Philosophy Curriculum

B.A. in Philosophy

The Philosophy major at The King’s College builds upon the required Core Curriculum, teaching students to ask basic questions about the human condition and to explore answers through rigorous intellectual investigation.

Within the Core Curriculum in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, students read the literature, sacred texts, laws, and philosophical inquiries that have come to shape our civilization. Within the social context of these developments, students learn the religious, historical, philosophical, political, and economic components that have brought us to where we are today. The Core consists of eighteen courses—nearly half of the courses students need to graduate—spaced throughout all four years of study.

The Philosophy major builds upon this foundation with five intensive courses in the history of philosophy and additional courses on epistemology and metaphysics. Each course is taught from the perspective that intellectual exploration is consistent with the formation of Christian faith. Additional required courses in economics, politics, and religion encourage in students a far more robust conception of the world than philosophy alone can provide, and helps them to integrate their Christian faith and their twenty-first century life.

Philosophy Course List

On top of all courses within the Core Curriculum, PPE majors will take the following courses:

  • Ancient Philosophy
  • Medieval Philosophy
  • Modern Philosophy
  • Epistemology
  • Philosophy of Religion
  • Metaphysics
  • Masterworks of Literature, Classical Literature, Shakespeare, English and American Poetry
  • Epistemology and Scripture, Principles of Biblical Interpretation, Systematic Theology, or another approved religion course
  • Enlightenment and Liberal Democracy, Public Policy or another approved politics course
  • Political Economy or another approved economics course

Philosophy majors will additionally take three philosophy electives, including at least two courses in the history of philosophy such as Plato or Special Topics in Medieval Philosophy (these are in addition to the required three courses in Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Philosophy). Seniors with a GPA of 3.6 or higher may elect to write a senior thesis for academic credit on a subject relevant to philosophy. Course descriptions, codes, prerequisites, and a full course map are available in the college catalog.