Program: Philosophy and Physics (BA) - University of Southern California

Apr 06, 2025

USC Catalogue 2022-2023

Philosophy and physics is a demanding and rewarding major that combines two of the most rigorous and fundamental subjects in the arts and the sciences. There are strong links between physics and philosophy, and the stimulus for each discipline lies in part in the other. The program of study is designed to seek understanding of the nature of reality and of our knowledge of it. Philosophy and physics graduates offer an unusual and valuable combination of skills to employers in commerce and industry and are also well prepared to pursue post-graduate studies in any number of related fields.

Lower-Division Physics and Math (21 units)

Students must complete these six courses.

MATH 129 Calculus II for Engineers and Scientists Units: 4
MATH 229 Calculus III for Engineers and Scientists Units: 4
MATH 245 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I Units: 4
PHYS 161Lg Advanced Principles of Physics I Units: 4
PHYS 162L Advanced Principles of Physics II Units: 4
PHYS 190 Physics Discovery Series Units: 1

Upper-Division Physics and Math (16 units)

Students must complete these four courses.

MATH 445 Mathematics of Physics and Engineering II Units: 4
PHYS 304 Mechanics Units: 4
PHYS 408a Electricity and Magnetism Units: 4
PHYS 438a Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and its Applications Units: 4

Philosophy Gateway Course (4 units)

Students must complete one gateway course. This course will count as an upper-division philosophy elective.

PHIL 315 History of Western Philosophy: Ancient Period Units: 4
PHIL 320 History of Western Philosophy: Modern Period Units: 4
PHIL 336 Philosophy of Mind and Language Units: 4
PHIL 337 Political Philosophy Units: 4
PHIL 340 Ethics Units: 4
PHIL 360 Epistemology and Metaphysics Units: 4
PHIL 385 Science and Rationality Units: 4

Philosophy of Physics (4 units)

Students must complete the following course.

PHIL 484 Philosophy of Physics Units: 4

Philosophy of Science (4 units)

Students must complete one course from this category.

PHIL 254gp Science, Knowledge and Objectivity Units: 4
PHIL 256g Science, Religion, and the Making of the Modern Mind Units: 4
PHIL 385 Science and Rationality Units: 4
PHIL 486 Methodologies of the Sciences Units: 4

Logic (4 units)

Students must complete one course from this category.

Upper-Division Physics Electives (12 units)

Students must choose three additional upper-division physics courses to complete, from this list.

PHYS 316 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics Units: 4
PHYS 408b Electricity and Magnetism Units: 4
PHYS 430 General Relativity and Gravitation Units: 4
PHYS 438b Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and its Applications Units: 4
PHYS 440 Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics Units: 4
PHYS 444 Physical Biology: From Molecules to Cells Units: 4

Upper-Division Philosophy Electives (8 units)

In addition to the philosophy gateway course, students must complete two upper-division philosophy courses such that one course is completed from each of the categories listed below.

Note: Courses taken to satisfy other requirements will not be double counted.

History of Philosophy

Students must complete one course from this category.

PHIL 311 The Quest for the Individual in Early Modern Europe Units: 4
PHIL 314 Origins of Free Market Thought in Early Modern Europe Units: 4
PHIL 315 History of Western Philosophy: Ancient Period Units: 4
PHIL 320 History of Western Philosophy: Modern Period Units: 4
PHIL 337 Political Philosophy Units: 4
PHIL 410 Early Greek Thought Units: 4
PHIL 411 Plato Units: 4
PHIL 415 Aristotle Units: 4
PHIL 421 Continental Rationalism Units: 4
PHIL 422 British Empiricism Units: 4
PHIL 423 The Critical Philosophy of Kant Units: 4
PHIL 424 19th Century Philosophy Units: 4
PHIL 427 Twentieth Century Anglo-American Philosophy Units: 4
PHIL 428 Anglo-American Philosophy Since 1950 Units: 4
PHIL 442 History of Ethics to 1900 Units: 4
PHIL 473 Wittgenstein Units: 4

Ethics, Law and Value Theory

Students must complete one course from this category.

PHIL 337 Political Philosophy Units: 4
PHIL 340 Ethics Units: 4
PHIL 347 Philosophy in Literature Units: 4
PHIL 361 Philosophy of Religion Units: 4
PHIL 430 Philosophy of Law Units: 4
PHIL 431 Law, Society, and Politics Units: 4
PHIL 437 Social and Political Philosophy Units: 4
PHIL 440 Contemporary Ethical Theory Units: 4
PHIL 442 History of Ethics to 1900 Units: 4
PHIL 443 Value Theory Units: 4
PHIL 446 Aesthetics and the Film Units: 4

Systematic Philosophy

Students must complete one course from this category.

PHIL 350 Intermediate Logic Units: 4
PHIL 360 Epistemology and Metaphysics Units: 4
PHIL 363 Philosophy of Perception Units: 4
PHIL 385 Science and Rationality Units: 4
PHIL 427 Twentieth Century Anglo-American Philosophy Units: 4
PHIL 428 Anglo-American Philosophy Since 1950 Units: 4
PHIL 450 The Limits of Logic Units: 4
PHIL 460 Metaphysics Units: 4
PHIL 463 Theories of Action Units: 4
PHIL 465 Philosophy of Language Units: 4
PHIL 470 Theory of Knowledge Units: 4
PHIL 480 Philosophy of Mathematics Units: 4
PHIL 485 Development of Physical Science Units: 4
PHIL 486 Methodologies of the Sciences Units: 4
PHIL 462 Philosophy of Mind Units: 4

Note:

Eligibility to graduate with departmental honors distinction requires completion of all required major courses with a minimum 3.5 GPA in upper-division Philosophy course work, in addition to completing PHIL 495 Honors Capstone. In semesters when PHIL 495 is not offered, students may enroll in PHIL 494 Senior Thesis. Enrollment in either PHIL 494 or PHIL 495 is open to senior standing students only and prior completion of at least two 400-level Philosophy courses is highly recommended.