Academics

Bachelor of Arts Degree

At URI, Philosophy is a major where you’ll have the latitude to choose courses that appeal to you, and take most of them in a flexible order, yet it still covers all of the traditional areas that a strong major should include.

Philosophy majors can choose either a general option (below) or a religious studies emphasis.

curriculum sheets course descriptions learning outcomes

Curriculum

The major requires at least 33 credits (maximum 48 credits) in philosophy. A total of 120 credits is required for graduation; at least 30 must be in courses numbered 300 or above.

Required Courses

  • PHL 205: Philosophical Topics
  • Logic courses: at least one of
    PHL 101: Critical Thinking
    PHL/CSC 451: Symbolic Logic *
  • Ethics courses: at least one of
    PHL 212: Ethics 
    PHL 314: Ethical Problems in Society and Medicine
  • Analytic courses: at least one of
    PHL 341: Introduction to Metaphysics
    PHL 342: Knowledge, Belief, and Truth
    PHL/CSC 451: Symbolic Logic *
    PHL 452: Philosophy of Science
  • History courses: both
    PHL 321: Ancient Philosophy
    PHL 323: Modern Philosophy: Descartes to Kant
  • European philosophy courses: at least one of
    PHL 318: Power/Justice: Contemporary Critical Philosophies
    PHL 324: Recent European Philosophy
    PHL 346: Existential Problems in Human Life
    PHL 366: Love and Nihilism: European Philosophy Now
  • PHL 490 (senior seminar).

* PHL/CSC 451 can only be used once toward the major.

The remaining nine credits may be chosen freely from the list of PHL courses offered by the department. At least 18 credits of course work used to satisfy major requirements must be at the 300 level or above.

Explore Experiential Philosophy

Experiential Learning

Experiential Learning Experiential learning in philosophy engages students through direct experience, active “doing,” and critical reflection to bridge abstract theories with real-world applications. It transforms philosophy from passive study to an active practice, utilizing methods like service learning, debates and other acts of public philosophy, internships and externships with community partners, and participating in ‘field philosophy’ programs to demonstrate the crucial importance of philosophical training for a good career and (as importantly) for a well examined life.

URI Philosophy welcomes student ideas and will be happy to help turn an interest or passion into a course in Experiential Philosophy. We currently are running two experiential Philosophy courses, one in the fall and the other in the summer. Both courses offer (in addition to amazing experiences) 4XX credit and both fulfil C1 and D1 Gen Education requirements at URI. For more information on these (or other) opportunities, contact the Dept Chair, Prof Krieger.

Philosophy and Food Scarcity

Volunteer for Community-Driven Change. Graduates of the course will volunteer on service projects that simultaneously increase food access and reduce food waste. Upon completion of 40 volunteer hours, graduates will receive a certificate of completion and earn the title of certified URI Extension Food Recovery Volunteer.
Experiential PHL: Students will meet with Prof Krieger after week 6 of the Food Recovery Course to connect their interests in Food Recovery with Philosophical Issues (such as DEI/Social Justice, Ethics, Traceability). They will combine their field experiences with research and discussion with their professor, and in the end, they will complete a project addressing ways that their chosen issue integrates with their service project, focusing on applying these philosophical concepts to the problems they learned (and lived) in the field.

Philosophy of Science – Archaeology

This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to gain academic and practical experience in the ways that the philosophy of science impacts and is impacted by actual work in the field. Students will learn about and put into practice epistemological, ethical, and social justice issues while engaged in the recovery and analysis of the material remains of an ancient culture. The course begins online, with a readings and discussions to introduce students to the core philosophical issues at stake for working scientists, continues on site during a two-week period as a part of an ongoing archaeological excavation (no prior experience needed), and concludes with a final project based on the philosophical material (and material remains) students uncover during the class.