Philosophy

Chair: Dr. John Carvalho
Office: 108 St. Augustine Center
Tel. (610) 519-4690
Website: http://www.villanova.edu/artsci/philosophy/
Course descriptions: http://www.artsci.villanova.edu/courses/philosophy.html

MAJOR: In addition to fulfilling the College Core Requirement, PHI 1050: Introduction to Philosophy, students can complete the requirements for a Philosophy Major by taking ten additional Philosophy courses. These courses must include the following.

(1) Three courses in the History of Philosophy sequence:

• PHI 3020 History of Ancient Philosophy
• PHI 3030 History of Medieval Philosophy
• PHI 3040 History of Early Modern Philosophy

(With the approval of the Chair of the Department, upper division electives in Ancient, Medieval and Modern Philosophy as well as Topics courses offered in Philosophy and Honors may substitute for the courses in this sequence.)


(2) Two capstone courses in one of the following combinations

(A) One course numbered PHI 5000: Advanced Seminar in Philosophy and
One course numbered PHI 6000: Research Seminar

(B) Two courses numbered PHI 5000: Advanced Seminar in Philosophy


(3) Five additional upper-division electives (course numbered 2010 or higher)

• Students choosing to complete the capstone requirement with option (A) follow the Thesis Path to the major.
  
  On this path, the five additional upper-division electives are all "free," and the guide to the major is the Thesis submitted to fulfill the requirements for PHI 6000: Research Seminar. The topic for the Thesis is worked out by the student in consultation with a full time member of the Philosophy Department faculty who serves as an advisor. Preparations for the thesis project should begin in the semester before its expected completion.
   
• Students choosing to complete the capstone requirement with option (B) follow the Track Path to the major.
  
  On this path, at least three of the five additional upper-division electives must come from courses assigned to one of seven Tracks: Cognitive Studies, Continental Philosophy, Cultural Studies, History of Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion, Pre-Law, Social & Political Philosophy and Ethics. The guide to the major on this path is the Track and the courses assigned to it. Any remaining electives are “free.”

MINOR: Students can minor in Philosophy by taking any five courses offered by the Philosophy Department including PHI 1050, required to complete the College Core Requirement, but including no more than two courses from the following list: PHI 1050, PHI 2010, PHI 2030, PHI 2115, PHI 2150.

DOUBLE MAJORS: Because of the interdisciplinary nature of Philosophy studies, the Department welcomes and encourages students who want to combine their philosophy major with a major in another discipline. In order to facilitate this goal, Philosophy double majors can (with the permission of the Chair of the Philosophy Department ) count up to two cognate or related courses from the second major toward fulfilling the Philosophy Major requirements.
 

See the website address above for more information.