Philosophy, B.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

Major Hours: 31

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 48

Upper-Division Hours Within Major: 25


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Program Code: B775

Major Requirements

  • Some courses required for the major may also fulfill University General Education and/or Dodge College of Arts & Sciences Requirements.
  • A maximum of six hours of lower- division coursework may be used toward the 31 hours required by the major. A grade of C or better is required in PHIL 4893.
  • Philosophy majors must take at least two 38XX ("for Majors") classes, chosen from Core or Distribution Requirements; and must take at least one 4000-level class beyond PHIL 4133 and PHIL 4893.
Philosophy Core Courses
PHIL 3313History of Ancient Philosophy3
or PHIL 3813 History of Ancient Philosophy for Majors
PHIL 3333History of Modern Philosophy3
or PHIL 3833 History of Modern Philosophy for Majors
PHIL 3343Chinese Philosophy3
or PHIL 3843 Chinese Philosophy for Majors
PHIL 3811Philosophy Writing Workshop (taken concurrently with a 38XX 'for majors' class)1
PHIL 4133Symbolic Logic I3
PHIL 4893Senior Capstone in Philosophy (A grade of C or better is required)3
Distribution Requirements
Choose one course in each category (classes in each category are listed on the Philosophy Department website):9
Philosophy Electives
Choose 2 courses 16
Total Credit Hours31
1

May not include PHIL 1113.

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and Dodge College of Arts & Sciences requirements must be from the approved General Education course list published in the Class Schedule or at http://www.ou.edu/gened/coursesCourses graded P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition (6 hours)
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language (0-13 hours in the same language)
The college requirement cannot be met by high school coursework.
Beginning Course0-5
Beginning Course, continued0-5
Intermediate Course (2000 level) 1,20-3
Mathematics (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education Mathematics list3
Core Area II: Natural Science (7 hours, including one laboratory component)
Biological Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: BIOL, HES, MBIO, or PBIO 13-4
Physical Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: AGSC, ASTR, CHEM, GEOG, GEOL, GPHY, METR, or PHYS 13-4
Core Area III: Social Science (6 hours)
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course from the General Education Social Science list3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities (18 hours)
Artistic Forms
Choose one course from the General Education Artistic Forms list3
Western Culture
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
Choose one course from the General Education Western Culture list (excluding HIST 1483/1493)3
World Culture
Choose one course from the General Education World Culture list3
Additional Core IV Upper-Division Arts & Humanities courses
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Core Area V: First Year Experience (3 hours)
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours56
1

College of Arts and Sciences Requirements: college requirements are not automatically fulfilled by a previous degree.

2

One course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level

3

6 upper-division hours, 2 courses, at the 3000- 4000-level. Must be outside the major.

Free Electives

Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree including 48 upper-division hours.

Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements

Arts and Sciences Hours: At least 80 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BA degree. At least 55 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BS degree.
Pass/No Pass Enrollment: A maximum of 16 semester hours of free elective credit may be attempted under this option.
Individual Studies (e.g., courses titled “Independent Study”): A maximum of 12 total semester hours may be counted toward graduation, excluding Honors Reading and Honors Research.
P.E. Courses: No physical education activity courses will be counted toward the 120 semester hours of acceptable credit for graduation.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:

  • At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the awarding institution.
  • At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major work must be completed in residence at OU.
  • OU correspondence courses are not considered resident credit.

Grade Point Averages: Students must earn a minimum over all 2.00 for each of the following: Combined Retention GPA (all college grades), OU Retention GPA, GPA for all major courses, and GPA for all major courses taken at OU. Some schools and departments of the College have higher minimum grade point averages required for their students.
 

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

This plan shows one possible grouping of courses that would allow students to graduate in four years. Please refer to the front of the degree checksheet for official requirements. Students must consult with Dodge College of Arts and Sciences and/or Department of Philosophy academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy University, College of Arts and Sciences, and Philosophy major requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
Beginning Language (Core I) 5
First Year Experience (Core V) 3
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
Math (Core I) 3
Choose one of the following: 3
Introduction to Philosophy
Critical Reasoning
Introduction to Ethics
Artistic Forms (Core IV) 3
Beginning Language continued (Core I) 5
 Credit Hours17
Sophomore
First Semester
PHIL Elective, lower-division 3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
Intermediate Language 3
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 4
World Culture (Core IV) 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
PHIL 3333
History of Modern Philosophy 1
or History of Modern Philosophy for Majors
3
PHIL 3811 Philosophy Writing Workshop 2 1
PHIL Distribution Requirement 3
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3
Social Science (Core III) 3
Free Elective, lower-division 3
 Credit Hours16
Junior
First Semester
PHIL 3313
History of Ancient Philosophy 1
or History of Ancient Philosophy for Majors
3
PHIL 3343
Chinese Philosophy 1,3
or Chinese Philosophy for Majors
3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
PHIL Distribution Requirement 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
PHIL 4133 Symbolic Logic I 3
PHIL Distribution Requirement, upper-division (4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
PHIL 4893 Senior Capstone in Philosophy 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours120
1

Students must take at least two majors only (38XX) classes.

2

PHIL 3811 must be taken concurrently with a majors only (38XX) class.

3

Should be taken the semester after the major is declared.