Degree
Minor in PhilosophyContact
Andrew Rotondo, Ph.D.
Assistant Academic Director, School of Arts and Humanities
arotondo@une.edu
Michael J. Cripps, Ph.D.
Academic Director, School of Arts and Humanities
mcripps@une.edu
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Mission
By helping students to develop critical and creative reasoning skills, by teaching ethical frameworks, and by bringing the perspective of philosophy to their thinking, philosophy helps students think, argue, and communicate more clearly and effectively about themselves, their place in society, human knowledge, and moral problems. Philosophy aims at bringing the tools of the discipline to the student to encourage inquiry and the questioning of basic assumptions.
Minor Description
Philosophy asks the big questions: Who am I? What is there? What can be known? How should I live? These lead to other questions about the relationship between the mind and the body, appearance, and reality, truth and opinion, right and wrong, freedom and determinism, the individual and society, human beings and nature, and God and the afterlife. To ask these questions is to examine our most basic beliefs about human existence and the world we live in. At the same time, philosophy does not provide pat answers, but claims with Socrates that the goal is to live "the examined life." For this reason, the study of philosophy cultivates the skills of clear thinking and effective argumentation.
Philosophy Minors will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and evaluate philosophical arguments
- Give, orally or in writing, a philosophical argument
- Identify and explain philosophical problems along with possible solutions
- Identify, explain, compare, and contrast the views of important philosophers
- Explain philosophical methods
- Give examples of how philosophy bears on their other studies and on human life in general
Philosophy courses are at the heart of UNE’s core curriculum and satisfy the "Explorations", "Human Traditions", or "Advanced Studies" requirements. Courses at the 100- or 200-level fulfill the Explorations core requirement, courses numbered 276 and 278 satisfy the Human Traditions requirement, and 300- or 400-level courses satisfy the Advanced Studies requirement.
Philosophy connects with many other disciplines, and students from all majors are invited to enroll in our courses and to seek a minor in Philosophy. For instance, students majoring in Medical Biology may take Philosophy of Biology, Philosophy of Science, and Bioethics. Psychology majors might be interested in Philosophy of Psychology, Philosophy of Mind, and The Nature of Human Nature.
Curricular Requirements
The minor in Philosophy requires the completion of six (6) courses (minimum eighteen (18) credits) with the PHI prefix. At least three (3) of the six (6) courses must be 300-level or greater.
| Program Courses – Select six (6) of the following courses with three (3) courses at the 300-level or higher | Credits |
|---|---|
| PHI 110 – Problems of Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 120 – Living the Good Life | 3 |
| PHI 125 – Phil of Friendship, Love, Marriage, and Sex | 3 |
| PHI 150 – Critical Thinking | 3 |
| PHI 160 – Science, Pseudo-Science, and Weird Ideas | 3 |
| PHI 183 – Free Will and Determinism | 3 |
| PHI 200 – Science and Human Nature | 3 |
| PHI 201 – Bio-Medical Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 220 – Individual and Society | 3 |
| PHI 250 – Thinking Critically About Moral Problems | 3 |
| PHI 276 – Philosophy Human Trad I | 3 |
| PHI 278 – Philosophy Human Trad II | 3 |
| PHI 302 – Debating Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 304 – Social and Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 307 – God, Life, and the Hereafter | 3 |
| PHI 315 – Bioethics | 3 |
| PHI 318 – Chinese Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 320 – Readings in History and Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| PHI 325 – Topics in Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 330 – Environmental Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 340 – Appearance, Reality & Truth | 3 |
| PHI 350 – Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 351 – Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| PHI 370 – Philosophy of Psychology | 3 |
| PHI 380 – Philosophy of Mind | 3 |
| PHI 401 – Directed Study in Philosophy | 1 |
| PHI 402 – Philosophy of Biology | 3 |
| PHI 408 – Theory of Knowledge | 3 |
| PHI 420 – Advanced Seminar | 3 |
| PHI 430 – What's Really Real | 3 |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 18 |
|---|
A minimum average GPA of 2.0 in the minor is required.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and evaluate philosophical arguments.
- Give, orally or in writing, a philosophical argument.
- Identify and explain philosophical problems along with possible solutions.
- Identify, explain, compare and contrast the views of important philosophers.
- Explain philosophical methods.
- Give examples of how philosophy bears on their other studies and on human life in general.
Transfer Credit
See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Admissions
See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Financial Information
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.
Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog
This catalog outlines the academic programs, degree criteria, policies, and events of the University of New England for the 2024–2025 academic year and serves as the official guide for academic and program requirements for students enrolling at the University during the Summer of 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 semesters.
The information provided is accurate as of its publication date on April 26, 2024.
The University of New England reserves the right to modify its programs, calendar, or academic schedule as deemed necessary or beneficial. This includes alterations to course content, class rescheduling, cancellations, or any other academic adjustments. Changes will be communicated as promptly as possible.
While students may receive guidance from academic advisors or program directors, they remain responsible for fulfilling the requirements outlined in the catalog relevant to their enrollment year and for staying informed about any updates to policies, provisions, or requirements.