Santa Clara University

DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

Professor Emeritus: James W. Felt, S.J.
Professors: Philip J. Kain (Department Chair), Michael Meyer, William J. Prior
Associate Professors: Christopher B. Kulp, Scott LaBarge, Lawrence Nelson, William A. Parent, Mark A. Ravizza, S.J.
Assistant Professors: Michael W. Hickson, Shannon Vallor


The Department of Philosophy offers a degree program leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Philosophy inquires directly into the relation of human beings to the world: what we are, how we know, what values are, how we live. Worth pursuing for its own sake, philosophical inquiry also promotes analytical thinking and precise expression and, thus, is excellent undergraduate preparation for a number of professional careers, such as law, government, writing, social work, and computer programming. To qualify for honors in philosophy, the major ordinarily must have a 3.5 grade point average in philosophy courses and complete PHIL 197 with a grade of A- or better.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR

In addition to fulfilling University Core Curriculum requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, students majoring in philosophy must complete the following departmental requirements:

• Two lower-division courses from PHIL 2–10, 11A, 12A, 60–89
• PHIL 25 or 27, 50, 51, 52, 53
• Two courses from different historical periods: PHIL 131 (ancient), PHIL 132 (Medieval), PHIL 133 (modern), and PHIL 135, 136, 137, 139 (contemporary), or PHIL 134, 139
• One course from PHIL 120–129
• One course from PHIL 125 or 140–149
• Four additional upper-division courses from PHIL 109–199

Emphasis in Pre-Law
The pre-law emphasis in philosophy is intended to help provide the skills of analytic reasoning and conceptual investigation necessary for the study of law. Philosophical research hones the techniques of careful argumentation and logically disciplined reasoning essential to the legal analysis of cases and statutes. Also, emphasis on ethics courses will help prepare students for the study and analysis of normative issues. The pre-law emphasis may be taken as part of a philosophy major or minor. Requirements for the pre-law emphasis include:

• One course from PHIL 25, 27, 29, or 152
• One course from PHIL 111, 113, 114, or 154
• One course from PHIL 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 80, 109, 110, 112, 115, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 129, 136, or 142
• Two additional courses from those in the three lists above

Emphasis in Ethics
The ethics emphasis in philosophy is intended to provide students with a broad understanding of ethical theory and the conceptual analysis of moral problems, including matters of social justice central to the Jesuit educational mission, and thus with the ability to reflect on their own ethical decisions and on their role as morally responsible members of the human community. The ethics emphasis may be taken as part of the philosophy major or minor. Requirements for the ethics emphasis include:

• One lower-division ethics class from PHIL 2–10
• Two ethical theory courses from PHIL 120–129
• Two courses from the following: PHIL 109–119, PHIL 154. An ethics course taught in another department may be substituted with the permission of the chair of the Department of Philosophy.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR

Students must fulfill the following requirements for a minor in philosophy:

• PHIL 51 and 52; 25 or 27
• Four approved upper-division courses; PHIL 53 may be substituted for one upper-division course

LOWER and UPPER DIVISION COURSE LISTINGS are AVAILABLE in the Undergraduate Bulletin (PDF)