2024-2025 Catalog 
    
    Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog

Philosophy and Psychology Double Major


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Philosophy is the systematic and critical inquiry into thinking and the nature of existence. As a practice, philosophy teaches analytical and critical thinking, develops oral and written communication skills, and contributes to interdisciplinary understanding. Philosophy attempts to answer perennial questions about values, human existence, and the nature of reality. Skills developed in this inquiry help philosophy students excel in careers in law, medicine, management, education, government, writing, computer science, psychology, sociology, and ministry among many others.

Psychology is a science that studies behavior from psychological, biological, and social perspectives. Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. The discipline embraces all aspects of the human experience - from the functions of the brain to the actions of nations, from child development to care for the aged. In every conceivable setting from scientific research centers to mental healthcare services, “the understanding of behavior” is the enterprise of psychologists.

General Information

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Philosophy and Psychology requires the following:

  • A minimum of 30 credit hours of PHIL course work. At least 18 of those hours must be upper division (courses numbered 3000 or higher).
  • A minimum of 33 credit hours of PSY course work. At least 18 of those hours must be upper division.
  • A grade of C or better in PHIL courses applied to the major and a grade of C- or better in PSY courses applied to the major.
  • A minimum 2.0 GPA must be maintained in all major course work.
  • Completion of one Summit Course from either department. Students may complete either the PHIL Senior Thesis or a PSY Advanced Seminar course that is approved for Compass Curriculum: Summit.
  • Completion of the Psychology Senior Accountability Exam during the final semester of the senior year.

Additional course work is required to complete the Philosophy and Psychology, BA degree. Please see the advising guide on the Academic Advising website for more information.

Course Requirements


Philosophy Required Courses


Logic Course


Complete one of the following courses:

Philosophy Electives


Complete a minimum of 24 additional credit hours of Philosophy (PHIL) electives.  At least 18 hours of electives must be upper-division (3000+ level) courses.

Summit Course


Complete one Summit course for the double major. Either the Philosophy Senior Thesis or a Psychology Advanced Seminar may be chosen. The Summit credit hours will count toward upper-division electives for the major in which they are taken.

An additional upper-division elective is required in the department not selected for the Summit Course.

Psychology Required Courses


Before attempting other course requirements, students should complete the following four required foundation courses.

Psychology Electives


Complete 5 - 6 additional hours of unused Psychology courses to meet total and upper division credit hour requirements for the major.

Senior Accountability Exam


Complete the Psychology Senior Accountability Exam via Canvas.  The Senior Accountability Exam must be completed at least two weeks before the last day of classes during the final semester of the senior year. Visit the Psychology department’s website for more information.

Summit Course


Complete one Summit course for the double major. Either the Philosophy Senior Thesis or a Psychology Advanced Seminar may be chosen. The Summit credit hours will count toward upper-division electives for the major in which they are taken.

An additional upper-division elective is required in the department not selected for the Summit Course.

See below for the list of Advanced Seminar courses. PSY 1000, 2100, 2110 and the affiliated core course must be complete before taking the Advanced Seminar. If PHIL 4995 is chosen as the Summit Course, one of the Advanced Seminars could be taken as the additional elective but it would not need to be approved for the Compass Curriculum Summit requirement.

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