Philosophy

Major and minors in philosophy are able to make critical evaluation of philosophical positions and arguments using the techniques and methods of philosophy, and are able to explain the methodology itself. They are able to interpret contemporary and historical texts, reconstruct positions, follow complex lines of reasoning, expose presuppositions, weigh evidence for or against views, craft arguments, make objections and replies, offer creative answers to philosophical questions and construct independent solutions to philosophical problems.

A major or minor course of study in philosophy also develops a distinctive body of knowledge in philosophy itself. The emphasis of this study depends in part on the particular major or minor that a student pursues, whether the traditional major in philosophy, the modified major, the general minor in philosophy, or one of the special minors in philosophy.

Majors in philosophy are knowledgeable about the main contemporary and historical areas, authors, concepts, methodologies, techniques and problems of philosophy. Modified majors in philosophy are well-acquainted with the main contemporary and historical areas, authors, concepts, methodologies, techniques and problems of philosophy, and understand especially the philosophical issues connected with the particular secondary field of study in the modified major (e.g., physics, history, literature, film studies, etc.).

Minors in philosophy are well-acquainted with the main contemporary and historical areas, authors, concepts, methodologies, techniques and problems of philosophy. Special minors in philosophy are likewise well-acquainted with the main contemporary and historical areas, authors, concepts, methodologies, techniques and problems of philosophy. They will be especially well-versed in key areas in the emphasis of their minor study, whether in history of philosophy or moral philosophy or epistemology and metaphysics or logic and philosophy of science.

Each fall the department sponsors a Foreign Study Program at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. 

The Major

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 (Introduction to Philosophical Topics) or PHIL 2 (Introduction to Philosophical Classics)
   2. PHIL 3 (Reason and Argument)
2. Requirements: Eight philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:
   1. Two from PHIL 11 Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy, PHIL 12 Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy, PHIL 13 Modern Philosophy: Continental Rationalism, PHIL 14 Modern Philosophy: British Empiricism, PHIL 15 Modern Philosophy: Hume and Kant, PHIL 16 Modern Philosophy: Nineteenth Century Continental, and PHIL 17 Phenomenology and Existentialism
   2. One from PHIL 30 Epistemology and Methodology, PHIL 31 Metaphysics, PHIL 32 Intermediate Logic, PHIL 33 Philosophy of Logic, PHIL 34 Language and Thought, and PHIL 35 Mind and Psychology
   3. One from PHIL 8 Introduction to Moral Philosophy, PHIL 37 Ethical Theory, and PHIL 38 Social and Political Philosophy
   4. One advanced seminar, PHIL 80, which serves as the culminating experience in the major

MATH 39 Logic may be counted toward the major.

The following is a suggested major for those students contemplating graduate studies in philosophy: PHIL 6 Logic and Language, PHIL 8, PHIL 11, PHIL 13, PHIL 14, PHIL 15, PHIL 16, PHIL 30, PHIL 31, PHIL 34 or PHIL 35, and PHIL 37; selected seminars. It is strongly recommended that students contemplating graduate studies in philosophy enroll in the Honors Program.

The Modified Major

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3 (or PHIL 6 if not used to satisfy requirements of the modified major)
2. Requirements: Six philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:
   1. One from PHIL 11, PHIL 12, PHIL 13, PHIL 14, PHIL 15, PHIL 16, and PHIL 17
   2. One from PHIL 30, PHIL 31, PHIL 32, PHIL 33, PHIL 34, and PHIL 35
   3. One from PHIL 8, PHIL 37, and PHIL 38
   4. One advanced seminar, PHIL 80, which serves as the culminating experience in the modified major
3. Four courses not in Philosophy that must be at a non-introductory level, have a substantial philosophical content, and contribute to a reasonably connected program of study. These courses must be approved in writing by the Chair of the Department of Philosophy.

Minor in Philosophy

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3 (or PHIL 6 if not used to satisfy requirements of the minor)
2. Requirements: Six philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:
   1. One from PHIL 11, PHIL 12, PHIL 13, PHIL 14, PHIL 15, PHIL 16, and PHIL 17
   2. One from PHIL 30, PHIL 31, PHIL 32, PHIL 33, PHIL 34, and PHIL 35
   3. One from PHIL 8, PHIL 37, and PHIL 38
   4. One advanced seminar in Philosophy

Minor in History of Philosophy

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3 (or PHIL 6 if not used to satisfy requirements of the minor)
2. Requirements: Six philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including: 

   Four courses from PHIL 8, PHIL 11, PHIL 12, PHIL 13, PHIL 14, PHIL 15, PHIL 16, PHIL 17, and PHIL 80 (if the seminar topic is within the history of philosophy)

Minor in Moral Philosophy

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3 (or PHIL 6 if not used to satisfy requirements of the minor)
2. Requirements: Six philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:
   1. PHIL 8 and PHIL 37
   2. Two courses from PHIL 9 Applied Ethics, PHIL 21 Philosophy of Human Nature, PHIL 22, PHIL 24 Law and Philosophy, PHIL 25 Philosophy and Computers, PHIL 38, and PHIL 80 (if the seminar topic is within moral philosophy)

Minor in Epistemology and Metaphysics

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3 (or PHIL 6 if not used to satisfy requirements of the minor)
2. Requirements: Six philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:
   1. PHIL 30 and PHIL 31
   2. Two from PHIL 13, PHIL 14, PHIL 15, PHIL 16, PHIL 26 Philosophy and Computers, PHIL 27 Philosophy of Science, PHIL 28 Philosophy of Religion, PHIL 29 Philosophy of Mathematics, PHIL 34, PHIL 35, and PHIL 80 (if the seminar topic is within epistemology and metaphysics)

Minor in Logic and Philosophy of Science

1. Prerequisites:
   1. PHIL 1 or PHIL 2
   2. PHIL 3
2. Requirements: Six philosophy courses beyond the prerequisites including:
   1. PHIL 6 and PHIL 27
   2. Two from PHIL 26, PHIL 32, PHIL 33, PHIL 34, MATH 39, and PHIL 80 (if the seminar topic is within logic and philosophy of science)

1.       SAT Reasoning or ACT (with Writing);

2.       2 SAT Subject Test Scores;

3.       The common application essay;

4.       Within the Common Application, Dartmouth’s writing supplement requires that applicants write a brief response to one of the following supplemental essay prompts. Candidates choose one topic and respond;

5.       A counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations. In addition, a peer recommendation is strongly encouraged;

6.       Resume;

7.       Brief abstract of an independent research project;

8.       IELTS or TOEFL (no minimum scores).

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