The Philosophy Major at Bates Students who choose to major in philosophy are ordinarily expected to complete eleven courses in the field, distribued according to the requirements indicated below.
Students arrange their programs individually in consultation with their departmental advisors.
In individual cases students may substitute appropriate short term units from philosophy or appropriate courses from other fields for some of the requirements. The philosophy faculty has structured the major to allow students to plan their own program within the constraints of a broad philosophical education. To this end, every course offered by the department, with the exception of the Introduction to Philosophy, can satisfy one or another of the following requirements. Three courses on the 300 level. Senior Thesis Majors are urged to take the courses listed as the first three requirements as soon as possible after deciding to major in philosophy.