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Recommended Course Sequence

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Students are usually at a loss about what philosophy course to take next after completing an introductory philosophy course. Since the pre-requisite for intermediate- or 200-level philosophy courses is (including ENGL 120) one course in philosophy, many students enter 200-level courses with a single 100-level philosophy course usually unprepared to take the intermediate-level courses.

The Philosophy Department has decided not to change its pre-requisites. But it has decided to make recommendations to students on what courses they ideally should take next after an introductory philosophy. Again the sequence below is not required; it is only recommended. It should only be taken as a guide, not as mandatory.

PHILO 101 or 104: After taking one or the other, students should enroll in PHILO 103, Introduction to Logic & Critical Thinking. PHILO 101 or 104 are content-based philosophy courses that provide a broad exposure to the discipline. PHILO 103 is a skills-based philosophy course acquainting students with the skills of inference and the recognition of fallacious reasoning. Students who have both PHILO 101/104 and PHILO 103 would be prepared to enter 200-level courses.

PHILO 201: This is an ideal course to take after completing PHILO 101 and PHILO 103, introducing students into the issues of metaphysics and epistemology.

PHILO 244: This is an ideal course to take after completing PHILO 104 and PHILO 103, since it is a continuation of the study of moral philosophy.

PHILO 212 or 215: Each should be taken after completing 201 or 244. Notice a student would have completed 3 philosophy courses (PHILO 101, 103, and 201 or PHILO 104, 103, and 244) prior to taking either PHILO 212 or 215. (One may take PHILO 215 prior to PHILO 212, but one should take both.)

PHILO 214, PHILO 218, PHILO 225, PHILO 226, PHILO 228, PHILO 230, PHILO 256, PHILO 258, PHILO 262, PHILO 268, or PHILO 270 should be taken after completing PHILO 215.

PHILO 246, PHILO 248, PHILO 250, PHILO 252, or PHILO 254 should be taken after completing PHILO 244.

Any 300-level course would be easier to complete satisfactorily after completing this 4-course sequence of PHILO 101, 103, 201, and 212/215 or 104, 103, 244, and 212/215. Presuming that either of the 4-course sequences has been followed, here are further recommendations.

PHILO 360 or PHILO 362: Students should have taken PHILO 201 and PHILO 212/215.

PHILO 364 or PHILO 366: Students should have taken PHILO 215 and PHILO 268.

PHILO 376 or PHILO 379: Students should have taken PHILO 171 and PHILO 215 or PHILO 270.

PHILO 380 or PHILO 381: Students should have taken PHILO 212 or PHILO 214.

PHILO 382 or PHILO 385: Students should have taken PHILO 214 or PHILO 212.

PHILO 383 or PHILO 384: Students should have taken PHILO 215.

PHILO 386 or PHILO 387: Students should have taken either PHILO 218 or PHILO 215 or PHILO 212.

PHILO 388: Students should have taken PHILO 171 or PHILO 364.

PHILO 389: Students should have taken PHILO 212 or PHILO 214 or PHILO 215 or PHILO 218.

PHILO 390: Students should have taken PHILO 218 or PHILO 220 or PHILO 246.