Philosophy

Philosophy BA Learning Outcomes

The Philosophy major has the following learning outcomes:

• Demonstrated solid foundation in logic, the history of philosophy (ancient, medieval, and modern), ethics and value theory, and metaphysics and epistemology
• Critical analysis and evaluation of arguments in historical texts and the contemporary philosophical literature
• Demonstrated ability to formulate and clearly present valid and sound arguments
• Development of oral and written skills that display skill at argument and the ability to engage honestly with difficult and controversial topics

Required: Four lower-division courses, including Philosophy 7 or 21, 22, 31, and one other lower-division philosophy course.

Transfer applicants to the Philosophy major with 90 or more units must complete as many of the following introductory courses as possible prior to admission to UCLA: one philosophy of mind or skepticism and rationality course, one ethical theory course, one symbolic logic course, and one additional philosophy course.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

Required: Thirteen upper-division (100 series) or graduate (200 series) philosophy courses (52 units), including Philosophy 100A, 100B, 100C. Seven of the 13 courses must be distributed among the groups into which the undergraduate and graduate courses are divided — history of philosophy; logic, semantics and philosophy of science; ethics and value theory; and metaphysics and epistemology. Students must take two courses in each of three of the groups and one course in the remaining group.

Contract courses (199) may be applied toward the major but not toward a group requirement. A maximum of 8 units of course 199 may be applied toward the major but not toward a group requirement. Courses 100A, 100B, 100C may not be applied toward any group requirement. No course used to satisfy the major or preparation requirements may be taken on a P/NP basis.

Students intending to do graduate work in philosophy should consult with both the graduate and undergraduate advisers.

To be admitted to the honors program, students must have taken at least three upper-division philosophy lecture or seminar courses at UCLA with an overall grade-point average of 3.7.

To be awarded honors in philosophy at graduation, Philosophy majors must (1) have a 3.7 grade-point average in UCLA philosophy courses and a 3.7 GPA in upper-division UCLA philosophy courses; (2) satisfy the honors directed study requirement by taking Philosophy 198A and 198B in conjunction (usually, but not necessarily concurrently) with two different regular upper-division philosophy courses supervised by the instructors of those courses; and (3) receive a grade of A- or better in each course applied toward satisfaction of the honors requirement.

Students may substitute Philosophy 191 for either course 198A or 198B or, alternatively, may complete up to two philosophy graduate seminars in lieu of courses 198A and/or 198B. For an undergraduate or graduate seminar to be applied toward the honors directed study requirement, the consent of both the seminar instructor and the faculty honors adviser is required in advance. Students may also substitute up to one 4-unit Philosophy 199 course in which they produce a substantial paper that represents an original piece of research or its equivalent.

Exceptional work done to satisfy the honors requirement may be submitted to the department chair for consideration for highest honors.