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Philosophy-Humanities

Humanities/Philosophy

Humanities is a theme-centered interdisciplinary program in the arts, history, literature, philosophy, and religion. Through interdisciplinary study, students develop an awareness and understanding of the major events and ideas that have shaped the civilization in which they live.

Philosophy-Humanities Major

People have always had questions about the world in which they live. Whether these questions are about truth, beauty, and goodness, or about whether life has any meaning, people find questions to ask. Over the centuries, many minds have addressed these questions. By means of dialogue, intuition, logic, and critical thought, philosophers have created pathways to wisdom and an understanding of the human condition.

North Dakota State University offers students a Philosophy curriculum that may be approached either as a Philosophy-Humanities major or minor.

The Philosophy-Humanities major consists of 30 semester credits. Of these, 21 credits must be taken from the required courses below. Nine elective credits, which can be independent studies, complete the major. Each degree has additional university and College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences requirements that must be fulfilled. For example, a B.A. requires two years or the equivalent of a foreign language, while the B.S. requires a minor in another field. Please check the university and college pages addressing additional requirements that must be fulfilled.

Philosophy-Humanities Minor

The Philosophy-Humanities minor consists of 21 semester credits: the major required courses plus six elective credits from the elective philosophy courses, including independent studies.

Major Requirements

Major: Philosophy/Humanities

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 122

Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Degree Requirements                                                                            

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree – The completion of a minor program of study, a second major, or a second degree is required.                                                                            

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree – Second year language proficiency required.

General Education Requirements

First Year Experience (F):
UNIV 189Skills For Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take UNIV 189.)1
Communication (C):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
ENGL 120College Composition II3
PHIL 450Metaphysics3
or PHIL 451 Epistemology
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Quantitative Reasoning (R): Select from current general education list3
Science & Technology (S):10
A one-credit lab must be taken as a co-requisite with a general education science/technology course unless the course includes an embedded lab experience equivalent to a one-credit course. Select from current general education list.
Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): Select from current general education list6
Wellness (W): Select from current general education list2
Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list
Global Perspectives (G): Select from current general education list
Total Credits40

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences College Requirements

An additional 9 credits are required by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for all Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree programs of study, except the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, the Bachelor of Music degree, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree, and the Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree:

AH&SS College Requirements
Courses used to satisfy any general education requirement cannot be used to also count toward the AH&SS College Requirements. A minimum of three credits is required in each of the 3 following areas for a total of 9 credits. Choose only those courses with the prefixes listed for each area. A course with the WGS prefix can only be used in one area.
Area One: Humanities3
ARB, ENGL, FREN, GERM, HIST, HUM, PHIL, RELS, SPAN, or WGS
Area Two: Social Sciences3
ANTH, CJ, COMM, EMGT, POLS, SOC, or WGS
Area Three: Fine Arts3
ARCH, ART, ENVD, LA, MUSC, or THEA
Total Credits9

Major Requirements

General Education Requirements40
AH&SS College Requirement9
Philosophy/Humanities Major Requirements
PHIL 101Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 257Traditional Logic3
PHIL/RELS 210Ethics3
PHIL 321Ancient Philosophy3
or PHIL 322 Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 323Modern Philosophy3
or PHIL 324 Contemporary Philosophy
PHIL 450Metaphysics3
Select one of the following:3
Epistemology
Philosophy & Literature
Individual Study
Major Electives:9
As part of these 9 credits, students may take PHIL 215 or PHIL 216 but not both.
Degree Requirements: Potential of 43 credit to reach 12243
Total Credits122

Minor Requirements

Philosophy-Humanities Minor

Minor Requirements

Required Credits: 21

Required Minor Courses
PHIL 101Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 210Ethics3
PHIL 257Traditional Logic3
PHIL 450Metaphysics3
or PHIL 451 Epistemology
Select one of the following:3
Philosophy & Literature
Aesthetics
Individual Study
Electives: Select 6 credits from the following:6
Contemporary Moral Issues
Business Ethics
Philosophy of Religion
History of Philosophy: Modern Period
Ancient Philosophy
Medieval Philosophy
Modern Philosophy
Contemporary Philosophy
Metaphysics *
Epistemology *
Philosophy & Literature
Aesthetics
Individual Study *
Total Credits21
*

May take as an elective if not taken as a required course.

Minor Requirements and Notes

  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.