Philosophy Minor

Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus

The minor program in Philosophy is designed for students who want to add to their education an understanding of the history of philosophy, of contemporary trends in philosophy, or of philosophical issues relevant to their major field of study. Interested students are invited to contact the Philosophy Department Office or website for more information and application forms.

Program Learning Objectives

1. Significant critical skill: Appraise, critique, or defend philosophical arguments, conceptual distinctions, and approaches.
2. Competence at philosophical writing: Accurately report, in efficient, edited academic writing, arguments in philosophical texts and formulate original written arguments to defend philosophical positions.
3. Good, general knowledge of the history of philosophy, or grasp of main currents in contemporary philosophy: Identify, distinguish, and relate the views and arguments of historical philosophers, and examine, differentiate, organize, and evaluate critically contemporary scholarship in philosophy.
4. Familiarity with methods of contemporary philosophical inquiry: Use standard interpretative scholarly principles, such as the principle of charity, to analyze philosophical works and construct compelling written philosophical arguments.

Minor Requirements and Curriculum

• At least half of the units must be from upper-division courses (3000-4000 level).
• At least half of the units must be taken at Cal Poly (in residence).
• No more than one-third of the units will be taken with credit-no credit grading (CR/NC), not counting courses with mandatory CR/NC. Departments may further limit CR/NC grading if desired.
• A minimum 2.0 GPA is required in all units counted for completion of the minor.