BA in Philosophy (Ethics, Politics, and Law)

Units required for Major: 42
Total units required for BA: 120

Program Description

The concentration in Ethics, Politics, and Law is designed as a preparation for the study of law as well as for advanced professional study in applied ethics. It is also intended to give undergraduates a foundation in rational decision-making, embodying the conviction that such an intellectual capacity has broad application.

The concentration gives students an understanding of the theories behind moral and legal principles as well as training in the process of decision-making applying those principles. Students will be called upon to make decisions in particular cases; state the facts impartially; convey their decisions and their reasoning cogently and persuasively; and justify their decisions by showing how they are both a reasonable consequence of those principles and not overturned by overriding conflicting principles. There will be a particular emphasis on clear and effective writing.

Program Requirements

LOWER DIVISION COURSES (5 Units)
PHIL 89Philosophical Methods (Philosophical Methods)2
PHIL 60Deductive Logic I 13
UPPER DIVISION CORE COURSES (19 Units)
PHIL 112History Of Ethics 3
PHIL 127History of Ancient Philosophy3
PHIL 128History of Modern Philosophy3
PHIL 180Knowledge and Understanding3
PHIL 181Metaphysics3
PHIL 182Ethical Theory (Ethical Theory)3
PHIL 189Senior Seminar in Philosophy1
ETHICS, POLITICS, AND LAW CONCENTRATIONS (18 Units)
CORE ELECTIVES
PHIL 122Political Philosophy 13
PHIL 155Philosophy Of Law3
Select 190 or 192 series seminar from the Elective List for this concentration.3
ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES
Select three courses from the Elective List for this concentration not taken to satisfy the above.9
Total Units42
1

Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement.

Note: Philosophy majors must fulfill the GE Writing Intensive "supervenient requirement" with courses in the major, only.

Elective List

PHIL 61Inductive Logic I3
PHIL 101Ethics and Social Issues 13
PHIL 102Professional and Public Service Ethics3
PHIL 103Business and Computer Ethics 13
PHIL 104Bioethics 13
PHIL 105Science and Human Values 13
PHIL 106Philosophy of Medicine3
PHIL 156Philosophy of the Social Sciences3
PHIL 183Rationality3
PHIL 190Selected Philosophers3
PHIL 192BTopics in Bioethics3
PHIL 192ETopics in Epistemology3
PHIL 192FTopics in Ethics3
PHIL 192LTopics in Philosophy Language3
PHIL 192MTopics in Philosophy of Mind3
PHIL 192OTopics in Contemporary Metaphysics3
PHIL 192RTopics in Philosophy of Religion3
PHIL 192STopics in Philosophy of Science3
PHIL 192TTopics in Philosophy of Social Science3
PHIL 195Philosophy Internship 21 - 3
1

Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement.

2

If taken for less than 3 units, must be repeated until 3 units are achieved.

General Education Requirements1

Area A: Basic Subjects (9 Units)
A1 - Oral Communication3
A2 - Written Communication3
A3 - Critical Thinking 23
Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (13 Units)
B1 - Physical Science3
B2 - Life Forms3
B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5)1
B4 - Math Concepts3
B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements.3
Area C: Arts and Humanities (6-9 Units)
C1 - Arts3
C2 - Humanities 20 - 3
C1/C2 - Area C Course3
C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 30
Area D: The Individual and Society (6-9 Units)
Area D Course3
Area D Course3
Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 40 - 3
Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units)
Area E Course3
Area F: Ethnic Studies (3 Units)
Area F Course3
Total Units40-46
1

To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.

Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.

2

Department offers students a "select from the following" option: 

  • If student chooses to take PHIL 2, PHIL 6, or PHIL 26, they will meet Area C2.
  • If student chooses to take PHIL 4, they will meet Area A3.
3

Required in Major; also satisfies GE.

4

Department offers students a "select from the following" option: 

Graduation Requirements1

Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (6 Units)
American Institutions: U.S. History3
American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government3
Writing Intensive (WI) 20
Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (12 Units)
English Composition II3
Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE)3
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 36
1

To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.

Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.

2

Required in Major; also satisfies Graduation Requirement.

3

If not satisfied before entering Sacramento State, it may be satisfied in General Education Area C2 (Humanities). "C- or better required." The alternative methods for satisfying the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement are described here: https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/world-languages-literatures/foreign-language-requirement.html 

The following roadmaps are sample planning resources. Please consult your academic advisor and Academic Catalog for graduation requirements as you develop your individualized academic plan.

