Philosophy (BA)
The program in Philosophy is dedicated, on the foundation of the Christian faith, to the pursuit of an understanding of reality, both infinite and finite; to the systematic study of ideas and a reasoned pursuit of truth; to an examination of the principles of moral conduct and aesthetic experience; and overall, seeks to understand the world and human life from the perspective of the Christian world view. The goals of this department are to acquaint the student with the main philosophical subdisciplines (metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics); to learn to think, speak, write, and evaluate logically and critically; to understand the main problems of philosophy and the solutions proposed to them; to trace the development of the history of philosophy, and to become familiar with the main philosophers and their systems of thought which have contributed to this history. Those majoring in Philosophy will be prepared for graduate school and/or careers in law, ministry, teaching, business, and writing, as well as pursuing philosophy itself professionally. Students may pursue either a BA or a BS in Philosophy.
Goals of the Philosophy Major
Graduates will understand the methods, vocabulary, and content of the discipline of philosophy, and its important role in the development of the Western intellectual tradition.
The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the key figures and views within philosophy and explain their significance in the Western intellectual tradition.
Graduates will demonstrate the principles of sound reasoning and critical thinking in their written and oral communication.
The student will be able to communicate (verbally and in writing) in an effective and persuasive manner on philosophical and social issues.
Graduates will have the ability to integrate faith (viz. a biblical worldview) and learning in philosophy and in everyday life.
The student will be able to analyze philosophical and social issues through a Christian worldview.
Graduates will be prepared for insightful and innovative contributions in entry-level positions related to the field of philosophy (e.g., consulting, politics, public relations, etc.), and/or further study in diverse fields such as law, medicine, and philosophy.
The student will be able to articulate creative and holistic solutions to social, philosophical, and ethical problems.
The student will be able to utilize experience gained in a practicum which presents the student with opportunities to implement the discipline of philosophy in his/her chosen field.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
courses | credit hours (ba) |
|---|---|
DBUE 1301 - Foundations for the DBU Experience | 3 |
Developing A Christian Mind | 3 |
English | 9 |
ENGL 1301 - Composition and Rhetoric I ENGL 1302 - Composition and Rhetoric II and ENGL 2301 - World Literature I or ENGL 2302 - World Literature I | |
Fine Arts | 3 |
History HIST Lower Level (LL) | 3 |
Choose one 3-hour course from HIST LL Course List | |
Kinesiology | 1 |
KNES 1101 - Fitness for Living | |
Mathematics (3-4 hour LL course) | 3 |
Choose one 3-hour course from Math LL Course List | |
Natural Science (3-4 hour LL course) | 4 |
Choose one 4-hour course from Nat. Lab Science LL Course List | |
Religion | 9 |
RELI 1301 - Old Testament Survey RELI 1302 - New Testament Survey RELI 3304 - Christian Doctrine | |
Social Science | 3 |
POLS 2301 - American National Government | |
Total Core Experience | 41 |
LANGUAGE - Choose two 4-hour courses and two 3-hour courses in the same language from LANG/BL Language Course List | 14 |
Major Core | 36 |
CHST 3309 - Spiritual Formation for Christian Ministry PHIL 2301 - Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 2302 - Introduction to Logic | |
PHIL 3301 - History of Philosophy I: Classical and Medieval or PHIL 3302 - History of Philosophy II: Modern and Postmodern | |
PHIL 3303 - Philosophy of Religion PHIL 4301 - Metaphysics PHIL 4302 - Epistemology PHIL 4303 - Ethics PHIL 4305 - Philosophy Research and Writing (S-L) RELI 3305 - Principles of Biblical Interpretation | |
PHIL Elective (choose ONE from the following): PHIL 3370 - Philosophy of Science and Technology PHIL 4374 - Christian Apologetics PHIL 4360 - Special Topics in Philosophy | |
Select ONE History: RELI 4371 - American Church History RELI 4372 - Baptist History RELI 4383 - History of Christianity (AGP-eligible) | |
Electives | |
Upper-Level Lower or Upper-Level | 3 26 |
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED | 120 |
A 120-credit-hour minimum for a bachelor's degree is required, including 36 upper-level credit hours.
At least 12 credit hours in the major program must be completed at Dallas Baptist University, including nine upper-level course hours.
Minimum GPA Required for Graduation from Dallas Baptist University: DBU requires a minimum institutional cumulative, major, and minor GPA of 2.0.
(S-L) = Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.
Refer to individual course descriptions for course requisites.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Find course descriptions by category under the Undergraduate Course Descriptions section in the navigation panel.