of wisdom.” It is the systematic study of ideas and issues, a reasoned pursuit of fundamental truths, a quest for a comprehensive understanding of the world, a study of principles of conduct, and much more.

The problems and materials of philosophy are drawn from every aspect of our lives and experience, and its deliberations extend to every subject admitting of disciplined reflection. Students majoring in philosophy will develop knowledge of the history and current state of Western philosophy, critical areas of Asian philosophy, a grasp of representative philosophical issues and ways of dealing with them, a capacity to apply philosophical methods to intellectual problems, and a sense of how philosophy bears on other disciplines and on human life more generally. A philosophy major, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies, develops a critical mind, a balance of analytic and interpretive abilities, and a capacity for the imaginative development of abstract formulations and their concrete applications. These virtues make philosophy especially good preparation for responsible citizenship and positions of leadership.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will develop the skills required to analyze and construct arguments in the discipline of Philosophy.

2. Students will develop the ability to communicate philosophical insight in writing.

3. Students will identify and develop a specific philosophical thesis and conduct and present research. 

Major Requirements

Students wishing to major in Philosophy may choose from two options: the Philosophy major, or the Philosophy Pre-Law major, which offers special preparation for students considering a career in law or related fields.

Students with a 3.5 GPA in Philosophy (and 3.25 overall) are eligible for Honors contingent on a grade of A in PHIL 485 Research in Philosophy and successful oral defense. Courses offered as 231*, 331*, 491, and 492 are special topics or individual study courses and may be counted in one of the areas depending on content and philosophy faculty approval.  

General Education Requirements

The general education requirements for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Fine Arts/Bachelor of Science degrees apply to all students who are seeking to earn an undergraduate B.A., B.F.A., B.S. or B.S.Ed. degree.

Students seeking a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree have a separate set of B.L.S general education requirements.

Electives

Elective courses are those that are not needed to fulfill a general education requirement or major program requirement but are chosen by the student to complete the 120 credits required for graduation with a B.A./B.F.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. degree or the B.L.S. degree. These courses may be taken graded or pass/fail (or S/U in the case of physical education and 100-level dance). No student in a regular B.A./B.F.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. program may count more than 60 credits in a single discipline toward the 120 credits required for graduation.

Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 credits

Plan of Study

This suggested plan of study should serve as a guide to assist students when planning their course selections. It is not a substitute for a student's Degree Evaluation or the Program Requirements listed for this major in the catalog. Academic planning is the student's responsibility, and course selections should be finalized only after speaking with an advisor. Students should familiarize themselves with the catalog in effect at the time they matriculated at the University of Mary Washington. Students should also familiarize themselves with general education requirements which can be fulfilled through general electives as well as major/minor course requirements. Course requirements and sequencing may vary with AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge or previous coursework, transfer courses, or other conditions. To be considered full-time, an undergraduate student must be enrolled in 12 or more credits for the semester. 

Cultural and Philosophical Inquiry Faculty 

Julia Anne DeLancey, Chair

Professors

Julia Anne DeLancey
Joseph G. Dreiss
E. Eric Gable
Jason C. James
Mary Elizabeth S. Mathews
Jason P. Matzke
Laura H. Mentore
Angela L Pitts

Associate Professors

Jennifer A. Barry
Suzie Kim

Assistant Professors

Kalpesh Bhatt

Senior Lecturer

Michael J. Reno