Philosophy

Philosophy is both a set of skills – the skills of critical thinking -- and a body of knowledge about a subject matter. In philosophy, these skills are employed in thinking about the subject matter of philosophy, a subject matter that includes, for example, questions about the nature of reality and what exists, what knowledge is and whether it is possible, the nature of consciousness and the mind’s relation to the world, and what makes a human life good or worth living. But the critical thinking skills someone acquires by studying philosophy and its subject matter have much, much wider application. These are the skills required in order to think critically about any topic and, for this reason, are prized in a variety of professions.

Some of the courses offered are of general interest to all students. Others are designed to explore issues that arise in special disciplines such as art or science. The undergraduate advisor should be consulted for advice about courses best suited to the specialized needs of particular students.

The faculty encourages Philosophy majors and minors to consider expanding their perspective through study abroad. The Study Abroad Center assists students in taking advantage of many worldwide opportunities for study and research. Those interested in analytic philosophy might consider, in particular, the EAP programs in the United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand, and those interested in Continental philosophy could consider the EAP programs in France, Germany, and Italy. See the Study Abroad Center section of the Catalogue or an academic counselor for additional information.

Requirements

All students must meet the University Requirements.

All students must meet the School Requirements.

Departmental Requirements for the Major

12 courses (48 units) required for the major.

1. Students planning to pursue graduate school are strongly advised to take PHILOS 105A and PHILOS 105B.

Residence Requirement: At least five upper-division courses required for the major must be completed successfully at UCI.

Specializations

B.A. in Philosophy with a Specialization in Medicine and Well-Being

All students must meet the University Requirements.

All students must meet the School Requirements.

Residence Requirement: At least five upper-division courses required for the major must be completed successfully at UCI.

B.A. in Philosophy with a Specialization in Law and Society

All students must meet the University Requirements.

All students must meet the School Requirements.

Residence Requirement: At least five upper-division courses required for the major must be completed successfully at UCI.

B.A. in Philosophy with a Specialization in Education and Intellectual Virtue

All students must meet the University Requirements.

All students must meet the School Requirements.

13 courses (52 units) plus a 2-unit practicum required for the major with specialization.

1. EDUC 25 may be substituted with another approved lower-division Education course.
2. Must be a separate topic from PHILOS 190. Course content must be approved by the faculty director.

Residence Requirement: At least five upper-division courses required for the major must be completed successfully at UCI.

Honors

The Department of Philosophy provides high-achieving students with the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member to gain advanced philosophical training and to produce a paper of exceptional quality. We deem such experience to have intrinsic value (though the additional training and paper might also be useful if a student intends to apply to graduate school). In recognition of the extra work needed to produce this paper - it is to be done in addition to all major requirements - a student will receive an honors designation on their degree.

To receive this honors designation, a student must take PHILOS 199H, the honors directed special studies course, in two consecutive quarters with the same faculty member. During these quarters, the student will prepare, under the supervision of the faculty member, a substantial piece of original work (a paper of approximately 5,000 words).

PHILOS 199H is a 2-unit course and is graded P/NP. The course does not count towards the major. Thus, the two PHILOS 199H courses are to be done in addition to all major requirements. PHILOS 199H may be taken in conjunction with a graduate seminar with the permission of the instructor of the seminar.

To be eligible to enroll in PHILOS 199H, a student must be a philosophy major, have a GPA of at least 3.7 in all philosophy courses (not just major courses) and be planning to graduate within three quarters. A student must find a faculty member from the Department willing to supervise and evaluate their work. The student, in consultation with their supervisor, must also find a second reader.

To receive the honors designation, the student must maintain a GPA of at least 3.7 to the conclusion of their coursework. The honors paper must be deemed of sufficient quality by both the supervisor and the second reader.

Career Opportunities

The study of argument and the precision and clarity of thought and writing required of Philosophy majors are excellent preparation for a variety of careers. Many undergraduates trained in Philosophy go on to professional schools in medicine, business, or law. The analytical skills developed in Philosophy courses are especially useful in legal education; indeed, many UCI Philosophy graduates have been successful at top law schools. Former Philosophy students have also used their skills to advantage in careers in government, business, teaching, law enforcement, and computer programming. Many Philosophy majors also continue their education at the graduate level, either in philosophy or a related discipline.

The UCI Division of Career Pathways Center provides services to students and alumni including career counseling, information about job opportunities, a career library, and workshops on résumé preparation, job search, and interview techniques.