Philosophy, Politics and Law (BA)

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This interdisciplinary major combines, in a systematic and structured way, basic education in philosophy, political theory and elements of law. An interdisciplinary approach to the combination of these three disciplines may be of particular interest to students contemplating post-graduate work in law; those interested in a career in public service or politics; and those attracted by the rigor of philosophy and its attention to foundational issues, who are also interested in politics and law. Students are exposed to a wider range of conceptual and methodological approaches than they would in any single discipline, while learning enough philosophy and political science to leave a choice of options for graduate schools. The major requires nine classes, one of which must be a gateway course — PHIL 315 , PHIL 320 , PHIL 336 , PHIL 337 , PHIL 340, PHIL 360 or PHIL 385 — distributed as follows.

Requirements

One lower-division class from the following:

LAW 101w Law and the U.S. Constitution in Global History Units: 4
LAW 200w Law and Society Units: 4
LAW 210p Fundamentals of the U.S. Legal System Units: 4
PHIL 101 Free People, Free Thought and Free Markets Units: 4
PHIL 166gw Current Moral and Social Issues Units: 4
PHIL 174gw Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice Units: 4
PHIL 178gw Moral Dilemmas in the Legal Domain Units: 4
PHIL 240g Mind, Self, and Consciousness Units: 4
PHIL 254gp Science, Knowledge and Objectivity Units: 4
PHIL 256g Science, Religion, and the Making of the Modern Mind Units: 4
PHIL 258g Probability and Rational Choice Units: 4
PHIL 284gp Ideas on Trial Units: 4
POSC 130g Law, Politics and Public Policy Units: 4

Note:

Students who satisfy one of their general education requirements by taking a core, thematic options course of comparable scope and content, can, at the discretion of the director of the School of Philosophy and the philosophy undergraduate adviser for this major, substitute that course for one of the above.

One course in logic:

(Note: If selected, both PHIL 122ag and PHIL 122bg must be taken as they are considered two parts of one course.)

PHIL 120g Introduction to Formal Logic Units: 4
PHIL 122a Reasoning and Argument Units: 2
PHIL 122b Reasoning and Argument Units: 2
PHIL 222g Logic and Language Units: 4
PHIL 350 Symbolic Logic Units: 4

One course in philosophy of law:

PHIL 430 Philosophy of Law Units: 4
PHIL 431 Law, Society, and Politics Units: 4

Two courses from Categories A, B and C below

The two courses must belong to different categories, and one of these courses must be a gateway course: PHIL 315 , PHIL 320 , PHIL 336 , PHIL 337 , PHIL 340, PHIL 360 or PHIL 385 . Students are required to take a gateway course before enrolling in any 400-level course in philosophy.

Note:

Students in the major may enroll in a capstone seminar in philosophy if they have satisfied the general requirements: at least two 400-level courses in philosophy, completed prior to the capstone seminar.

Philosophy, Politics and Law (BA)

Requirements

One lower-division class from the following:

Note:

One course in logic:

One course in philosophy of law:

Two courses from Categories A, B and C below

A. Moral and political philosophy

B. History of philosophy:

C. Systematic areas of philosophy:

One course in constitutional politics:

One course in comparative or international politics and law:

One course in politics, law, and public policy:

One course in law:

Note: