Academics

 

The Department of Philosophy offers a Major, a Minor, and two tracks for an Honors Degree at Ohio State. More information can be found by checking out our Guide to Undergraduate Studies or by making an appointment with our Faculty Advisor, Professor Lisa Shabel. To help you start planning:

• download the requirements for the Major and Minor, and a list of all of our courses, here
• watch a 3 minute video about the requirements for the Major and Minor
• consult a list of current and upcoming courses 

 

A Major in Philosophy requires taking a prerequisite and 30 credit hours distributed as follows:

 

 

 

Your individual path through the Major will depend on your own timeline and your other studies, and should be discussed with your Academic Advisor.
For reference, here is one possible path through the Major:
Semester 1: 2000-level elective + 2500*
Semester 2: 3000* + 3000-level history of philosophy course or 3000-level elective
Semester 3: 3000-level topics course + any other 3000-level course(s) that satisfy remaining requirements
Semester 4: 5000-level elective + a 3000-level course(s) that satisfies remaining requirements
Semester 5: 5000-level elective + a 3000-level course(s) that satisfies remaining requirements

* These two requirements should be taken as early as possible in your major program
 

Interested?

• Contact our Faculty Advisor, Professor Lisa Shabel to plan your path to a Major in Philosophy, or to ask questions about upcoming courses and course content. 
• Schedule an appointment with our Academic Advisor, Sarah Dunlap to officially declare your Major in Philosophy, or to ask questions about GE and other graduation requirements.

Philosophy Minor

 

NOTE: Up to 6 Minor credit hours may count toward GE requirements. Philosophy 2367 may not count towards your Minor program, although it may be used for GE purposes. For more details, see our  Guide to Undergraduate Studies.

 

Philosophy Minors may distribute the four courses among any combination of philosophical topics. If you are excited about a particular area of philosophy, or want your minor to complement your major, you can cluster your courses in a particular area of interest. Here are some examples of ways you might focus your minor classes; there are many other possible ways to do so. And note that a minor focus is NOT required.

 

• Philosophy of Language Focus
• Legal Studies Focus
• Logic and Philosophy of Math Focus
• Philosophy of Science Focus
• Philosophy of Religion Focus
• Philosophy of Mind, Brain and Cognition Focus
• History of Western Philosophy Focus
• Ethics and Moral Psychology Focus

Interested? 

• Contact our Faculty Advisor, Professor Lisa Shabel to plan your path to a Minor in Philosophy, or to ask questions about upcoming courses and course content. 
• Contact our Academic Advisor, Sarah Dunlap, to officially declare your Minor in Philosophy, or to ask questions about GE and other graduation requirements. You may also contact your own Academic Advisor to officially declare your Minor in Philosophy.