Philosophy is primarily something one does. At Sweet Briar, students are involved directly in the process of exploring and developing ideas in the context of an intense encounter with the faculty, other students, and the writings of those philosophers widely acknowledged to be profound, provocative, or both. The student will study philosophy by being a philosopher, and as such, will be engaged in a search for the definition, expansion, and deepening of her own world view.

The Philosophy Major
The Philosophy Minor
Course Descriptions

The Philosophy Major
(33 semester hours)

Required:
PHIL 119    (3)    Logic
PHIL 315    (3)    Roots of Western Thought

Senior Exercise:
PHIL 452    (3)    Senior Seminar

Choose at least one of the following courses:
PHIL 115    (3)    Fundamental Philosophical Questions
PHIL 129    (3)    Introduction to Political Philosophy

Choose at least two the following courses:
PHIL 303    (3)    War, Power, and Justice
PHIL 314    (3)    Philosophy and the American Republic
PHIL 331    (3)    Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy
PHIL 342    (3)    The Enlightenment and Its Critics

Choose 5 additional three-credit courses in philosophy or from the following:
CLAS 205    (3)    Ancient Greece
CLAS 219    (3)    Ancient Philosophers in Context
INTD 109     (3)    The Religion of Socrates
RELG 263   (3)    Asian Philosophies
RELG 302   (3)    The Comparative Philosophy of Religion

The Philosophy Minor
(18 semester hours)

Required:
PHIL 119    (3)    Logic

Choose at least one of the following courses:
PHIL 115    (3)    Fundamental Philosophical Questions
PHIL 129    (3)    Introduction to Political Philosophy

Choose at least two the following courses:
PHIL 303    (3)    War, Power, and Justice
PHIL 314    (3)    Philosophy and the American Republic
PHIL 315    (3)    Roots of Western Thought
PHIL 331    (3)    Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy
PHIL 342    (3)    The Enlightenment and Its Critics

Choose 2 additional three-credit courses in philosophy or from the following:
CLAS 205    (3)    Ancient Greece
CLAS 219    (3)    Ancient Philosophers in Context
INTD 109     (3)    The Religion of Socrates
RELG 263   (3)    Asian Philosophies
RELG 302   (3)    The Comparative Philosophy of Religion

Course Descriptions