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  • Minor in Philosophy


Philosophy, Minor

To paraphrase English thinker, Dr. Walter Pater, "What philosophy does is rouse the human spirit and startle it to a life of constant and eager observation." 
 
This minor is intended to stimulate students to think about issues and assertions, not just in the realm of philosophy and personal code of conduct, but also in contemporary issues such as genetics, governance, ethics, behavior, and technology.

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Requirements Accordion Open

  • A minor is earned in conjunction with a bachelor's degree.

    To receive a minor (18 - 24 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. At least 12 units of the minor must be unique to that minor and not applied to any other minor.

Overview Accordion Closed

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

No more than fifty percent of the units used to satisfy minor requirements may be used to satisfy major requirements.

Purpose Statement
 
The Philosophy Minor program is intended for students to cultivate an educated sense of major conceptual developments in the history of Western Philosophy, and build on this sense to study other philosophically significant matters or cultivate and refine their analytic skills.
 
Student Learning Outcomes

  • Articulate the central philosophical insights of the major philosophical figures of the Ancient period, primarily Ancient Greece and Rome, and the Early Modem period. 
    • Have direct engagement with the original works of Plato and Aristotle in the Ancient period, and some of the original works of at least Descartes, Hume, and Kant, in the Early Modern period.
    • Articulate the characteristic ideas and philosophical styles of these historical figures.  That is, they must be able to explicate with insight a Platonic or Aristotelian or Cartesian (for examples) argument and conclusion on an issue.
    • Make connections between historical ideas and arguments and contemporary philosophical issues.
  • Critically examine other philosophical subject matters, cultivating and refining their analytic skills by building, where appropriate, on ideas, methods or theories from the Ancient or early Modem Period
    • Articulate in clear prose the central ideas in contemporary (or other historical) philosophical work.
    • Identify and evaluate the structure of the reasoning under examination.
    • Evaluate the cogency of the lines of reasoning under examination.

Details Accordion Closed

Minor Requirements
  • Take the following 18 units:

    • PHI 240, PHI 241 (6 units)
    • Additional PHI courses, at least 9 units must be upper-division courses (12 units)
Additional Information
  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

Availability Accordion Closed

  • Flagstaff

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Jeffrey Brian Downard
Associate Professor
Philosophy Department
Jeffrey.Downard@nau.edu
+1 928 523-8354
Babbitt Academic Annex , room 306
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James Howard Joiner
Teaching Professor
Philosophy Department
James.Joiner@nau.edu
+1 928 523-3548
Babbitt Academic Annex , room 304
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Gregory Thomas Kirk
Teaching Professor
Philosophy Department
Gregory.Kirk@nau.edu
+1 928 523-2627
Babbitt Academic Annex , room 312
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Luke Jonathan Maring
Professor
Philosophy Department
Luke.Maring@nau.edu
+1 928 523-8194
Babbitt Academic Annex , room 104
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Julie Ann Piering
Interim Dean, College of Arts and Letters; Richard A Wood Professor, Philosophy
College of Arts and Letters
Julie.Piering@nau.edu
+1 928 523-7086
Babbitt Academic Annex , room 301
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Russell Andrew Pryba
Teaching Professor
Philosophy Department
Russell.Pryba@nau.edu
+1 928 523-9431
Babbitt Academic Annex , room 302
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George H Rudebusch
Professor
Philosophy Department
George.Rudebusch@nau.edu
+1 928 523-7091
Babbitt Academic Annex , room 302
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Katherine Tullmann
Chair, Philosophy; Associate Professor, Philosophy
Philosophy Department
Katherine.Tullmann@nau.edu
+1 928 523-0203
Babbitt Academic Annex , room 303
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Jonna Vance
Associate Professor
Philosophy Department
Jonna.Vance@nau.edu
+1 928 523-6253
Babbitt Academic Annex , room 308
Interested in Philosophy but don’t want to make it your whole major? Consider a minor! The minor in Philosophy covers much of the same material as the BA in Philosophy—and teaches many of the same career skills, like critical thinking and writing—but requires fewer courses. It’s a good way to get the benefits of studying Philosophy while pursuing a different major.
Department of Philosophy
Location
Room 106 Building 23
Babbitt Academic Annex
803 S. Beaver St.
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6011
Mailing Address
PO Box 6011
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6011
Email
Luke.Maring@nau.edu
Phone
928-523-2648