Humanities, Philosophy, and Religious Studies - Philosophy Emphasis, BA
Program Description
Philosophy is a foundational discipline across Western and Eastern cultures and serves as a means to compare and engage multiple world perspectives. Philosophy allows students to explore issues of logic, knowledge, morals, beauty, history, identity, and meaning. Philosophy equips students with nuanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills, the ability to consider and evaluate multiple ethical and cultural perspectives, and complex communication skills. Overall, philosophy broadens and enriches all aspects of a person's intellectual life. It prepares students to be transdisciplinary thinkers, capable of engaging different professions and civic needs.
Similarly, studies in Humanities provide a diverse, multidisciplinary way of examining a complicated world. A degree in Humanities equips students with the means to analyze and critique the history of creative work and cultures. By focusing on constructs like the arts, architecture, philosophy, and religion, the humanities reveal the pluralities of the lived human experience. The diverse education of a humanities degree prepares students for a number of different graduate studies ranging from museum studies to linguistics.
The Philosophy and Humanities program at Utah Tech provides a unique, interdisciplinary learning opportunity. The major requires thirty-six total hours. The program is comprised of five elements: Introduction to the Disciplines, Foundational Courses, a Discipline Emphasis, Electives, and “Mortar” Interdisciplinary Courses. These courses will develop students' transdisciplinary reasoning skills, prepare students for immediate career goals, and ensure that students are competitive for both graduate study and future, long-term careers. Our students are taught how to engage abstract ideas and concepts, identify faulty reasoning, and express themselves clearly through multiple mediums. Philosophy majors have historically scored high on the GRE and LSAT scores but are also trained to evaluate these tests ethically and culturally. Our “Mortar” courses assist students in seeing how the skills acquired through their study of philosophy and humanities apply to disciplines ranging from health science to literature. The major will prepare students for a dynamic, changing, global work environment by training them to be careful, cross-cultural reasoners and communicators. Individuals graduating with philosophy and humanities degrees have become nationally recognized coaches, lawyers, artists, journalists, actors, and entrepreneurs.
Program Curriculum
120 credits
Utah Tech General Education Requirements
All Utah Tech General Education requirements must be fulfilled. A previously earned degree may fulfill those requirements, but courses must be equivalent to Utah Tech's minimum General Education standards in American Institutions, English, and Mathematics.
General Education Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| English | 3-7 | |
| Mathematics | 3-5 | |
| American Institutions | 3-6 | |
| Life Sciences | 3-10 | |
| Physical Sciences | 3-5 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Literature/Humanities | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Exploration | 3-5 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts: Foreign Language Requirement | 3-16 | |
| Complete one of the following: | ||
- Complete 16 credits in a single foreign language, through earned credit (grade C or higher), credit by examination, or vertical credit from the courses listed on the GE Foreign Language Requirement page 1 | ||
- Complete a 2020 or higher foreign language course (grade C or higher) | ||
- Complete a 3060 foreign language course listed below (grade C or higher) | ||
- Receive 16 transfer credits for GEFL 1000 (8) and GEFL 2000 (8) in a single foreign language (grade C or higher) | ||
| OR | ||
| Complete a 1010 course listed below in a second foreign language (grade C or higher) AND one of the following: | ||
| 1. In a language not taught at Utah Tech, receive 12 FLATS exam credits for FLAT 1000 (8) and FLAT 2000 (4) | ||
or | ||
| 2. In a language not taught at Utah Tech, receive 12 transfer credits articulated as GEFL 1000 (8) and GEFL 2000 (4) (all grade C or higher) | ||
| OR | ||
| Available only to students who are nonnative English speakers, complete one of the following: | ||
- Complete 16 credits of ESL courses listed below (grade B or higher) | ||
- Submit one of the following test scores required for unconditional Utah Tech admission: TOEFL (61 iBT, 173 CBT, or 500 PBT); or Michigan (70); or USU-IELE equivalent score. Other tests may be accepted for admission to Utah Tech but will not fulfill this requirement. Official scores must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. | ||
| Total Hours | 3-16 | |
Humanities, Philosophy, and Religious Studies Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to the Discipline | ||
| Choose one of the following courses: | ||
| HUM 1010 | Humanities Through the Arts (HU, GC) | 3 |
| HUM 1040 | Non-Western Humanities through the Arts (HU,GC) | 3 |
