Program Requirements

The philosophy department at Missouri State accepts and encourages all students interested in pursuing philosophy.

To begin coursework in the field of philosophy, you initially need to be admitted to Missouri State. Before completing 75 credit hours, you must also be admitted to a degree program. The philosophy major consists of 33 credit hours toward the Bachelor of Arts in philosophy degree and 33 credit hours toward the Bachelor of Science in the philosophy degree.

Degree options

The philosophy program provides two types of undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Both programs require taking 33 hours, including 24 hours of upper-division credit.

For a Bachelor of Arts degree, you must also complete 12 hours of a foreign language, History 103 and History 104, a philosophy class and six hours of fine arts beyond the general education requirements.

Philosophy (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Bachelor of Arts

Major requirements (33 hours):*

  1. Logic and Analytical Reasoning: PHI 305(3).
  2. Moral Theory: PHI 345(3).
  3. Applied Ethics. Three hours from: PHI 302(3), 313(3), 340(3), 342(3).
  4. History of Philosophy. Six hours from: PHI 306(3), 310(3), 312(3).
  5. Theory of Knowledge and Metaphysics. Three hours from: PHI 331(3), 336(3).
  6. Philosophical Perspectives and Area Studies. Three hours from: PHI 300(3), 314(3), 315(3), 319(3), 320(3); PHI 330(3) or PLS 330(3).
  7. Public Affairs Capstone Experience requirement: PHI 350(3).
  8. Nine additional hours of Philosophy courses. Major requires a minimum of 33 hours including at least 24 hours of upper division credit in the discipline.
    *PHI 197, PHI 397, and PHI 496 may satisfy a distribution requirement for the major when their topics are deemed suitable by the department.
  9. Minor required (or second major).
  10. A BA major in Philosophy may be combined with the Ethics and Social Policy minor only where students satisfy the stated course requirements for both major and minor and complete additional upper division hours for the major, as needed, wherever courses that satisfy the major requirements are used to satisfy the minor. Accordingly, a student combining a BA major in Philosophy with the Ethics and Social Policy minor must complete at least 51 hours of Philosophy courses.
  11. Specific Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

University level requirements:

  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Philosophy (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Bachelor of Science

Major requirements (33 hours):*

  1. Logic and Analytical Reasoning: PHI 305(3).
  2. Moral Theory: PHI 345(3).
  3. Applied Ethics. Three hours from: PHI 302(3), 313(3), 340(3), 342(3).
  4. History of Philosophy. Six hours from: PHI 306(3), 310(3), 312(3).
  5. Theory of Knowledge and Metaphysics. Three hours from: PHI 331(3), 336(3).
  6. Philosophical Perspectives and Area Studies. Three hours from: PHI 300(3), 314(3), 315(3), 319(3), 320(3); PHI 330(3) or PLS 330(3).
  7. Public Affairs Capstone Experience requirement: PHI 350(3).
  8. Complete an additional 9 hours of Philosophy courses. Major requires a minimum of 33 hours including at least 24 hours of upper division credit in the discipline.
    *PHI 197, PHI 397, and PHI 496 may satisfy a distribution requirement for the major when their topics are deemed suitable by the department.
  9. Minor Required (or second major).
  10. A BS major in Philosophy may be combined with the Ethics and Social Policy minor only where students satisfy the stated course requirements for both major and minor and complete additional upper division hours for the major, as needed, wherever courses that satisfy the major requirements are used to satisfy the minor. Accordingly, a student combining a BS major in Philosophy with the Ethics and Social Policy minor must complete at least 51 hours of Philosophy courses.

University level requirements:

  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Suggested minor

Both degree plans are non-comprehensive programs. This means that they require another path of study during the pursuit of a degree. This can be in the form of a minor or a second major. By adding a minor, you can expand your knowledge and skills that will help later in your career.

Listed below are the most popular areas of study when choosing a minor to pair with your philosophy major:

  • English
  • Communication
  • Political science
  • Religious studies