Philosophy investigates issues about the fundamental nature of reality, the relation of the mind to the body, the existence of a divine being, and the basis of our most fundamental values: moral, aesthetic, and spiritual. The department offers courses that relate traditional philosophical questions to contemporary work in linguistics, literature, and the social, physical, and biological sciences. In addition, the department offers several courses that make a careful study of the classic texts in philosophy, ancient and modern.

Study and Research Opportunities

• B.A. in Philosophy; B.A. in Philosophy with a concentration in Religious Thought; and Undergraduate Minor
• M.A., Ph.D.
• Students who have done exceptional work in a certain area of philosophy may be given the option of writing a senior essay, normally completed in one quarter.

Philosophy07.pdf

High School Preparation
High school students planning to major in philosophy at UC Santa Cruz should obtain a solid background in English, mathematics, sciences, social sciences, and writing skills while completing the courses required for UC admission.

While it is not a condition of admission, students from California community colleges may complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) in preparation for transfer to UC Santa Cruz.

Transfer course agreements and articulation between the University of California and California community colleges can be accessed on the ASSIST web site.

Dr. Stone received his Ph.D. in philosophy from Harvard University in 2000 and spent a year as a postdoctoral fellow in Israel, as well as four years as a Harper Fellow at the University of Chicago. He also majored in astronomy and astrophysics as an undergraduate at Harvard and did graduate work in astrophysics at Princeton. Dr. Stone’s research interests include the philosophy of science and mathematics, ancient and medieval philosophy, and early 20th-century German philosophy.

Careers

Business
Ethics (legal, business, clinical, etc.)
Government service
Health care, nursing, etc.
Law
Ministry; other religious work
Planning, architecture, design
Social work, counseling
Software development
Teaching (all levels)
Writing (journalism, publishing, editing)

These are only samples of the field’s many possibilities.

Education Abroad Program (EAP)
The Education Abroad Program (EAP) offers undergraduate students the opportunity to study at more than 130 host universities and colleges in 34 countries as part of their regular UC academic program. Students receiving financial aid can apply their award to a program abroad. In addition, special scholarships are available for students going to some countries. Funds for small scholarships have been provided by alumni of the program and the UC Office of the President. Students participating in EAP may petition to count up to three courses toward upper-division credit in the major.

Introductory. Philosophy 9, Introduction to Logic and at least one of the courses from the following list: Philosophy 11, Introduction to Philosophy; Philosophy 22, Introduction to Ethical Theory; Philosophy 24, Introduction to Ethics: Contemporary Moral Issues; and Philosophy 26, Existentialism and After.

History of philosophy. Two courses from the following list: Philosophy 91, Ancient Greek Philosophy; Philosophy 93, The Rationalists; or Philosophy 94, The Empiricists; and any third history course from the following list: Philosophy 91, Ancient Greek Philosophy; Philosophy 93, The Rationalists; Philosophy 94, The Empiricists; Philosophy 106, Kant; Philosophy 108, Nineteenth-Century Philosophy; Philosophy 109, Contemporary French Philosophy; Philosophy 110, Heidegger; Philosophy 112, American Philosophy; and Philosophy 113, The Origins of Analytic Philosophy. History of philosophy courses taken at other institutions may be substituted by petition, provided that such courses have included intensive study of primary sources.

At least six additional courses numbered 100 and above, one of which must be an advanced seminar numbered 190. See the UC Santa Cruz General Catalog at reg.ucsc.edu/catalog/html/programs_courses/philPS.htm for a complete list of philosophy courses, or go to the Department web site. Note that the courses counted toward fulfilling the history of philosophy requirement cannot be counted among these six additional courses. Philosophy 180H, Philosophy Colloquia, Philosophy 195A and 195B, Senior Essay, and Philosophy 199, Tutorial, also cannot be counted among these six additional courses. All upper-division courses except those in the history of philosophy sequence are expected to be completed at UC Santa Cruz.

Normal progress for a philosophy major is as follows: first year, take the introductory courses; second year, complete the required three courses in the history of philosophy; second, third and fourth years, upper-division course work, plus work in advanced seminars. Students are advised to complete lower-division and history of philosophy requirements by their third year at the latest. Transfer students are particularly advised that completion of one or more courses in the history of philosophy is assumed as background for most other upper-division courses in philosophy.

Introductory. Philosophy 9 (Introduction to Logic) and either Philosophy 11 (Introduction to Philosophy) or an Introduction to Ethics course (22 or 24), or Philosophy 26 (Existentialism).

History of Philosophy. Philosophy 91 (Ancient Greek Philosophy) and either Philosophy 93 (The Rationalists) or Philosophy 94 (The Empiricists).

Upper-division. These must include the following:
1. Either Philosophy 170 (Interpretation of Religion) or Philosophy 171 (Faith & Reason)
2. Two other upper-division or graduate philosophy of religion courses (must be approved by the Director of the Concentration)
3. At least one Advanced Seminar (190 series)
4. Any two other upper-division philosophy courses. Philosophy 180H, Philosophy 195A, Philosophy 195B, and Philosophy 199 are excluded.

Concentration in Religious Thought. Four upper-division courses in the area of religious thought from programs on campus such as anthropology, literature, history, history of art and visual culture, philosophy, psychology, and sociology, chosen through consultation with the Director of the Concentration in Religious Thought.