Applied Philosophy Concentration - Liberal Studies

This is a concentration within the Bachelor of Arts program in Liberal Studies. Please view the information for the Department of Liberal Studies in conjunction with this concentration information.

This program is designed for Liberal Studies students who want to encourage critical thinking and philosophical inquiry in the elementary school classroom. Students in this concentration learn to apply philosophical inquiry to the study and analysis of philosophical texts and arguments. Students in this concentration also develop skills of ethical analysis and value inquiry, and learn to apply physiological thinking and humanistic inquiry to socially relevant issues concerning “self” and “context” with special emphasis on aspects relevant to the elementary classroom.

Most importantly, “applied philosophy” students are encouraged to learn effective ways of bringing philosophical curiosity and critical thinking to life in elementary classroom setting. Students in our program also learn how to develop methods of philosophical inquiry tailored to the receptive capacities of their audience. The skills, knowledge, and practices of applied philosophical inquiry help to enrich the teaching and learning environment of elementary school classrooms.

Click here to view Learning Objectives for the Department of Liberal Studies and its concentrations.

Requirements

(15 units)

Complete at least 15 units total in Philosophy from the categories listed below, at least 9 units must be upper division.

1. History and Methods (choose one):

(3 units)

PHIL 1010 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 unit(s)
PHIL 2200 - Ancient Philosophy 3 unit(s)
PHIL 2230 - Modern Philosophy 3 unit(s)
PHIL 2700 - Introduction to Political Philosophy 3 unit(s)
PHIL 3010 - Advanced Introduction to Philosophy 3 unit(s)

2. Critical Thinking (choose one):

(3 units)

PHIL 2000 - Introduction to Critical Thinking 3 unit(s)
PHIL 2100 - Logic 3 unit(s)

3. Choose the remaining courses from the following two clusters:

(9 units)

a. Ethics and Value Inquiry (choose at least one):

PHIL 2400 - Contemporary Moral Issues 3 unit(s)
PHIL 2500 - Philosophy and Film 3 unit(s)
PHIL 3050 - Existentialism 3 unit(s)
PHIL 3400 - Ethics (WP) 3 unit(s)
PHIL 4401 - Professional Ethics 3 unit(s)
PHIL 4420 - Philosophy and Education 3 unit(s)
PHIL 4450 - Eastern Philosophy 3 unit(s)
PHIL 4500 - Philosophy of Art (WP) 3 unit(s)

b. Self and Context (choose at least one):

PHIL 3700 - Concepts of Race and Identity 3 unit(s)
PHIL 3750 - Concepts of Home 3 unit(s)
PHIL 3850 - Information and Community 3 unit(s)
PHIL 4000 - Philosophy Through Literature 3 unit(s)
PHIL 4600 - Philosophy and Feminism 3 unit(s)
PHIL 4800 - Nature Revisited 3 unit(s)
PHIL 4980 - Individual Study 1-3 unit(s)