COURSE CURRICULUM

The Philosophy major at the UNH Philosophy Program is designed to develop strong analytical, logical, and communication skills through the study of fundamental questions about ethics, knowledge, justice, existence, technology, and human life. Students are required to complete a minimum of ten philosophy courses totaling 40 credits while maintaining an overall GPA of at least 2.00 in major coursework and earning a minimum grade of C- in all courses counted toward the major. The curriculum begins with core courses in logic, ethics, ancient philosophy, modern philosophy, and workshop-based discussion and writing, providing students with a foundation in reasoning, philosophical argumentation, and historical philosophical traditions. Students then select additional philosophy electives based on their interests, allowing them to explore topics such as social justice, artificial intelligence, environmental ethics, political philosophy, feminism, existentialism, philosophy of law, race and gender, and Eastern philosophy. Advanced study is completed through two 700-level seminar courses, at least one of which must be taken during the senior year, serving as the program’s capstone experience. These seminars emphasize in-depth discussion, critical analysis, independent thinking, and advanced writing skills, building on the foundational concepts learned in earlier coursework. The program also includes broader university requirements such as writing-intensive courses, Discovery Program categories, language study, and overall credit requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Philosophy majors benefit from flexible course planning because several philosophy courses can simultaneously fulfill Discovery requirements in areas such as humanities, quantitative reasoning, fine arts, world cultures, and environment and society. This flexibility is especially useful for students pursuing double majors. Overall, the program combines intellectual exploration with practical skill development, preparing students for careers in law, education, business, public policy, technology, media, and graduate study while encouraging thoughtful engagement with major philosophical and social issues.