Philosophy (Ethics, Politics, and Law), BA: 4-Year Roadmap

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
First SemesterUnits
PHIL 21 First Year Seminar: Becoming an Educated Person 3
GE Area 1B - Critical Thinking (PHIL 4 recommended) 2 3
GE Area 1C - Oral Communication 2 3
GE Area 5B - Biological Science 2 3
GR American Institutions (US History) 2 3
 Units15
Second Semester
GE Area 1A - English Composition 2 3
GE Area 2 - Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning (PHIL 61 recommended) 2 3
GE Area 3B - Humanities (PHIL 2 recommended) 2 3
GR American Institutions (GOVT) 2 3
Elective of Choice 3
 Units15
Year 2
First Semester
PHIL 89 Philosophical Methods 2
PHIL 155 Philosophy Of Law 3
ENGL 20 College Composition II 3
GE Area 3A - Arts 2 3
GE Area 5A - Physical Science 2 3
GE Area 5C - Laboratory 2 1
 Units15
Second Semester
PHIL 60 Deductive Logic I 3
PHIL 122 Political Philosophy 3
Upper Division GE Area 3 - Arts or Humanities (PHIL 131 recommended) 2 3
GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences 2 3
GE Area 6 - Ethnic Studies 2 3
 Units15
Year 3
First Semester
PHIL 112 History Of Ethics 3
PHIL 127 History of Ancient Philosophy 3
PHIL 128 History of Modern Philosophy 3
Upper Division GE Area 3 - Arts or Humanities (PHIL 136 recommended) 3 3
Foreign Language Semester 1 2 4
 Units16
Second Semester
PHIL Ethics, Politics, and Law Elective 3 3
Upper Division GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences 2 3
Upper Division GE Area 5 or 2 - Science or Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning 2 3
Foreign Language Semester 2 2 4
Elective of Choice 3
 Units16
Year 4
First Semester
PHIL 180 Knowledge and Understanding 3
PHIL 190
or PHIL 192B
or PHIL 192E
or PHIL 192F
or PHIL 192L
or PHIL 192M
or PHIL 192O
or PHIL 192R
or PHIL 192S
or PHIL 192T
 Selected Philosophers
or Topics in Bioethics
or Topics in Epistemology
or Topics in Ethics
or Topics in Philosophy Language
or Topics in Philosophy of Mind
or Topics in Contemporary Metaphysics
or Topics in Philosophy of Religion
or Topics in Philosophy of Science
or Topics in Philosophy of Social Science
 3
Topics in Ethics and Philosophy 3 3
PHIL Ethics, Politics, and Law Elective 3 3
Elective of Choice 3
 Units15
Second Semester
PHIL 181 Metaphysics 3
PHIL 182 Ethical Theory 3
PHIL 189 Senior Seminar in Philosophy 1
PHIL Ethics, Politics, and Law Elective 3 3
Elective of Choice 3
 Units13
 Total Units120

Philosophy (Ethics, Politics, and Law), BA: 2-Year Roadmap

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
First SemesterUnits
PHIL 112 History Of Ethics 3
PHIL 127 History of Ancient Philosophy 3
PHIL 128 History of Modern Philosophy 3
Upper Division GE Area 3 - Arts or Humanities (PHIL 136 recommended) 2 3
Foreign Language Semester 1 2 4
 Units16
Second Semester
Upper Division GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences 2 3
Upper Division GE Area 5 or 2 - Science or Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning 2 3
PHIL Ethics, Politics, and Law Elective 3 3
Foreign Language Semester 2 2 4
GR American Institutions (US History) 2 3
 Units16
Year 2
First Semester
PHIL 122 Political Philosophy 3
PHIL 180 Knowledge and Understanding 3
PHIL 190
or PHIL 192B
or PHIL 192E
or PHIL 192F
or PHIL 192L
or PHIL 192M
or PHIL 192O
or PHIL 192R
or PHIL 192S
or PHIL 192T
 Selected Philosophers
or Topics in Bioethics
or Topics in Epistemology
or Topics in Ethics
or Topics in Philosophy Language
or Topics in Philosophy of Mind
or Topics in Contemporary Metaphysics
or Topics in Philosophy of Religion
or Topics in Philosophy of Science
or Topics in Philosophy of Social Science
 3
Topics in Ethics and Philosophy 3 3
PHIL Ethics, Politics, and Law Elective 3 3
 Units15
Second Semester
PHIL 155 Philosophy Of Law 3
PHIL 181 Metaphysics 3
PHIL 182 Ethical Theory 3
PHIL 189 Senior Seminar in Philosophy 1
PHIL Ethics, Politics, and Law Elective 3 3
GR American Institutions (GOVT) 2 3
 Units16
 Total Units63
1.

Any course not completed in the first semester should be taken in the second or a later semester.

2.

Please see General Education/Graduation Requirement course options.

3.

Please see an academic advisor for elective options.