BA in Philosophy (Science, Reason and Values)
Units required for Major: 42
Total units required for BA: 120
Program Description
The concentration in Science, Reason and Values is designed for students who are interested in the philosophical, rational and moral foundations of science and its applications. This concentration provides an excellent double major opportunity for science students interested in broadening and deepening their understanding of the normative elements of their chosen field. It is also a good choice for philosophy students who are interested in graduate study in the philosophy of science.
The concentration focuses on providing students with a deep understanding of the nature of scientific rationality. Topics include scientific explanation, the nature of scientific evidence, the process of confirming and revising our theories and beliefs, the problem of decision under conditions of uncertainty, and the scientific study of social phenomena. The philosophy of science also explores traditional philosophical questions as they arise in the context of scientific inquiry. Some of these are: Do we really know that the theoretical entities of science exist? What is the difference between science and pseudo-science? Do different sciences give us fundamentally different ways of understanding the world? Is science converging on truth or will it always undergo revolutionary changes that reject widely accepted theories of the past? Does scientific inquiry have intrinsic value or are there questions that scientists should not ask?
Note: Philosophy majors must fulfill the GE Writing Intensive "supervenient requirement" with courses in the major, only.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| LOWER DIVISION COURSES (5 Units) | ||
| PHIL 89 | Philosophical Methods (Philosophical Methods) | 2 |
| PHIL 60 | Deductive Logic I 1 | 3 |
| UPPER DIVISION CORE COURSES (19 Units) | ||
| PHIL 112 | History Of Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 127 | History of Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 128 | History of Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 180 | Knowledge and Understanding | 3 |
| PHIL 181 | Metaphysics | 3 |
| PHIL 182 | Ethical Theory (Ethical Theory) | 3 |
| PHIL 189 | Senior Seminar in Philosophy | 1 |
| SCIENCE, REASON, AND VALUES CONCENTRATION (18 Units) | ||
| SCIENCE, REASON, AND VALUES CORE ELECTIVES | ||
| Select 3 of the following 4 courses. | 9 | |
| Science and Human Values | ||
| Philosophy Of Science 1 | ||
| Philosophy of the Social Sciences | ||
| Rationality | ||
| Additional Electives 2 | ||
| Select three courses from the Elective List for this concentration not taken to satisfy the above. | 9 | |
| Total Units | 42 | |
| 1 | Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement. |
| 2 | See Elective List below for Department approved electives for this concentration. |
Elective List
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 61 | Inductive Logic I 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 104 | Bioethics 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 105 | Science and Human Values | 3 |
| PHIL 106 | Philosophy of Medicine | 3 |
| PHIL 125 | Philosophy Of Science 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 153 | Philosophy Of Mind | 3 |
| PHIL 154 | Philosophy Of Language | 3 |
| PHIL 156 | Philosophy of the Social Sciences | 3 |
| PHIL 160 | Deductive Logic II | 3 |
| PHIL 183 | Rationality | 3 |
| PHIL 190 | Selected Philosophers | 3 |
| PHIL 192B | Topics in Bioethics | 3 |
| PHIL 192E | Topics in Epistemology | 3 |
| PHIL 192F | Topics in Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 192L | Topics in Philosophy Language | 3 |
| PHIL 192M | Topics in Philosophy of Mind | 3 |
| PHIL 192O | Topics in Contemporary Metaphysics | 3 |
| PHIL 192P | Topics in Social and Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 192R | Topics in Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| PHIL 192S | Topics in Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| PHIL 192T | Topics in Philosophy of Social Science | 3 |
| PHIL 195 | Philosophy Internship 2 | 1 - 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
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Area A: Basic Subjects (6-9 Units) | ||
| A1 - Oral Communication | 3 | |
| A2 - Written Communication | 3 | |
| A3 - Critical Thinking 2 | 0 - 3 | |
| Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (13 Units) | ||
| B1 - Physical Science | 3 | |
| B2 - Life Forms | 3 | |
| B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) | 1 | |
| B4 - Math Concepts | 3 | |
| B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 3 | 3 | |
| Area C: Arts and Humanities (6-12 Units) | ||
| C1 - Arts | 3 | |
| C2 - Humanities 2 | 0 - 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 4 | 0 - 3 | |
| Area D: The Individual and Society (6-9 Units) | ||
| Area D Course | 3 | |
| Area D Course | 3 | |
| Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 4 | 0 - 3 | |
| Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units) | ||
| Area E Course | 3 | |
| Area F: Ethnic Studies (3 Units) | ||
| Area F Course | 3 | |
| Total Units | 37-49 | |
| 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: |
| 3 | Required in Major; also satisfies GE. |
| 4 | Department offers students a "select from the following" option: |
Graduation Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (6-9 Units) | ||
| American Institutions: U.S. History | 3 | |
| American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive (WI) 2 | 0 - 3 | |
| Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (12 Units) | ||
| English Composition II | 3 | |
| Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 3 | 6 | |
| 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: |
| 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 |