HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY THE PHILOSOPHY BS MAJOR AN 8-SEMESTER STUDY GRID
This is simply a sample of what 8 semesters might look like for incoming First Year students who are interested in majoring in philosophy. If you declare your major later, or are a Transfer Student, your grid will look considerably different. Your choices may vary. Some PHI courses fulfill more than one requirement, such as a Cross-cultural or History/Philosophy (HP) distribution requirement, opening up more space in the grid. Up to 6 credits of Core Distribution credits may be taken during Study Abroad. PHI 141, PHI 143, PHI 180a or PHI 180b must be taken at Hofstra. Philosophy majors are required to meet with a Philosophy Department advisor at least once every semester. BS majors must have 62 liberal arts credits out of a total of 124 credits to graduate. All philosophy courses carry liberal arts credit. BS in Philosophy: 30 credits Philosophy + 18 credits in Scientific, Technical or Professional area of expertise (this could be a minor, 18 credits of another major*, or an individually designed program of study. See Bulletin for specific course requirements.
Philosophy only FIRST YEAR Fall 1 PHI 10 Introduction to Philosophy SECOND YEAR Fall 2 PHI 141 Ancient & Medieval Philosophy PHI 154 Introduction to Symbolic Logic
Spring 1 PHI 14 Introduction to Ethics
Notes
Spring 2 PHI 143 Modern Philosophy
Notes
Course in area of Expertise Course in area of expertise
THIRD YEAR Fall 3 PHI course in specialization
Spring 3 PHI 180a Epistemology or PHI 180b Metaphysics
Course in area of Expertise
PHI course in specialization
FOURTH YEAR Fall 4 PHI course in specialization (100-level) Course in area of Expertise Course in area of Expertise
Spring 4 PHI course in specialization (100-level) Course in area of Expertise
Notes If Study Abroad for Semester/Year -- > take PHI 180a or PHI 180b in 4th year; consult with advisor about PHI course abroad. Notes
Philosophy and other Courses, showing the minimum number of additional liberal arts electives that are required for BS degree. Grid has open slots for double-major, other electives or minor. FIRST YEAR Fall 1 PHI 10 (HP) Introduction to Philosophy WSC 1 LT/AA/CP(Humanities Distrib) NS/MA/CS (Sci/Math Distrib) SECOND YEAR Fall 2 PHI 141 Ancient & Medieval Philosophy PHI 154 Introduction to Symbolic Logic BH (Soc/Anth/Eco/Psc) Social Sci distrib) THIRD YEAR Fall 3 PHI course in specialization Course in area of Expertise Liberal Arts Elective, or Minor, or double major
Spring 1 PHI 14 (HP) Introduction to Ethics WSC 2 LT/AA/CP(Hum Distrib) NS/MA/CS (sci/Math Distrib)
Notes
Spring 2 PHI 143 Modern Philosophy
Notes
Course in area of Expertise Course in area of expertise
Spring 3 PHI 180a Epistemology or PHI 180b Metaphysics PHI course in specialization Course in area of expertise
Notes If Study Abroad for Semester/Year -- > take PHI 180a or PHI 180b in 4th year; take philosophy elective abroad
Liberal Arts Elective, or Minor, or double major FOURTH YEAR Fall 4 PHI course in specialization (100-level) Course in area of Expertise Course in area of Expertise Liberal Arts Elective, or Minor, or double major
Spring 4 PHI course in specialization (100-level) Course in area of Expertise Liberal Arts Elective, or Minor, or double major
Notes If you haven’t take Writing Proficiency Exam, sign up to take it. You must pass it in order to graduate t. File for graduation by October 1 for a May graduation in order to avoid fee for filing. Check Hofstra Academic Records for fees and other dates.
For more information and to meet your faculty, visit our Department website at https://www.hofstra.edu/academics/colleges/hclas/phi/index.html WHY STUDY PHILOSOPHY? https://www.apaonline.org/page/undergrad_resources NOTES You are not required to take Summer or January courses (for which there is no financial aid). You can complete your 124 credits with 5 3-credit courses every semester, a 4-credit natural science course and 4-credit math course, and two 1-credit philosophy courses. Note that you can take up to 17 credits per semester without paying additional tuition. We encourage all Philosophy students to participate in internships, independent research, or other forms of experiential learning. For philosophy students interested in pursuing graduate study in philosophy, the philosophy department strongly encourages study of a foreign language beyond Level 3. For philosophy students interested in law, the philosophy department recommends taking some philosophy of law courses among your philosophy electives. Students may find it beneficial to double-major in philosophy and another area of study. Almost any other major benefits from the critical thinking and problem-solving skills acquired by studying philosophy, and most other majors can be an excellent complement to philosophy. With the BS in Philosophy, 18 credits of another major can satisfy the requirement of 18 credits in a Scientific, Technical or Professional area outside of Philosophy.* Students can go on study abroad for either semester in their third year, or for the entire academic year in their third year, for a semester in their second or fourth years, or for a short term program in the summer or during January break (additional tuition and program fees). *If you do a double-major, the other major may have additional General Education requirements beyond those required by the Philosophy BS major. Check each major carefully. Some BS majors require more distribution courses; some require some foreign language. If you do a double major/double degree, e.g., a BBA and a BS in Philosophy, check the general education requirements for the BBA. Your general education courses for the BS in Philosophy may also count toward the other major’s general education requirements, but if the other major has additional general education requirements you must satisfy those.