This is an archive of the 2014-2015 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, please visit catalog.csun.edu.

This is an archive of the 2014-2015 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, please visit catalog.csun.edu.

Program: B.A., Philosophy

Overview

The characteristic activity of philosophy, from its beginning to the present day, has been reasoned reflection about ourselves, our world, the good life and our relations with one another. Philosophy deals with issues of fundamental human importance—the scope and limits of human knowledge, the nature of reality and truth, what it means to be a person, the relation of mind to body, the sources of value and obligation, the evaluation of social institutions and practices, and the nature of logic and correct reasoning.

The Philosophy Major is designed to acquaint students with the distinctive nature of philosophical activity and to help them think critically about matters of fundamental philosophical concern.

Program Requirements

1. Required courses (23 units)

PHIL 201 Ancient Philosophy (3)
PHIL 202 Modern Philosophy (3)

Choose one of the following courses:

PHIL 200 Critical Reasoning (3)
PHIL 230 Introduction to Formal Logic (3)

Choose one of the following courses:

PHIL 360 Ethical Theory (4)
PHIL 365 Social and Political Philosophy (4)

Choose one of the following courses:

PHIL 350 Epistemology (4)
PHIL 352 Metaphysics (4)
PHIL 355 Philosophy of Mind (4)

Choose one of the following courses:

PHIL 333 American Indian Philosophy (3 units)
PHIL 341 Kierkegaard and Nietzsche (3 units)
PHIL 342 Existentialism (3 units)
PHIL 343 Indian Philosophy (3 units)
PHIL 344 Chinese Philosophy (3 units)
PHIL 348 Philosophy and Feminism (3 units)

The following course:

PHIL 497 Senior Research Seminar (3)

2. Electives (21 units)

Choose seven courses (21 units), subject to the following conditions:

  1. At least four courses (12 units) must be 400-level philosophy courses (other than PHIL 497 and PHIL 499).
  2. Other eligible electives include all philosophy courses numbered 230 and higher, excluding those taken as requirements for the majors.
  3. Up to 3 elective units may be in closely related upper division courses outside department (subject to the approval of the department chair).

Contact

Chair: Tim Black
Associate Chair: Adam Swenson
Staff: Shanta Wallace, Nancy Bernstein
Sierra Tower (ST) 522
(818) 677-2757
www.csun.edu/philosophy

Student Learning Outcomes
  1. Students will develop a critical understanding of the work of central thinkers in the Western philosophical tradition.
  2. Students will read and comprehend philosophical texts.
  3. Students will respond critically and analytically to philosophical positions, arguments and methodologies, including positions, arguments and methodologies involved in the investigation of significant issues in epistemology, metaphysics and value theory.
  4. Students will defend their own philosophical positions and arguments.
  5. Students will write well-organized philosophical essays in which they clearly articulate philosophical positions and arguments.
  6. Students will write well-organized philosophical essays in which they clearly and effectively present and defend their own philosophical positions and arguments.
  7. Students will apply the basic concepts essential to a critical examination and evaluation of argumentative discourse, where this includes learning how to determine whether an argument is valid and whether it is sound.