Bachelor of Arts Minor in Philosophy
Description
The B.A. Minor in Philosophy provides students the opportunity to build a sturdy educational foundation in one of the core areas of the Humanities. The program, designed to acquaint participants with the major areas of philosophy, is also expressly set up to satisfy a variety of additional pedagogical and intellectual objectives, chief among these being the development of critical reasoning and writing skills, both in general and with regard to specialized research in the discipline, and the inculcation and honing of the capacity to think independently. At the 1000-level, students who choose to Minor in Philosophy are introduced to the subject through an array of entry level courses. At the 2000-level, two core courses in Philosophy are obligatory: Metaphysics (the study of the nature of reality) and Epistemology (the study of the nature and limits of knowledge). Students also elect a number of second year offerings intended to expose them to other areas of philosophical investigation. Completing the Minor requires successful participation in a minimum of five courses at the 3000 and/or 4000 level. The range and sequence ensures both depth and breadth of knowledge, and the mix of required courses and electives enables students to progress along lines that answer to their particular interests. Smaller in size than introductory and intermediate ones, courses at the upper levels provide an especially suitable environment of close supervision and lots of give-and-take, for the productive and enjoyable pursuit of philosophical knowledge.
Content
Students are normally expected to complete at least 60 credits at Kwantlen Polytechcnic University for a B.A. Degree; however, they may apply for an exemption to this ruling on an individual basis. If such an exemption is granted, then residency may be limited to no fewer than 30 credits. In any case, at least 50% of the required upper level credits within the subject area must be completed at Kwantlen.
Students will be required to take at least 4 courses at the first or second year level which must include PHIL 2210 and PHIL 2215. Choose from the following list:
1000 Level
- HUMN 1100 Analytical Approaches to Western Humanism
- PHIL 1100 Introduction to Philosophy
- PHIL 1106 Introduction to Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
- PHIL 1107 Introduction to Modern Philosophy
- PHIL 1110 Confronting Moral Issues: Introduction to Ethics
- PHIL 1112 Environmental Philosophy
- PHIL 1145 Critical Thinking
- PHIL 1150 Introduction to Formal Logic
- PHIL 1155 Introduction to Scientific Reasoning
2000 Level
- PHIL 2210 Epistemology
- PHIL 2215 Metaphysics
- PHIL 2115 Asian Philosophy
- PHIL 2117 Social and Political Philosophy
- PHIL 2120 Philosophy of Religion
Any combination of 15 credits in 3000 and 4000 level PHIL courses will satisfy the B.A. Minor in Philosophy program requirements. Certain pre-requisites must be met in order to gain admission to 4000 level PHIL courses.
3000 Level
- PHIL 3033 Business Ethics
- PHIL 3040 Philosophy of Art
- PHIL 3100 Great Philosophers of the 20th Century
- PHIL 3101 20th Century Analytic Philosophy
- PHIL 3109 Foundations of Ethics
- PHIL 3110 The Possibility of Knowledge
- PHIL 3118 Ethics and Public Policy
- PHIL 3119 Contemporary Moral Theory
- PHIL 3120 Free Will and Determinism
- PHIL 3150 Advanced Formal logic
- PHIL/NRSG 3170 Biomedical Ethics
- PHIL 3220 Empiricism
- PHIL 3225 Rationalism
- PHIL 3320 Personal Identity
- PHIL 3430 Philosophy of Mind: Consciousness
- PHIL xxxx Seven Deadly Sins
- PHIL xxxx Philosophy of Law
- PHIL xxxx Philosophy of Psychology
- PHIL xxxx Persons
- PHIL xxxx Philosophy of Social Science
- PHIL xxxx Philosophy of Science
- PHIL xxxx Truth
- PHIL xxxx Existentialism
- PHIL xxxx Feminism/Oppression
4000 Level
- PHIL 4110 Topics in Ethics Theory
- PHIL 4117 Topics in Social and Political Philosophy
- PHIL 4120 Topics in the Philosophy of Religion
- PHIL 4210 Topics in Epistemology
- PHIL 4215 Topics in Metaphysics
- PHIL 4430 Topics in Philosophy of Mind
- PHIL xxxx Topics in Aesthetics
- PHIL xxxx Topics in Ancient Philosophy
- PHIL xxxx Topics in the History of Modern Philosophy
- PHIL xxxx Topics in Asian Philosophy
Graduation
Upon completion of a Minor in Philosophy, students can qualify to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts – General Studies, Minor in Philosophy or when combined with a second minor program, a Bachelor of Arts – Double Minor.
