COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Philosophy at The University of Alabama is structured to build both foundational training in logic and history of philosophy and advanced specialization through upper-level electives, allowing students to develop strong analytical, writing, and critical reasoning skills while exploring major philosophical areas such as ethics, metaphysics, mind, law, and epistemology. The core requirements include introductory deductive logic (or an honors equivalent), ancient philosophy, and early modern philosophy, which ground students in key historical traditions and formal reasoning. Beyond this foundation, students complete a mix of 300- and 400-level electives, with at least 12 credit hours at the advanced level and additional lower-level philosophy coursework to broaden exposure across subfields, while also satisfying the requirement of an approved minor and completing a total of at least 120 semester hours for graduation. A key feature of the program is its division into thematic areas—Value (covering ethics, political philosophy, law, and social philosophy) and Language, Epistemology, Mind, and Metaphysics (covering topics like consciousness, knowledge, science, religion, and philosophy of mind)—ensuring students engage with both practical and theoretical dimensions of philosophy. Students must also maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in the major and complete at least 12 upper-division philosophy hours on campus. In addition, the program offers structured specializations such as Mind-Brain, Jurisprudence, and Philosophy & Medicine, each combining core required courses with targeted electives to align philosophical study with fields like neuroscience, law, and healthcare; these tracks enhance employability and graduate study preparation while still preserving flexibility for intellectual exploration. Overall, the curriculum emphasizes rigorous argumentation, ethical reflection, and interdisciplinary thinking, making it suitable for students interested in law, medicine, academia, policy, or any field requiring strong reasoning and communication skills.