| PHIL 1000 | Intro to Philosophy (HU, GC) | 3 |
| PHIL 1120 | Social Ethics (HU, GC) | 3 |
| PHIL 1250 | Reasoning and Rational Decision-Making (HU, GC) | 3 |
| PHIL 2600 | World Religions (HU, GC) | 3 |
| Foundations | ||
| Choose three of the following classes. At least one course must have PHIL designation and at least one course must have HUM designation: | ||
| HUM 3000 | Period Studies in Humanities: [Time Period] | 3 |
| HUM 3100 | Area Studies in Humanities: [Area] | 3 |
| PHIL 3400 | Topics in the History of Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 3500 | Applied Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3900 | Topics in Philosophy | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Engagement | ||
| Choose two of the following courses (must take at least two disciplines): | ||
| ARTH 3020 | Art and Architecture of the Americas | 3 |
| ARTH 3050 | Renaissance Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3080 | Nineteenth Century Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3090 | Twentieth Century Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3500 | Gender and Art in Focus | 3 |
| COMM 3130 | Rhetoric and Public Communication | 3 |
| COMM 3190 | Intercultural Communication (SS, GC) | 3 |
| COMM 3340 | Survey of Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| ENGL 3220 | Multicultural Literature in the United States | 3 |
| ENGL 3230 | Literature and Culture | 3 |
| ENGL 3263 | Indigenous/First Peoples' Literatures | 3 |
| ENVS 3910 | Biodiversity and Conservation in Costa Rica | 3 |
| ENVS 3920 | Biodiversity and Conservation in the Peruvian Amazon | 3 |
| ENVS 3930 | Biodiversity and Conservation in South Africa | 3 |
| FSHD 3000 | Death and Dying | 3 |
| FSHD 3300 | Family Theories | 3 |
| GLS 3000 | Global Cultures Topics: [Topic] | 3 |
| GLS 3100 | Global Political Topics: [Topic] | 3 |
| HIST 3550 | Culture of East Asia | 3 |
| HIST 3670 | Slavery & the American Republic | 3 |
| HIST 3870 | History of Utah | 3 |
| MATH 3605 | Introduction to Modeling and Simulation | 3 |
| MDIA 3060 | Media Analysis and Critique | 3 |
| MDIA 3410 | Gender, Race and Class in Media | 3 |
| MUSC 3221 | Choral Literature | 2 |
| MUSC 3630 | Music History & Literature I | 3 |
| MUSC 3640 | Music History & Literature II | 3 |
| MUSC 3650 | Music History and Literature III | 3 |
| MUSC 4632 | String Literature | 2 |
| MUSC 4662 | Vocal Literature | 2 |
| MUSC 4665 | Piano Literature I | 2 |
| MUSC 4666 | Piano Literature II | 2 |
| POLS 3200 | Introduction to Law and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3320 | Introduction to Public Policy and Analysis | 3 |
| POLS 3960 | Special Topics | 3 |
| PSY 3040 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
| PSY 3420 | Psy of Culture & Diversity | 3 |
| PSY 3440 | Child & Family Mental Health | 3 |
| SOC 3010 | Stratification and Inequality | 3 |
| SOC 3041 | Sociology of Rock Music | 3 |
| SOC 3440 | Sociology of Religion | 3 |
| XSCI 3010 | Cultural Anthropology for the Health Sciences | 3 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Choose two of the following courses: | ||
| GLS 3000 | Global Cultures Topics: [Topic] | 3 |
| GLS 3100 | Global Political Topics: [Topic] | 3 |
| GLS 4990 | Seminar in Global Studies | 1-3 |
| HIST 3550 | Culture of East Asia | 3 |
| HIST 3670 | Slavery & the American Republic | 3 |
| HIST 3870 | History of Utah | 3 |
| HUM 3000 | Period Studies in Humanities: [Time Period] | 3 |
| HUM 3100 | Area Studies in Humanities: [Area] | 3 |
| HUM 3500 | Topics in Humanities: [Topic] | 3 |
| HUM 4800R | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| PHIL 3100 | Aesthetics: Art and the Beautiful | 3 |
| PHIL 3200 | Philosophy in Literature: Historical Perspectives | 3 |
| PHIL 3500 | Applied Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3900 | Topics in Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 4800R | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| POLS 3200 | Introduction to Law and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3320 | Introduction to Public Policy and Analysis | 3 |
| Elective credits from Global Studies, History, and/or Political Science | 38 | |
Philosophy Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PHIL 3300 | Symbolic Logic: The Study of Formal Reasoning | 3 |
| PHIL 4900 | Philosophy Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Choose two of the following courses: | ||
| PHIL 3100 | Aesthetics: Art and the Beautiful | 3 |
| PHIL 3200 | Philosophy in Literature: Historical Perspectives | 3 |
| PHIL 3400 | Topics in the History of Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 3500 | Applied Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 3900 | Topics in Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 4800R | Independent Study | 1-3 |
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits (1000 and above).
- Complete at least 40 upper-division credits (3000 and above).
- Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at Utah Tech for institutional residency.
- Minimum C- grade in Foundation and Emphasis Courses, including the capstone.
- Cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher.