Study philosophy
Many of the late-night discussions you get into as a Calvin student deal with puzzles and questions philosophers have wrestled with for centuries. The philosophy department offers courses, majors and other opportunities to help you work out answers to these questions.
We offer courses on religious belief, right and wrong, gender, cultures, knowledge, history, minds, brains and persons. Many of these courses fulfill Core requirements, including Integrative Studies, Global and Historical, Persons in Community, or Cross Cultural Engagement (CCE).
Programs in philosophy
Major in philosophy
The major concentration in philosophy is appropriate for various careers, including professions such as higher education, law, the ministry, and government service. Note that there are slightly different requirements for studying philosophy as a double major.
Minor in philosophy
The philosophy minor is a flexible option consisting of 18 semester hours in introductory logic, history of philosophy, and two intermediate or advanced electives.
Courses
The philosophy department offers 34 semester-long courses and a variety of options during interim. You can view philosophy course descriptions here or download the 2009-2010 course catalog
from the Registrar—the philosophy program can be found on page 227.
Interim opportunities
During the January interim term, students concentrate their scholarly curiosity on one area of study. Philosophy professors have led such courses as "Death and the Meaning of Life," "Moral Expectation in Film," "Peaceable Kingdom: Transforming our Relationships with Animals," "Modal Logic," and "Male Bodies in Current Culture."
Professors also facilitate or lead a number of international opportunities during the Interim, such as "Independent Study at L'Abri Fellowship, Switzerland" and "Building Communities in Kenya."
Current interim courses descriptions are available from the Registrar.
