Philosophy
Bachelor of Arts, Accelerated Master's, Minor
About this program
The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy teaches you to think clearly, question deeply, and argue effectively. You’ll study ideas about truth, justice, and human experience across cultures and time. The program helps you read closely, write clearly, and reason well. You’ll learn how to build strong arguments and explore ethical, political, and metaphysical questions that shape the world around you.
Program Curriculum and Requirements
Program Scope
Course requirements for a B.A. in Philosophy cover the core philosophical disciplines, such as Metaphysics , Epistemology , Ethics and Logic.
These core areas are not only interesting in themselves, they are also useful in reflecting on other things that we do; as a result, we regularly offer courses on topics in other fields of inquiry and practices, such as, Philosophy of the Natural Sciences, Mind, Language, Law, Art, and Applied Ethics.
We also offer courses on various individual philosophers and non-Western traditions. SFSU is unique in also addressing the cross-cultural dimensions of philosophy, regularly offering courses on philosophy in the middle-east and the far-east (e.g., Islamic Philosophy, Islamic Mysticism, Chinese philosophy, and Buddhism).
Program Learning Outcomes
- Develop interpretive skills to gain knowledge of the history and/or current state of the discipline of philosophy.
- Demonstrate competence in applying philosophical conventions, methods, and tools.
- Demonstrate competence in applying philosophical skills to representative philosophical issues (e.g. in academic philosophy, other disciplines, or human life more generally).
- Develop a critical mind and analytic skills.
SFSU Accelerated Bachelor's + Master's
The SFSU Accelerated Bachelor's + Master's program offers undergraduates an accelerated path to a graduate degree, allowing them to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s simultaneously. For Philosophy, the program combines the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and the Master of Arts in Philosophy degrees.
Minor in Philosophy
The flexibility of the philosophy minor and the wide array of philosophy courses allows students to choose a course of study that best suits their interests and complements their major program. Students interested in either the philosophical understanding of a field of knowledge or in philosophy for self-understanding should feel free to consult the department chairperson or an advisor on appropriate courses.
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Philosophy
Philosophy at SFSU teaches the history of thought, encourages developing powerful reasoning skills and applying insights and skills to your interests and profession.