Sonoma State University

Philosophy BA Program with 4 Concentrations

The Department of Philosophy offers four concentrations:  Pre-Law and Applied Ethics; The Good Life; Science, Technology and Ethics; and Social Justice.  All majors complete five core classes.  Each concentration requires four additional classes.  Electives can be taken from any concentration.  Some classes are three units, and others four units.  Consequently, the total number of units that students require for the major can vary between 35-36 units.

 

 
Degree RequirementsUnits
General education48
Major Core requirements20
Philosophy Concentration16
University Electives36
Total units needed for graduation120

 

Philosophy Core

Philosophy courses from SSU catalog

Philosophy Core Classes (5 Classes)
CourseUnits
PHIL 120: Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 202: Proseminar4
PHIL 204: Applied Ethics4
PHIL 302:  Ethics and Value Theory 3
PHIL 400: Senior Seminar4

Choose a Concentration

Pre-Law & Applied Ethics (4 Classes)
CoursesUnits
PHIL 375: Philosophy Of Law: Drugs, Pornography, Punishment & Mor4

Choose either:

  • PHIL 303: Social and Political Philosophy OR
  • PHIL 377: Legal Reasoning
4
Two Electives8

 

The Good Life (4 Classes)
CoursesUnits

Choose one of the following:

  • PHIL 160B or PHIL 161A/B: Humanities Learning Community
  • PHIL 201: Buddhism, Philosophy & Culture
  • PHIL 212:The Good Life
3
PHIL 312: Philosophy of Love and Emotion4
Two Electives8

 

Science, Technology, and Ethics (4 Classes)
CoursesUnits
PHIL 102: Logic3
PHIL 301: Philosophy of Science & Technology 4
PHIL 309: Roboethics4
One Elective4

 

Social Justice (4 Classes)
CoursesUnits

Select Three of the following:

  • PHIL 203:  Global Justice 
  • PHIL 275:  Race, Racism, Law and Society 
  • PHIL 376:  Gender and Social Justice 
  • PHIL 303:  Social and Political Philosophy 
10-12
One Elective4

 

An elective is any philosophy course that is not required in a student’s chosen concentration.  Each semester students can select philosophy classes that are not listed under any concentration.  The department offers these classes to complement the regular class offerings. They count towards the major as elective offerings. PHIL 202 and PHIL 400 are service-informed classes.  Faculty incorporate varying hours of community engagement to help students apply philosophy to their own personal experiences and real-world problems.

A sample four-year B.A. in Philosophy is listed in the General Catalog as: https://catalog.sonoma.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=5&poid=1199&returnto=460