UTexas

Philosophy (BA)

Total Hours Required: 120

Plan of Study

The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Semester 1Hours
Free Elective 3
Visual and Performing Arts (050) 3
RHE 306 Rhetoric and Writing 3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) 3
First-Year Signature Course (090) 3
 Hours15
Semester 2
Mathematics (020) 3
U.S. History (060) 3
Hours chosen from: Lower-division PHL 3
Additional Social Science (may not also be counted toward Core Curriculum) 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours15
Year 2
Semester 1
PHL 301K Ancient Philosophy 3
Humanities (040) 3
Natural Science and Technology, Part I (030) 3
Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency 6
 Hours15
Semester 2
Hours chosen from: Lower-division PHL 3
Natural Science and Technology, Part I (030) 3
U.S. History (060) 3
Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency 6
 Hours15
Year 3
Semester 1
Hours chosen from: 3
Metaphysics  
Philosophy of Mind  
Ethical Theories  
Philosophy of Language  
PHL 313 Introductory Symbolic Logic 3
Natural Science and Technology, Part II (093) 3
American and Texas Government (070) 3
Minor/Certificate course 3
 Hours15
Semester 2
Hours chosen from: 3
Metaphysics  
Philosophy of Mind  
Ethical Theories  
Philosophy of Language  
PHL 329L Early Modern Philosophy: Descartes to Kant 3
Hours chosen from: Upper-division PHL 3
American and Texas Government (070) 3
Minor/Certificate course 3
 Hours15
Year 4
Semester 1
Hours chosen from: Upper-division PHL 3
Hours chosen from: HIS prior to 1800 3
Minor/Certificate course 3
Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours15
Semester 2
Hours chosen from: Upper-division PHL 3
Minor/Certificate course 3
Minor/Certificate course 3
Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours120

Requirements

All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.

Major
Hours chosen from:3
Introductory Symbolic Logic
Logic, Sets, and Functions
Logic and Scientific Reasoning
Hours chosen from:3
History of Ancient Philosophy
Early Modern Philosophy: Descartes to Kant (may also be counted toward another requirement)
PHL 301KAncient Philosophy3
or PHL 329K History of Ancient Philosophy
PHL 301LEarly Modern Philosophy3
or PHL 329L Early Modern Philosophy: Descartes to Kant
Hours chosen from:6
Theory of Knowledge
Metaphysics
Philosophy of Mind
Philosophy of Science
Ethical Theories
Philosophy of Language
Hours chosen from: upper-division Philosophy6
Subtotal24
Degree (see details below)51
Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required.15
Subtotal66
General Education
Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total)30
Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency
Subtotal30
College Requirements - Liberal Arts
General University Requirements
Total Hours120

Degree - Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Liberal Arts

Degree
Literature and Writing
RHE 306Rhetoric and Writing (Plan II honors requires at least a C-; may also count toward Core Curriculum)3
Hours chosen from: Writing intensive coursework-see course list (may also count toward Core Curriculum; Plan II honors requires at least a C-)3
Hours chosen from: Upper-division Writing intensive coursework-see course list (may also count toward Core Curriculum; Plan II honors requires at least a C-)6
Choose a sequence below:12
Sequence 1: Plan II Honors (requires at least a C-; may also count toward Core Curriculum)
Plan II World Literature Part I
Plan II World Literature Part I
Sequence 2: Plan I
British Literature
American Literature
World Literature
Foreign Language other than English, Intermediate Proficiency3
Choose a sequence below: Social Science3
Sequence 1: Plan II Honors (requires at least a C-; may also count toward Core Curriculum)
Honors Social Science: Methods and Theory
Honors Social Science: Psychology
Honors Social Science: Anthropology
Honors Social Science: Anthropology
Honors Social Science: Economics
Sequence 2: Plan I
Mathematics
Choose a sequence below: (M 301, M 316K, and M 316L do not count toward this requirement)3
Sequence 1: Plan II Honors
Modern Mathematics: Plan II
Sequence 2: Plan I
Hours chosen from: Mathematics
Choose a sequence below:3
Sequence 1: Plan II Honors
Modes of Reasoning
Logic and Scientific Reasoning
Sequence 2: Plan I
Choose a sequence below:15
Sequence 1: Plan II Honors
Six Hours chosen from: Astronomy, biology, chemistry, geological sciences, physical science, or physics (may also count toward Core Curriculum)
Problems in Modern Biology
Modern Physics: Plan II
Three Hours chosen from:
Art history, music history, or history of theatre and dance
Upper-division classical civilization, humanities, literature, or philosophy
Sequence 2: Plan I International Relations and Global Studies
Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required.
Sequence 3: Other Plan I
Hours chosen from:
Liberal Arts multi-disciplinary minor in the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Liberal Arts multi-disciplinary minor in Cultural Expression, Human Experience, and Thought
Total Hours51

Additional Requirements and Policies

Unless otherwise stated, students must complete at least:

  • 15 upper-division degree hours
  • 24 upper-division degree hours taken in residence at the University
  • 36 additional degree hours taken in residence at the University.

Credit may be earned via credit by examination, extension, or transferred hours from another institution (requires dean's approval).

Major and minor required hours may also be used to fulfill degree requirements unless expressly prohibited.

A course in one degree area may not also be used to fulfill the requirements of another degree area unless specified otherwise.

Mathematics courses at the college algebra level may not count toward elective hours.

Majors

A major consists of 24 to 45 hours, with at least 15 upper-division hours unless the requirements of the major state otherwise.

Students must earn at least:

  • 18 major hours taken in residence at the University.
  • 6 upper-division major hours taken in residence at the University
  • a 2.00 grade point average for in-residence major hours taken at the University unless a higher minimum scholastic requirement is specified for the major.

Minors

Students must get permission from their College of Liberal Arts academic advisor to pursue more than one transcript-recognized minor or certificate per major. The academic advisor will approve or deny the request after considering the student's long-term educational and professional goals and the student's ability to graduate within 4 years of entering the University.

Students should consult the department offering the course before planning to use it to fulfill the minor requirement.

Hours used to fulfill the requirements for a minor must be taken on the letter-grade basis.

See University Minor and Certificate policies here.