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| What programs can I take? | What questions will I study? | |
| Major You can major in philosophy by acquiring 42 credits in philosophy. This is the option for the most serious philosophy students. There are only three conditions: Philosophy 412 and 480 are included; 12 credits are drawn from Philosophy 470, 490, 420, 440 and 450; and a student maintains an overall average of 65% in the last two years of the degree program as well as in his or her philosophy courses. Double Major In the double major option, the student must acquire either 36 or 24 credits in philosophy, including Philosophy 115 or 412 and any 12 credits from 300 or 400 level courses. Minor Students in the four-year BA can minor in philosophy by acquiring 18 credits in philosophy (or cross-listed) courses with only two conditions: Philosophy 115 is included; and 6 credits are drawn from 300 or 400 level courses. Concentration Students enrolled in a three-year program may concentrate in philosophy by obtaining any 30 credits in philosophy (or cross-listed) courses with only two conditions: Philosophy 115 is included; and a total of 6 credits is drawn from Philosophy 301, 303, 305 or 307. Gender & Women’s Studies Minor Students wishing to minor in Gender & Women’s Studies must take a minimum of 18 credits from a variety of disciplines, including philosophy and religious studies, in either the four-year BA program or the four-year BACS program. |
Ethics Is abortion or mercy killing morally justifiable? Should we be moral, if morality requires us sometimes to sacrifice our own interests? Do animals have rights? What is a fair distribution of income in a society? Can there be objective answers to ethical questions or is it just a matter of how one feels? At CBU students can choose from a series of courses designed to develop the skills needed to negotiate complex, value-laden situations in the fields of law, healthcare, business, environmental studies, education, etc. Knowledge Is there anything we can know with certainty? Can the existence of God be proven or disproved? What is scientific knowledge? Does art express emotions or a form of truth? Do social scientists rely on a different form of understanding than natural scientists? The meaning of life Do people have free-will? What is the significance of suffering and death? Are human beings just very complex physical organisms, or is there something non-physical which makes humans special? What part should art play in our life? Critical thinking Philosophical questions resist simple answers. But aside from the intrinsic rewards of learning to think them through, philosophy trains people in the art of sound reasoning. So it is no wonder that some of Canada's top journalists, lawyers, writers, and business people have a background in philosophy. |
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| Contact department chair, for further information |
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