Philosophy

Majoring & Minoring

Southwestern’s Philosophy courses develop a wide range of intellectual abilities, and offer an opportunity for students to develop their own modes of thoughtful, critical engagement with different domains of knowledge and practice. 

Our emphasis is on primary texts and a careful discussion of them, their ideas and their interrelation with aspects of personal and social experience. Southwestern students may major or minor Philosophy. Students may also choose a paired major in Philosophy and Feminist Studies.

Major in Philosophy: 9 courses (Majors consist of a minimum of 32 credits.)

  • PHI18-604 Reading Philosophy
  • Three courses from our core Critical Histories series:

PHI18-614 Ethos, Identities, Differences

PHI18-624 Being, Structure, Change

PHI18-634 Experience, Language, Knowledge

PHI18-644 Peoples, Power, Organization

  • PHI18-914 Colloquium in Philosophy (Capstone)
  • Four additional courses in Philosophy, at least three of which must be upper-level

Minor in Philosophy: Five courses (Minors consist of a minimum of 18 credits.)

  • Five courses in Philosophy, at least three of which must be upper level

Paired Major:
Students may accomplish a 16 course paired major in Philosophy and Feminist Studies by fulfilling the requirements for both majors, but double counting three of the following courses cross-listed in Philosophy and Feminist Studies: Introduction to Feminist Philosophy (18-194), The Embodied Self (18-324), Theories of Race (18-184), or Feminist Ethics (18-374).