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Philosophy (BS)

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 (bS)

CORE EXPERIENCE

DBUE 1301 - Foundations for the DBU Experience

3

Developing A Christian Mind
DBUE 2301 - Developing a Christian Mind

3

English

9

ENGL 1301/1401 - Composition and Rhetoric I

ENGL 1302 - Composition and Rhetoric II

and

ENGL 2301 - World Literature I

or

ENGL 2302 - World Literature II

Fine Arts 
FINE 1306 - Introduction to 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 course)

3-4

Choose one 3-4 hour course from Math LL Course List

Natural Science (3-4 hour course)

3-4

Choose one 3-4 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

40-42

Additional Program General Education Hours

11-12

Choose two 4-hour courses from Nat. Lab Science LL Course List

Choose one 3-4 hour course from STEM LL Course List

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

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

30

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.

MINOR IN PHILOSOPHY

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.