2024-25 catalog
TIMOTHY BLOSER, Professor, Chair
B.A., Princeton; Ph.D., Stanford
ROMAN P. BONZON, Professor
B.A., Haverford; M.A., Ph.D., Pittsburgh
DEKE GOULD, Continuing Lecturer
B.A., Flagler College; M.A., Texas A&M University; Ph.D., Syracuse University
DOUGLAS PARVIN, Full Professor
A.B., Harvard; Ph.D., Rutgers
HEIDI STORL, Professor
B.A., Capital; M.A., Ph.D., Ohio State; HEC-C
Requirements for Major (32 credits).
Logic Requirement (one course): PHIL100 or PHIL300. Required in sophomore year.
History Requirement (two courses): PHIL 200, PHIL 201,or PHIL 203. Recommended during sophomore year.
Advanced Requirement (two courses): Any course from 300- or 400-level. May be taken anytime dependent upon student’s areas of interest. So, for example, pre-law/philosophy majors may elect to take PHIL324 (Philosophy of Law) and PHIL222 (Political Philosophy); students with a major in the biological sciences and philosophy may wish to take PHIL305 (Philosophy of Science) and PHIL 310 (Philosophy of Mind).
Senior Seminar (one course): PHIL 440. Required in senior year.
Required Elective Courses (two courses). May be taken anytime, though often taken in freshmen or sophomore year
Optional Senior Thesis (PHIL 450). This course is intended for those major who wish to pursue a graduate degree in philosophy. This course will be taken in the senior year as an IP with an appropriate Philosophy Department faculty member. This course will count as one of two Advanced Requirement courses.
Senior Inquiry: This requirement can be filled in one of three ways: (1) Take PHIL460: Senior Inquiry Spring semester of senior year; (2) Take PHIL 450 Senior Thesis Fall and Spring semesters of senior year (this is only recommended for students contemplating graduate study in philosophy); (3) Complete the SI requirement for another major.
Requirements for Minor (20 Credits)
Logic Requirement (one course): PHIL100 or PHIL300. Typically required in sophomore year.
History Requirement (one course): PHIL 200, PHIL 201, PHIL 203. Typically required in sophomore year.
Advanced Requirement (one course): Any course from 300- or 400-level. May be taken anytime dependent upon student’s areas of interest. So, for example, pre-law/philosophy majors may elect to take PHIL324 (Philosophy of Law) and PHIL222 (Political Philosophy); students with a major in the biological sciences and philosophy may wish to take PHIL305 (Philosophy of Science) and PHIL 310 (Philosophy of Mind).
Required Elective Courses (two courses). May be taken anytime
The department offers two courses in reasoning for students wishing to improve their analytical skills, ability to evaluate and construct arguments, and knowledge of logical concepts: PHIL-100 Critical Reasoning (4) and PHIL-300 Modern Formal Logic (4)
All of the following courses are introductory: 100, 101, 103, 105, 200, 201, and 203. The 200-level courses cover particular historical periods. Our J-term courses are open to all students: 120, 122, and 124.
PHIL-100 Critical Reasoning (4)
PHIL-101 (PH) Knowing and Being (4)
PHIL-103 (PS) Social Ethics (4)
PHIL-105 (PH) Life and Death (4)
PHIL-110 (PP) History of Philosophy (4)
PHIL-120 (PH) Puzzles & Paradoxes (4)
PHIL-122 (PH) Meaning of Life (4)
PHIL-124 (PH) Kinds of Minds (4)
PHIL-200 (PP) History of Great Ideas (4)
PHIL-201 (PP) Classical Philosophy (4)
PHIL-203 (PP) Modern Philosophy (4)
These courses are organized around specific subjects. Each assumes some interest in the relevant subject. All are open to students regardless of major.
PHIL-300 (Q) Formal Logic (4)
PHIL-305 (PP) Philosophy of Science (4)
PHIL-301 (PS; Q) Decision & Game Theory (4)
PHIL-303 (PH) Metaphysics and Epistemology (4)
PHIL-310 (PH) Philosophy of Mind (4)
PHIL-312 (PH) Philosophy of Medicine (4)
PHIL-314 (PH) Philosophy of Language (4)
PHIL-316 (PH) Philosophy of Religion (4)
PHIL-318 (PA) Philosophy of Art (4)
PHIL-320 (PH) Moral Philosophy (4)
PHIL-322 (PH) Political Philosophy (4)
PHIL-324 (PS) Philosophy of Law (4)
PHIL-330 (PH) Applied Ethics (4)
PHIL-342 (PH) Phenomenology & Existentialism (4)
PHIL-360 Topics in Philosophy (2 Credits)
Although intended primarily for majors and minors in philosophy, these courses may be taken by other interested students, with permission of the relevant faculty.
PHIL-399 Directed Study (1+)
PHIL-400 Independent Study (1+)
PHIL-440 Advanced Seminar (4)
PHIL-450 Senior Thesis (4)
20 credits, including the following:
• Core courses: RELG 203; either PHIL 103 or PHIL 105; and PHIL 320
• Complementary courses: two of RELG 355, RELG 356, RELG 359, RELG 363, RELG 385, PHIL 122, PHIL 312, PHIL 320, PHIL 322, PHIL 324, PHIL 330.
• At least one complementary course must carry a RELG designation.
• A student may substitute RELG 357 and RELG 358 for one of the complementary courses listed above.
Grade Point Average Notation: All courses listed in the catalog as required courses for any major and/or minor, including those courses outside of the department or with a different subject coding, are considered part of the major and will count in the grade point average. Some departments may have additional grade requirements for the courses offered within their department. Recommended supporting courses that are optional and not required may also count in the major depending on the program. For more information see your department chair or the degree requirements for Bachelor of Arts and information on Majors/Minors.
Augustana College students take a break from their 15-week semester schedule to engage in a month-long period of intensive learning during January Term, or J-term. This three-and-a-half week course was added as part of the college’s transition to semesters in 2019-2020.
Juniors Lucas Fahnoe and Zachary Horve are co-recipients of the $5,500 Nils Hasselmo Award for Academic Pursuit. With majors representing the humanities, social sciences and STEM, both will use their award money to assist them on their way to careers addressing some of the world’s most pressing concerns.
The minor and an internship program with UnityPoint Health will serve students who pursue pre-professional degrees in health care.
