Philosophy Success Map
The has information for students. If you want to know a bit about philosophy, go to the department’s "Programs" page.
All students are strongly encouraged to take PHIL 1200 Critical Thinking.
Students may count no more than 12 credit hours of 1000-level Philosophy courses toward their Philosophy major or minor.
The Philosophy or the Philosophy would be delighted to meet with you to discuss your program.
Philosophy courses help students to develop these skills:
- To analyse and evaluate arguments
- To make explicit the presuppositions within arguments
- To read philosophy and other intellectual writing with understanding
- To focus on the problem at hand
- To hold complex chains of thought in mind
- To generate promising solutions to problems
Philosophy courses help students to acquire these habits of mind:
- To be analytical and critical toward both one’s own thoughts and those of others
- To be good tempered and civil even while being analytical and critical
- To be concerned to find and evaluate the unreasoned elements in one’s beliefs and other attitudes
- To remain undaunted by the (seeming) endlessness of intellectual reflection and discussion
- To be concerned to know the truth even while being aware of the difficulty of coming to know it
- To be without dogmatism
- To love reasoning
- To be passionate about seeing things dispassionately
- To be disdainful of authority in matters of thought and taste
- To be cheerful and easy of mind
In second year, philosophy students should take three or four philosophy courses (9 or 12 credit hours) at the 2000 or 3000 level. They should take courses in a variety of areas (ethics, theory of knowledge, metaphysics, and logic) so that they might acquire a sense of the discipline as a whole.
Philosophy students should see either the or the to discuss their and their progress. Advice to philosophy students is also available .
The philosophy society provides students with an opportunity to discuss philosophy with their peers.
Strengthen the skills and attitudes that you acquired during first year.
In third year, Philosophy majors should take four or five philosophy courses (12 or 15 credit hours). Although students should continue to broaden their knowledge of philosophy by taking courses in a variety of areas, they might begin to focus on the areas that most interest them.
Most of the courses a Philosophy major takes in third year will be 3000-level courses, as majors need to acquire at least 12 credit hours at the 3000 and 4000 levels.
Visit your Academic Advisor to be sure you’re on the right track to meet graduation requirements.
It’s a good idea to see either the or the to discuss your program and your progress.
Your professors are excellent contacts for reference letters.
The Research Expo is an opportunity to learn from the research and critical analysis of peers and professors and showcase your own research project.
In fourth year, students should take four or five Philosophy courses (12 or 15 credit hours). At least three of their courses should be at 4000 level.
It’s a good idea to see either the or the to discuss your program and your progress.
To graduate with a major in Philosophy, a student needs to have acquired 36 credit hours in philosophy, no more than 12 of which at the 1000 level and at least 12 of which at the 3000 level or higher.
To graduate with an honours degree in Philosophy, a student needs to have acquired 60 credit hours in Philosophy, no more than 12 of which at the 1000 level and at least 24 of which at the 3000 level or higher.
Your Academic Advisor can help ensure that you are on track for graduation requirements and post-graduation plan.
You will need to fill out an form and submit it to the Service Centre. Remember to have your picture taken for the yearbook.
You may request final from the registrar.
Strengthen the skills and attitudes that you have acquired in previous years.
To serve as Department Student Rep, you need to speak to your .
Your best research paper can be entered for an Academic Writing Award.
The Student Leadership Award recognizes student involvement in the classroom and in the Saint Mary’s community.
There are other awards to consider, such as the SMUFU scholarship.
