A 2 + 2 Plan Leading to a Bachelor of Arts
or Bachelor of Science Degree in Philosophy

All degree requirements are subject to the provisions and notices in the NIU Undergraduate Catalog.  Information is valid through August 2011.

B.A. in Philosophy

A baccalaureate degree program in philosophy strongly supports the central mission of any university. It aims at improving the overall undergraduate experience not only for majors in philosophy but also for students across all fields of study who enroll in philosophy for general education or elective credit.

Philosophy is a fundamental humanities discipline. Courses in the department are designed to foster the ability to engage in critical thinking, to develop the ability to deal with questions of value in a clear and systematic way, to enable students to adopt interdisciplinary perspectives, to provide an understanding of our culture in relation to others, to help students to formulate and assess various worldviews, and to develop advanced skills in reasoning, reading, and writing.

The department believes that the quality of individual and social life depends on the quality of the mind, and that the skills developed through the study of philosophy help to prepare students for effective, responsible, and articulate membership in the complex society in which they live as well as in their chosen professions or occupations. These same skills enable students to continue to learn and provide the means for continual self-renewal, crucial qualities for adapting to the rapidly changing needs of society and of the work place. For students who wish to continue their studies beyond the baccalaureate level, the program provides an excellent foundation for graduate study in philosophy as well as for advanced study in many professional fields.

Features of the Philosophy Program at NIU

An Excellent Faculty. All 11 members of the faculty hold doctorates in philosophy and are active scholars who are committed to teaching. Three of the department’s faculty members are Distinguished Research Professors, one is a Presidential Research Professor, and one is a Presidential Teaching Professor. All members of the faculty, even the most senior, regularly teach lower-division courses, including general education courses. Feedback from students and graduates consistently praises the quality of teaching in the department along with faculty members' attention to and concern for students.

Availability of Graduate Teaching Assistants. The department's strong M.A. program attracts promising young teacher/scholars who carry out indirect instructional responsibilities under the direct supervision of faculty. Although graduate assistants are not assigned sole responsibility for undergraduate courses, their responsibilities do include grading, tutoring, maintaining regular office hours, mentoring, and conducting discussion sections. Philosophical discourse among faculty and graduate students finds its way into discussions between the latter and the undergraduate students, who often look up to their graduate teaching assistants as role models. With the availability of teaching assistants, undergraduates have easy access to additional help with questions or problems that arise out of course assignments or lectures.

Program Size. The philosophy program is comparatively small. Undergraduates receive individualized attention from their professors, student/faculty interaction is frequent, and upper-division class sizes are conducive to in-depth discussion and dialogue. Surveys of current majors and of recent graduates indicate these factors as being among the program's greatest strengths.

Pluralism in the Undergraduate Study of Philosophy. The degree of pluralism present in the department and the solid research and published scholarship backing up this pluralistic approach, are rarely found in undergraduate programs of philosophy. Undergraduates are therefore exposed to the diversity of thought within the discipline, are challenged to think more critically about the subject matter, and are encouraged to form their own conclusions based on logical, rational arguments.

Philosophy as a Major. Within the 33 semester hours required for the major, students enjoy a high degree of flexibility in course selection. The program is structured around a three-course core, a distribution requirement involving three areas of study, and 15 hours of philosophy electives. While all majors must take the three core courses, students may choose from among four or five courses in each of three areas to complete the distribution requirement. This structure ensures that majors gain familiarity with the different fields within the discipline and it also allows them to tailor their programs of study to their individual interests. Moreover, the department's judicious use of special topics courses (PHIL 390 and PHIL 490) has greatly extended the depth and breadth of study available to undergraduates. Special topics courses have been used recently to present special subject matter such as professional ethics, animal rights, friendship, moral issues in contemporary society, and culture, violence, and terrorism.

Double Majors. Students majoring in philosophy are encouraged to consider a second major in another field. There are at least two good reasons for doing this. First, there are strong connections between philosophy and most other areas of human knowledge. Evidence for this fact is provided by such courses as philosophy of science, philosophy of art, philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of mind. Secondly, the number of courses required for a major in philosophy (11) is such that many students can complete a second major without extending their stay at NIU. Among the majors that philosophy students have pursued as part of a double major are art, biology, business administration, English, finance, mathematics, physics, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Philosophy as a Minor. Students in a wide range of majors have found a philosophy minor both rewarding and a valuable support to their major field.

Career and Employment Opportunities

Liberal arts and sciences programs are excellent general preparation for a wide variety of careers and occupations. The study of philosophy especially has long been central to the study of all the liberal arts and sciences. The department believes that philosophy continues to be an excellent choice as a major, or as a double major or minor concentration of study for undergraduates who desire a strong, well-rounded, and marketable liberal education. The study of philosophy imparts skills that are clearly transferable to numerous occupations. Philosophical training develops a quality of mind conducive to learning how to learn, to lifelong learning, and to an enriched personal and professional life. The B.A. in philosophy can be used as preparation for graduate study in philosophy or in many other academic disciplines; for professional studies in fields such as law, medicine, or ministry; and for a wide variety of careers in education, business, industry, government, or social service.

The department has been pleased to have many philosophy majors who began their studies at community colleges. A number of these graduates have gone on to complete a Ph.D. in philosophy in excellent universities.

The B.A. program in philosophy was chartered in 1972 by Phi Sigma Tau, the National Honor Society in Philosophy.

Important Information

If you plan to major in philosophy when you enroll at NIU after you complete your two years of study at a community college, you should:

• Take community college courses that are the equivalent of the courses you would take if you were to complete your first two years at NIU.
• Commit yourself to achieving a solid preparation for continuing success during your junior and senior years at NIU.

Consult your community college counselor and adviser in order to determine what courses in your community college are the equivalent of the courses listed. Your counselor and adviser have access to the Articulation Tables, which provides all of the information you will need.

Suggested Semester Plans

¹Required for the B.A. degree. Previous foreign language background may reduce or fulfill this requirement; consult the NIU catalog for further information on the B.A. requirement in foreign language. B.A. students must also fulfill the core competency requirement in mathematics.

²Majors in philosophy may use MATH 101 to fulfill the core competency requirement in mathematical sciences. If the student prefers another course, the student must take the Math Placement Test.

³A minor is strongly recommended.

⁴Not more than 9 semester hours at the 100/200 level will count toward electives for the major.

⁵Distribution Requirements--Students must elect one course at the 300/400 level from each of the following fields: ethics and value theory, metaphysics or epistemology, history of philosophy.

Minimum 120 total; 40 at the 300-400 level

For More Information

Department of Philosophy
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
(815)753-0331

www.niu.edu/phil/

For a current NIU Undergraduate Catalog and application materials, contact:

Office of Admissions
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois 60115-­2857
(800) 892­-3050 (toll-free in Illinois)
or (815) 753-­0446
www.niu.edu/admissions

Northern Illinois University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, status based on the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA), or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran. Further, the Constitution and Bylaws of Northern Illinois University provides for equal treatment regardless of political views or affiliation, and sexual orientation.