Philosophy, B.A.: Philosophy Concentration

Philosophy, B.A. Program (120 units)

Program Description

The Department of Philosophy at Cal State East Bay seeks to promote the exploration of enduring human concerns - concerns, for example, about the nature of knowledge, ethics, truth, and God. In addition to emphasizing classical philosophy, the department encourages students to think critically about contemporary debates, particularly in the areas of law, human rights, and social justice; science, technology, and values; and religion. The department’s faculty strive to instill in students lifelong habits of questioning, of exploring views contrary to their own, and of engaging in reasoned and honest dialogue. By their focus on analysis, comprehension and communication, they aim to develop qualities that are essential to personal fulfillment, civic responsibility, and career success.

Many different kinds of students choose the major in philosophy. Some intend to do graduate work in philosophy, often with the intention of becoming philosophy professors who research and teach in philosophy. Others take philosophy as a preparation for another professional area. Traditionally, for example, philosophy has been one of the chief roads to professional law schools. Philosophy also serves as a good general liberal arts education, since many of the long-established university disciplines are founded on philosophical principles: political science, sociology, education, aesthetics, physics, and other subjects. Finally, many students major in philosophy in order to prepare for careers that require clarity of thought, analytical ability, good writing skills, and the ability to present a reasoned argument.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students graduating with a B.A. in Philosophy from Cal State East Bay will able to:
• write clear, academically rigorous, argumentative essays.
• read complex texts, create original arguments, analyze the arguments of others, and express these criticisms orally and in writing.
• demonstrate knowledge of philosophical and/or religious traditions, their relevant concepts, theories, methods, and historical contexts.
• develop their capacities for ethical decision making, Socratic humility, openness to the ideas of others, reflective self-awareness, and a life-long curiosity about big questions.
• cultivate an appreciation for a diversity of ideas and values across time and for human difference in areas such as: religion, culture, ethnicity, race, class, sexuality, and gender.

Program Roadmaps

These program roadmaps represent recommended pathways through the program. Please see an advisor to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs.

Career Opportunities

Analyst • Business Executive • Clergy • Consultant • Critic • Editor • Foreign Service Officer • Journalist • Lawyer • Philosopher • Policy Analyst • Primary/Secondary School Teacher • Professor • Public Administrator • Theologian • Writer

Degree Requirements Unit-Outline

• A baccalaureate of arts degree requires a total of 120 units:
  • The major requirements consists of 34-37 units;
  • General Education (GE) & Graduation Requirements (GR) consists of 57 units;
  • Free Electives may consist of 21 units (actual number of free elective units may depend on GE/GR units).

Note: It may be possible to double-count units within the graduation requirements or that a course may satisfy both a graduation requirement and a major requirement. Students should contact their program advisors for information.

Philosophy Concentration

Choose at least 15 units of other PHIL courses of which 9 units must come from the following list:

• PHIL 320 - Philosophy of Art Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• PHIL 321 - Philosophy and Science Fiction Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• PHIL 324 - Philosophy and Sex Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• PHIL 333 - Philosophy of Language Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• PHIL 336 - Philosophy of Cognition and Artificial Intelligence Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• PHIL 351 - Social and Political Philosophy Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• PHIL 353 - Human Rights in the U.S. Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• PHIL 354 - Global Human Rights and Social Justice Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• PHIL 365 - Existentialism Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C
• PHIL 375 - Feminist Philosophy Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice

Other Undergraduate Degree Requirements

In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate requirements for graduation, which are described in the Undergrad Baccalaureate & Program Requirements  chapter of this catalog. 

Department Courses Listed by Course Type

Philosophy and Religious Studies Courses

Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

Courses

Philosophy

• •  PHIL 100 - Workshop in Critical Thinking Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-A3
• •  PHIL 110 - Introduction to Philosophy and the Arts Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-C1
• •  PHIL 130 - Introduction to Religious Studies Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-D1-2
• •  PHIL 201 - Introduction to Philosophy Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-C2
• •  PHIL 211 - Introduction to Ethics Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-C2
• •  PHIL 212 - Nursing Ethics Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-C2;
• •  PHIL 236 - Philosophy of Life Science Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-B2
• •  PHIL 243 - Spirituality & Health Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-C2
• •  PHIL 300 - Philosophy and Religious Studies Seminar Units: 1
• •  PHIL 301 - Modern Logic Units: 3
• •  PHIL 310 - Ethics Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 311 - Environmental Ethics Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Sustainability
• •  PHIL 312 - Bioethics Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 313 - Philosophy of Business and Professional Ethics Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 320 - Philosophy of Art Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• •  PHIL 321 - Philosophy and Science Fiction Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 324 - Philosophy and Sex Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• •  PHIL 325 - Philosophy for the Soul Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• •  PHIL 326 - Death & Dying Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-D
• •  PHIL 330 - Epistemology: Knowing and Not Knowing Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 331 - Metaphysics: Being and Not Being Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C
• •  PHIL 333 - Philosophy of Language Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 334 - Technologies and Human Values Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 335 - Philosophy of Science Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Sustainability
• •  PHIL 336 - Philosophy of Cognition and Artificial Intelligence Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 339 - Understanding Life Through Experience Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• •  PHIL 340 - Philosophy of Religion Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C
• •  PHIL 341 - Abrahamic Religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C
• •  PHIL 342 - Religions of Asia Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C
• •  PHIL 344 - Mysticism Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C
• •  PHIL 346 - Cults and New Religious Movements Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• •  PHIL 347 - Religion, Monsters, and Horror Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• •  PHIL 348 - Views of the Afterlife Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C
• •  PHIL 351 - Social and Political Philosophy Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 353 - Human Rights in the U.S. Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• •  PHIL 354 - Global Human Rights and Social Justice Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 355 - Race and Justice Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• •  PHIL 361 - “Know Thyself”: The Birth of Philosophy Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C
• •  PHIL 362 - “I Think Therefore I Am”: Rationalism, Irrationalism, and Beyond Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C
• •  PHIL 365 - Existentialism Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C
• •  PHIL 371 - Philosophy of Education Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 373 - African-American Philosophical Perspectives Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• •  PHIL 375 - Feminist Philosophy Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 377 - Philosophy of Law Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
• •  PHIL 380 - Christianities in the United States Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Diversity
• •  PHIL 490 - Independent Study Units: 3
• •  PHIL 497 - Issues in Philosophy or Religion Units: 3
• •  PHIL 499 - Senior Seminar Units: 3