Santa Clara University

Program Requirements    

Requirements for a MAJOR in Philosophy

• Philosophy 11, 12, and 13 (Western Culture)
• Philosophy 25 or 27 (Informal or Formal Logic) and 50 (Knowledge and Reality)
• Eight upper division courses including four distributed as follows:
• • Two historical courses from two different periods numbered 130 - 139
  • One course in ethical theory selected from courses numbered 120 - 129
  • One course in either metaphysics or epistemology selected from courses numbered 140 - 149.

Requirements for a MINOR in Philosophy

• Philosophy 11 and 12 (Western Culture)
• Philosophy 25 or 27 (Informal or Formal Logic)
• Any 4 upper division courses (Philosophy 13 may be substituted for an upper division course).

Pre-Law Emphasis in Philosophy

Philosophy is one of the best majors for Pre-Law. The mean for Philosophy majors taking the LSAT has for some years now been about 8% above the mean of other departments, and Philosophy competes with Mathematics and Economics for the top spot. The Pre-Law Emphasis in Philosophy is intended to provide a student with the rational skills of analytic reasoning and conceptual investigation central to success on the LSAT, in law school, and later in practice of law. Philosophical research hones the techniques of careful argumentation and logically disciplined reasoning essential to the legal analysis of cases and statutes. In addition, the study of the content of specific courses in the Philosophy Department is excellent preparation for the types of issues and problems addressed in law school and in the legal profession. Emphasis on ethics courses will also help prepare the student for the study and analysis of normative issues.

The Pre-Law Emphasis may be taken as part of a Philosophy major, as part of a minor, or the courses may be taken alone. The Pre-Law Emphasis requires five courses: one from list A, one from list B, one from list C, and two more from lists A, B, or C.

A. Informal Logic (25), Formal Logic (27), Symbolic Logic (152)

B. Bioethics and the Law (111), Ethics and Constitutional Law (113), Philosophy of Law (154)

C. Introduction to Ethics (2), Ethical Issues in Society (5), Ethical Issues in Business (6), Ethical Issues in Medicine (7), Ethical Issues in Politics (8), Ethical Issues and the Environment (9 or 109), Ethical Issues in the Law (10), Ethics in the Health Professions (110), Ethics in Management (112), Classic Issues in Ethics (121), Political Philosophy and Ethics (122), Marx and Ethics (123), Analytic Philosophy (136), Theory of Knowledge (142).