Philosophy Major - Bachelor of Science (BS)

(All colleges)

30 credits

Core
PHL 100Introduction to Philosophy3
or PHL 200 Introduction to the Literature of Philosophy
PHL 101Introduction to Logic3
PHL 205History of Ancient Philosophy3
PHL 206History of Modern Philosophy3
PHL 496Integrative Seminar3
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Ethics and Society: The Person and the Community
Ethical Theory and Practice
Search for Economic Justice
Ethics and Meta-Ethics: Theory, Justification, and Objectivity
Philosophy and Science Fiction
International Multicultural Philosophy
Social and Political Philosophy
Environmental Ethics
Philosophy of Love, Sex and Friendship
Neuroethics
On Humor and Happiness
Wilderness Philosophy
Electives
Select 12 credits of electives in philosophy. Students may also apply unused courses from the above lists to fulfill the elective requirement.12
Total Credits30

Majors must take four philosophy courses at the 300/400 level including PHL 496. No more than six credits of PHL 494, PHL 495, and PHL 497 shall count toward the major.

All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR. 

College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH/VPA) Bachelor of Science core requirements

The CASSH core provides opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge by taking courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and/or sciences beyond the requirements of general education. Students may select from courses offered by the full range of academic departments within the college according to their interests. The college core allows students to build their critical thinking, communication, problem solving, teamwork, and global competencies through in-depth exploration of topics of their choosing.

The following conditions apply to one or both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees:

  1. Students majoring in English (writing and rhetoric or literary and cultural studies emphases) or in the department of global cultures and languages must earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Education majors earn a Bachelor of Science degree; English major: medical professions emphasis majors may earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
  2. Students majoring in other CASSH programs may choose either a B.A. or a B.S. degree.
  3. Language courses at the 102-level or higher (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HCK, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA, or SPE 214) used to fulfill a general education requirement may also be used to meet the B.A. and B.S. language requirements.
  4. At least one course in the degree must be a CASSH designated diversity course.
  5. All other courses used to meet the requirements below must be in addition to the minimum 41 credits required in the General Education Program.
  6. Applicable courses may be found on the CASSH B.A./B.S. Degree Option Course List or in the Advisement Report (AR) when the degree has been declared.

Courses used to fulfill general education requirements will not apply to core requirements, except for language courses as noted above.

Bachelor of Science students complete four courses outside the department of the student's major as follows:

  1. A lab science course (from the general education list); and
  2. A social science course; and
  3. Another social science, general education experiential science, general education quantitative reasoning, or approved CASSH alternative course (BIO 312, BIO 313, ESS 205, ESS 206); and
  4. One additional course in humanities, fine arts, or a global language course at the 102-level or higher (including SPE 214).
In addition to all other College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities core requirements, all students in CASSH must complete a second major, minor, or individualized option by satisfying one of the following:
  1. Complete a minor (or two certificates with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400-level or a second major) outside of the student's major program, consisting of at least 18 credits; or
  2. Complete an emphasis, program or concentration of at least 18 credits outside the student's major program. General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements; or
  3. Complete an individualized option, consisting of 18 credits. At least 12 credits must be earned at the 300/400-level outside the major department. The remaining six credits may consist of:
    1. 100-level or higher courses outside the major (general education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements); or
    2. 300/400-level courses inside the major department not being used to fulfill major requirements.

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Submit Intent to Graduate" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CST 110 (Gen Ed 1003 Spoken Literacy)3PHL 100 or 200 (Gen Ed 1010 Stories We Tell)3
FYS 100 (Gen Ed 1001 First-Year Seminar)3ENG 110 (Gen Ed 1002 Written Literacy)3
Gen Ed 1008 Experiential Science4Gen Ed 1005 Ethnic Diversity3
Gen Ed 1011 Pasts That Define Us3Gen Ed 1012 Planet That Sustains Us3
Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics2Gen Ed 1004 Quantitative Reasoning4
 15 16
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CASSH Core Course - Experiential Science4PHL 2063
University Elective3Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics2
University Elective3CASSH Core Course3
PHL 2053Minor Course3
PHL 1013University Elective3
 16 14
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHL Core Ethics Course3Philosophy Advanced Elective Course3
Gen Ed 1009 Social and Behavioral Studies3Philosophy Advanced Elective Course3
CASSH Core Course3Gen Ed 1006 Mind and Body3
CASSH Core Course3Gen Ed 1013 Cultures of Our World3
Minor Course3Minor Course 3
 15 15
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Philosophy Advanced Elective Course3PHL 496 (Spring only)3
Philosophy Advanced Elective Course3CASSH Core Diversity Course3
Minor Course 3Minor Course3
Minor Course3University Elective3
University Elective3University Elective2
 15 14
Total Credits: 120