Major, Minor, and Applied Ethics Certificate

The philosophy program views as equally important its two undergraduate functions: providing in-depth training in philosophy to those who elect our discipline as a major or minor, and providing high-quality instruction to those who take our courses as electives or to fulfill University requirements. Our courses introduce students to some of the most interesting ideas ever thought, and increase competence in a number of skills essential to both academic and professional success: analytical, critical, and creative reasoning, along with the ability to clearly communicate complex ideas. Note that because a major in philosophy is not weighted down with requirements, it can be undertaken with another major without much increase in total credit load. In fact, many of our majors are double majors.

Applied Ethics Certificate (AEC)

For both philosophy majors or minors, and students involved in a STEM or pre-professional program that leaves them too little time to pursue a minor or second major, the philosophy program offers an Applied Ethics Certificate. This 12-credit program teaches students how to apply philosophical reasoning and ethical principles to issues that arise in many different fields of work and walks of life, including computer/data science, the health sciences, the environment, business, sexuality, and problems that may arise in any diverse society. Students who earn this certificate may appeal to employers looking to hire college graduates that have been educated not only in some technical/professional field, but have also thought deeply about the ethical issues that may arise in such fields (and beyond).

How Do I Declare a Philosophy Major/Minor/AEC?

To become a philosophy major or minor, or to pursue an Applied Ethics Certificate, stop by the University Advising Resource Center (UARC) office in the Student Success Center, Ste 202 for help. You should then contact the program at page@uwosh.edu to be assigned an advisor.

Requirements for the Major

The Philosophy Major consists of 34 credits of coursework in Philosophy that achieves the following distribution across the philosophy curriculum.

• Required Credits: 34 minimum
• Required Courses: In addition to the Core Courses:
  • History Requirement: Complete two of the following:  Philosophy 100, 102, 120, 150, 207, 211, 212, 301, 303, 305, 309, 312, 325
  • Mind, Metaphysics, and Epistemology: Complete two of the following:  Philosophy 101, 102, 207, 215, 306, 309, 312, 315, 319, 320, 322, 327, 335
  • Value Theory: Complete three of the following:  Philosophy 105, 106, 150, 205, 207, 212, 215, 220, 225, 230, 231, 325, 329, 335, 340, 345, 350
  • Capstone:  Philosophy 475
• Electives: Sufficient credits from the program’s offerings to meet the minimum requirement.

Requirements for the Minor

• Required Credits: 21 minimum
• Required Courses: In addition to the Core Courses:
  • History Requirement: Complete one of the following:  Philosophy 100, 102, 120, 150, 207, 211, 301, 303, 305, 309, 312, 325
  • Mind, Metaphysics, and Epistemology: Complete one of the following:  Philosophy 100, 102, 207, 306, 309, 312, 315, 319, 320, 322, 327, 335
  • Value Theory: Complete one of the following:  Philosophy 105, 106, 150, 205, 207, 212, 215, 220, 225, 230, 231, 325, 329, 335, 340, 345, 350
• Electives: Sufficient credits from the program’s offerings to meet the minimum requirement.

For course descriptions, please see the current bulletin.

Required (3 Credits)

The following two courses are required-

• Philosophy 105 or 106 Ethics.
• Philosophy 485 Applied Ethics Capstone Reflection Essay- In this 0-credit, pass/fail, independent study course, you will write a “reflection essay” that summarizes, compares, and analyzes what you have learned about ethical reasoning and its applications in the three (or more) practical domains you have studied.

Electives (9 Credits)

To complete the Applied Ethics Certificate, you must take at least three of the following six elective courses-

• PHIL 205/206 Ethical Issues in a Diverse Society (XC) (206 is the Honors version of the course).
• PHIL 220 Business and Ethics (XC).
• PHIL 230 Environmental Ethics (XC).
• PHIL 231 Biomedical Ethics (XC).
• PHIL 335 Philosophy of Sex.
• PHIL 350 Computing Ethics.