PHIL: B.A. in Philosophy

The business of philosophy is to think clearly and logically about the deepest and broadest questions: What is the nature of Reality? How can we distinguish right from wrong, and truth from falsehood? How should we organize society and act toward one another? How much can we know about these, and other issues? When you study philosophy here at the University of Maryland, you will be studying the best efforts, both old and new, to make progress towards philosophy’s aim, which is a clear and systematic view of who we are, where we stand, and where we should be going. Because philosophy deals with the big issues, and uses reflection (taking thought about our situation) as one of its main methods, it is sometimes confused with religion, or psychology, or mystical experience. Philosophy does indeed aim to reach an overall vision; this is an impulse which it shares with all the religions. But philosophy proceeds only by plain hard thinking, and tests everything by the rules of ordinary reason alone. Outsiders sometimes think of philosophy as a "pure" discipline that deals entirely with matters peculiar to philosophy itself. While there are some questions that might be described as "purely philosophical," much of philosophy is concerned with issues that arise in connection with particular fields of study — for example, biology or psychology — or that all of us, as citizens, or consumers of culture, or simply as people trying to live our lives well, are bound to confront. That means that much of philosophy is cross-disciplinary. At Maryland, three broad, interdisciplinary areas are among the special strengths of the faculty: Philosophy of Science, Cognitive Studies and Value Theory. For majors with interests in these areas, we have designed special concentrations within the major. Each concentration encourages study in related areas outside philosophy. Finally, many of our majors are double-majors in other departments, from Business and Biology to Psychology and Physics.

To earn a B.A. in Philosophy, students are required to complete all CORE, College of Arts and Humanities, and Department of Philosophy requirements. The College of Arts and Humanities has a dual advising system which means that you need to meet regularly with an advisor in the Office of Student Affairs (ARHU advisor) regarding your CORE and ARHU College requirements and with your departmental advisor for your major requirements. For more information about individual courses listed in the plan, you can consult the Course Catalog.

Please note: These sample templates presume that a student is full time and entered the major during the freshman year. All part-time students and students who have changed their major into the college, should consult with their advisors to determine how to develop an individualized plan.

For college advising, please contact: Office of Student Affairs
1120 Francis Scott Key Hall
301-405-2108

For departmental advising, please contact: Department of Philosophy
Advisor: Charles H. Manekin, Assoc. Prof. of Philosophy - manekinc@umd.edu
Phone: 301-405-5689
Office: 1125 Skinner Building

What can I do with my major?

Download an editable (RTF) or plain text version of this plan.

You should also download and print the ARHU Advising Worksheet (MS Word format) before meeting with your advisor.

Year 1

Semester 1

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • MATH 110/111/113/115/140/220/STAT 100
  • ENGL 101 (A/H/U/S or X)
  • UNIV 100 or 101
  • Language Requirement (#1)
  • PHIL 1xx-2xx

Semester 2

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • CORE (e.g. Lab - LL or PL))
  • CORE (e.g. HL, HA, HO)
  • CORE (e.g. SH or SB)
  • Language Requirement (#2)
  • PHIL 2xx-4xx
First year benchmark (or 30 credits):
  • CORE: Fundamental English and Math requirements
  • MAJOR: 1 PHIL course

Year 2

Semester 3

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • CORE (e.g. SH or second SB)
  • Language Requirement (#3)
  • CORE (e.g. HL, HA, HO)
  • PHIL170 (CORE non lab - MS)
  • Supporting Area (1xx-2xx)

Semester 4

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • CORE (e.g. Non Lab – LS/PS)
  • CORE (e.g. SH or second SB
  • CORE (e.g. Diversity)
  • PHIL 2xx-4xx
  • Supporting Area (1xx-2xx)
Second year benchmark (or 60 credits):
  • CORE: 7 of 9 Distributive Studies courses;
  • ARHU: At least 50% of the foreign language sequence completed.
  • MAJOR: PHIL170; 2 PHIL2xx

Year 3

Semester 5

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • CORE Advanced Studies (#1)
  • Professional Writing (ENGL 391/392/393/394/395)
  • PHIL 3xx-4xx
  • PHIL 3xx-4xx
  • Supporting Area (1xx-2xx)

Semester 6

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • CORE Advanced Studies (#2)
  • CORE (e.g. HL, HA or HO)
  • PHIL 3xx-4xx
  • PHIL 3xx-4xx
  • Supporting Area (3xx-4xx)
Third year benchmark (or 90 credits):
  • CORE: Distributive Studies Completed.
  • ARHU: Intermediate level language requirement, 24 of the required 45 upper level credits (~50%). (Upper level courses needed to fulfill major requirements as well as upper level CORE requirements are included in the 45 upper level requirement).
  • MAJOR: 5 courses in major

Year 4

Semester 7

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • Elective (3xx-4xx)
  • PHIL 2xx-4xx
  • PHIL 2xx-4xx
  • PHIL 4xx
  • Supporting Area (3xx-4xx)

Semester 8

CORE/ARHU Requirements and Electives
Major Requirements
  • Elective (3xx-4xx)
  • Elective (3xx-4xx)
  • Elective (3xx-4xx)
  • PHIL 2xx-4xx
  • PHIL 4xx