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, PHIL 362, PHIL 363 or PHIL 385 — distributed as follows.

Requirements

Note: At least 36 units must be completed as a part of the major.

One lower-division course 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 101g 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 Thematic Option course of comparable scope and content, can, at the discretion of the Director of the School of Philosophy and the undergraduate adviser for this major, substitute that course for one of the above.

One course in logic:

If selected, both PHIL 122a and PHIL 122b must be taken as they are considered two parts of one course.

PHIL 220 Introduction to 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 Intermediate Logic Units: 4
PHIL 450 The Limits of Logic Units: 4
PHIL 452 Modal 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 . Completing a gateway course is recommended prior to enrolling in any 400-level Philosophy course. Courses taken to satisfy other requirements will not be double-counted.

Note:

Majors may graduate with departmental honors by doing the following: (i) completing all major requirements, (ii) having a GPA of at least 3.5 for upper-level courses for the major, and (iii) completing the Honors Capstone Seminar (PHIL 495 ), or if that’s not possible, the Senior Thesis Seminar (PHIL 494 ). To take PHIL 494 or PHIL 495 , students must be seniors and we recommend having completed two other 400-level Philosophy courses first.

Philosophy, Politics and Law (BA)

Requirements

One lower-division course 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: