Discover the Philosophy Curriculum
Philosophy at USD provides students with a range of knowledge, perspectives, methodologies, research opportunities and critical thinking skills that will equip them to express arguments in writing with clear and persuasive logic and to put biases aside to rationally evaluate beliefs.
Major
The philosophy major includes the study of logical thinking, the practice of rational investigation and understanding, the utilization of holistic imagination and the application of practical wisdom.
Students will discover perennial epistemological, ethical, metaphysical and theological issues and theories in philosophy — both as these are discussed in the classical texts of great philosophers and also in their contemporary treatment.
Minor
The philosophy minor is an open-ended, interdisciplinary program that teaches students the critical skills and the cultural knowledge necessary to make positive contributions to society.
No particular courses are designated as requirements for a minor in philosophy (see below). However, philosophy minors interested in legal studies might consider PHIL 333, PHIL 460 and either PHIL 461 or PHIL 462 when completing the nine upper-division units required for the minor.
Explore Philosophy Courses
Learn more about what is offered by the Department of Philosophy on our Courses Page! Not all courses highlighted will be available every semester. Make sure to check course offerings on the registration portal for each upcoming semester.
Program Requirements
Each student declares their major(s) and minor(s) under a single catalog of record that is identified on the student's degree audit (available on Degree Works).
The program requirements below are based on the current course catalog and may not be applicable if a student is declared in an earlier catalog.
Find all previous course catalogs under on our Archived Catalogs of Record page.
36 units
Major
18 units
Minor
Major unit estimates include preparation for the major requirements as well as major unit requirements.
- Major
- Minor
- Pre-Law Recommendations
- Learning Outcomes
The Philosophy Major
Preparation for the Major
Lower-Division | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
PHIL 101 | Introduction to Logic | |
PHIL 102 | Logic | |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
PHIL 110 | Introduction to Philosophy | |
PHIL 111 | Philosophy of Human Nature | |
PHIL 112 | Philosophy and Literature | |
PHIL 114 | Philosophy and Technology | |
PHIL 115 | Faith and Reason | |
PHIL 116 | Morality and Justice | |
PHIL 118 | Philosophy Through Food | |
PHIL 171 | Medieval Philosophy | |
PHIL 175 | Asian Philosophy | |
PHIL 210 | Philosophy of Fashion & Bodies | |
PHIL 273 | Contemporary Anglo-American Philosophy | |
History of Philosophy | 6 | |
PHIL 270 | History of Ancient Philosophy | |
PHIL 272 | History of Classical Modern Philosophy | |
Total Units | 12 | |
Major Requirements
The student must satisfy the core curriculum requirements as set forth in this course catalog and complete the following courses:
Students must take ONE ethics course in philosophy, either upper- or lower-division. | ||
Upper-Division | ||
PHIL 300 | Philosophical Methods (required) | 3 |
Upper-Division Electives | ||
Students must take 21 units of upper-division electives, at least 15 units numbered 400 or higher | 21 | |
PHIL 321 | Social Ethics | |
PHIL 330 | Ethics | |
PHIL 331 | Biomedical Ethics | |
PHIL 332 | Business Ethics | |
PHIL 333 | Legal Ethics | |
PHIL 334 | Studies in Ethics | |
PHIL 335 | Death and Dying | |
PHIL 336 | Virtues and Vices | |
PHIL 337 | Mass Media Ethics | |
PHIL 338 | Environmental Ethics | |
PHIL 340 | Ethics of War and Peace | |
PHIL 341 | Ethics and Education | |
PHIL 342 | Engineering Ethics | |
PHIL 343 | Gender and Economic Justice | |
PHIL 344 | Environmental Justice | |
PHIL 345 | Computer Ethics | |
PHIL 346 | Public Health Ethics | |
PHIL 347 | Neuroethics | |
PHIL 348 | Ethics of AI and Robotics | |
PHIL 349 | Art & Ethics | |
PHIL 350 | Dante and the Good Life | |
PHIL 360 | Ethical Theory | |
PHIL 410 | Metaphysics | |
PHIL 411 | Philosophy of Knowledge | |
PHIL 412 | Philosophy of God | |
PHIL 413 | Philosophy of Mind | |
PHIL 414 | Philosophy of Language | |
PHIL 415 | Philosophy of Natural Science | |
PHIL 416 | Philosophy of Archaeology | |
PHIL 420 | Philosophy of Race | |
PHIL 423 | African American Philosophy | |
PHIL 427 | History of Africana Philosophy | |
PHIL 460 | Legal Reasoning | |
PHIL 461 | Philosophy of Law | |
PHIL 462 | Political Philosophy | |
PHIL 467 | Studies in Renaissance Philosophy | |
PHIL 470 | Studies in Ancient Philosophy | |
PHIL 471 | Studies in Medieval Philosophy | |
PHIL 472 | Studies in Modern European Philosophy | |
PHIL 473 | Contemporary Anglo-American Philosophy | |
PHIL 474 | Twentieth Century Continental Philosophy | |
PHIL 476 | Studies in Asian Philosophy | |
PHIL 477 | Studies in the History of Philosophy | |
PHIL 478 | French Theory | |
PHIL 480 | Philosophy of Art | |
PHIL 483 | Philosophy of Social Sciences | |
PHIL 490 | Philosophy of Love | |
PHIL 494 | Special Topics in Philosophy | |
PHIL 499 | Independent Study | |
Total Units | 24 | |
Note: At least 18 of these 24 upper-division units must be taken at USD.
Note: 100- and 200-numbered courses are equally lower-division, and 300- and 400-numbered courses are equally upper-division. Accordingly, students intent on majoring or minoring in philosophy may take 200-numbered courses during their first year; adequately prepared students may begin taking 400-numbered courses during their junior year.