Philosophy
Departments of the other Claremont Colleges and CGU are designed to cultivate critical thinking and to introduce the student to the history of philosophy, its traditional problems and subject areas and its connections with related subjects. In addition to preparing students for graduate work in philosophy, philosophy courses are a natural complement to the study of a wide variety of other subjects and can be relevant to preparation for careers in law, medicine and a number of fields involving the natural and social sciences and the humanities.
Pitzer Advisers: A. Alwishah, B. Keeley.
Most courses numbered under 100 are suitable for students who have taken no college level courses in philosophy. Although they do not satisfy any of the major requirements, Philosophy 1, 2, 3 and 7 are especially recommended to introduce students to philosophy and to prepare them for more advanced courses.
Requirements for the Major
The regular philosophy major is offered in cooperation with Pomona College. The requirements include nine courses in philosophy consisting of the following:
- 1. Five core courses: Philosophy 31 (History of Ethics) or Philosophy 32 (Ethical Theory); Philosophy 40 (Ancient); Philosophy 42 (Modern); Philosophy 60 (Logic); and Philosophy 30 (Introduction to Mind, Knowledge and Existence)
- 2. Three elective non-introductory courses in philosophy to be chosen from the offerings of the 5 colleges and CGU in consultation with the students’ advisors;
- 3. A senior capstone project designed and completed in consultation with the Pitzer Philosophy Field Group. Two ways of meeting this requirement are: a) completing a senior thesis, normally involving taking a one-credit “Senior Thesis” Independent Study; or b) taking a senior seminar class in philosophy, which could be an appropriate upper-division philosophy course. Note that completing a senior thesis with distinction is a necessary condition for being nominated for “Honors in Philosophy” upon graduation.
Pitzer students are also encouraged to design combined and special majors which include philosophy. All such majors must be approved by the Pitzer Philosophy Field Group before the second semester of the student’s junior year.
Pitzer students are also encouraged to design combined and special majors which include philosophy. All such majors must be approved by the Pitzer Philosophy Field Group before the second semester of the student’s junior year. Students who wish to major in philosophy or in a joint or special major which includes philosophy must arrange to have a Philosophy Field Group adviser by the beginning of the junior year. Special or joint majors choose a second adviser from Pitzer or any of the other colleges.
Minor in Philosophy requires a total of 6 philosophy courses, no more than two of which can be numbered below 10. No course for the minor may satisfy a requirement for a major.
In addition to the following, see course listings for Claremont Graduate University, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College and Scripps College.