Programs
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Philosophy
| Course Number and Title | Hrs. | Prerequisites |
| 1 intro course (PHIL 104 or 117) | 3 | None |
| 1 ethics course (PHIL 110, 215 or 280) | 3 | None |
| 1 logic course (PHIL 220 or 320) | 3 | none |
| 2 hist. courses (PHIL 311, 312, 313 or 314) | 6 | PHIL 104, 110, 117 or 215 recommended |
| 3 PHIL electives (300 level or above) | 9 | |
| 24 hrs. |
Note: At least 15 hours of coursework must be taken at the 300 level or above.
Why consider minoring in Philosophy?
The Philosophy minor is designed to complement most major programs at Ashland. Training in philosophy will help you enhance your critical thinking, analytical writing, and historical reasoning, regardless of your major or plan of study. You’ll find these skills valuable in all areas of your personal and professional life.
To graduate with a Philosophy minor, you’ll take the following courses:
| Course Number and Title | Hrs. | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| 1 intro course (PHIL 104 or 117) | 3 | none |
| 1 ethics course (PHIL 110, 215 or 280) | 3 | none |
| 1 logic course (PHIL 220 or 320) | 3 | none |
| 1 hist. courses (PHIL 311, 312, 313 or 314) | 3 | PHIL 104, 110, 117 or 215 recommended |
| 1 PHIL elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| 15 hrs. |
Note: At least 6 hours of coursework must be taken at the 300 level or above.
Embracing an Ethical Mindset
Are you interested in studying the difference between right and wrong, good and bad, with a special emphasis on discovering the reasons why people make such judgments?
Ashland University's unique ethics minor is shared between the Philosophy and Religion departments to train you to be more ethically diverse and aware of your global responsibilities.
If planned correctly, almost every major can benefit from the opportunity to add this minor with as little as one additional course beyond your core requirements.
How it Works
To obtain this minor, you must satisfy two courses from each department (6 hours each), and then you can choose an approved elective (3 hours), designated by the Ethics Minor Committee.
Note that Religion and Philosophy majors may count only one of the ethics courses from that major toward the ethics minor requirement in that department.
| Course Number and Title | Hrs. | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy ethics courses – 6 hours | ||
| PHIL 110: Phil. of Human Nature | 3 | None |
| PHIL 215: Intro to Ethics | 3 | None |
| PHIL 280: Applied Ethics | 3 | None |
| 9 hrs. | ||
| Religion ethics courses – 6 hours | ||
| REL 109: Exploring Christian Ethics | 3 | None |
| REL 220: Taking Human Life | 3 | None |
| REL 308: Faith and Society | 3 | None |
| REL 401: Sem. in Christian Ethics | 3 | REL 106 or 109 |
| Any Approved Elective – 3 hours | 3 | (variable) |
| 15 hrs. | ||
The Interdisciplinary Studies Major provides students with an opportunity to complete a degree with a primary foundation in practical thinking and ethics. In addition, the student will develop this foundation through the choice of two concentrations in either the humanities, the sciences, or a business-oriented practicum. It will conclude with a capstone thesis, that will require the student to unify the foundation with the concentrations into a cohesive understanding.
This program has two unique advantages. (1) It prepares students for a broad range of careers across fields such as marketing, supply chain management, social work, hospitality services, and finance. Entrepreneurial graduates might start their own business or work for businesses in related areas. (2) Yet it also empowers our students to become careful, critical thinkers, and to learn how to apply principles of integrity and ethical decision-making to address real-world issues. Both of these are central to the mission of AU.
| Course Number and Title | Hours | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics/Practical Thinking Foundations Sequence | ||
| PHIL/IDS 110 – Philosophy of Human Nature | 3 | None |
| PHIL/IDS 215 – Ethics | 3 | None |
| PHIL/IDS 220 – Practical Thinking | 3 | None |
| MATH 110 – Finite Mathematics | 3 | Two years of high school algebra or MATH 100 |
| PSYC 101 – General Psychology I | 3 | |
| REL 109 – Exploring Christian Ethics | 3 | |
| REL 220 – Taking Human Life | 3 | |
| Choose three from the following: | 9 | |
| PHIL/IDS 280B – Environmental Ethics | (3) | |
| PHIL/IDS 280D – Bioethics | (3) | |
| PHIL/IDS 280H – Workplace Ethics | (3) | |
| PHIL/IDS 320 - Symbolic Logic | (3) | PHIL 220 recommended |
| JDM 303 – Media Law & Ethics | (3) | |
| MATH 108 – Introductory Statistics | (3) | Math ACT score of 18 or above or Math SAT score of 480 or above, or MATH 100 |
| MATH 223 – Discrete Mathematics I | (3) | Three years of high school college prep math |
| MGT 343* – Social Responsibility & Business Ethics | (3) | MGT 240 |
| REL 400* – Seminar in Christian Literature | (3) | REL 106 |
| SEC 185* – Cyber Ethics | (3) | |
| 30 hours | ||
| Concentration 1 | 15 | |
| Concentration 2 | 15 | |
| IDS 490 Capstone Thesis | 1 | Senior status in major |
| 61 hours |
Curriculum
Alumni
If you are an alumnus or alumna, please be sure to take our EXIT survey. We would love to have updated information about you, as well as get your opinion about the value of our program in your life.
The link to our EXIT survey
Organizations
American Philosophical Association
The American Philosophical Association was founded in 1900 to promote the exchange of ideas among philosophers, to encourage creative and scholarly activity in philosophy, to facilitate the professional work and teaching of philosophers and to represent philosophy as a discipline.
Having grown from a few hundred members to over 10,000, the American Philosophical Association is one of the largest philosophical societies in the world and the only American philosophical society not devoted to a particular school or philosophical approach.
Society of Christian Philosophers
The Society of Christian Philosophers was organized in 1978 to promote fellowship among Christian Philosophers and to stimulate study and discussion of issues which arise from their Christian and philosophical commitments. One of its chief aims is to go beyond the usual philosophy of religion sessions at the American Philosophical Association and to stimulate thinking about the nature and role of Christian commitment in philosophy.
Ohio Philosophical Association
The Ohio Philosophical Association has existed as a section of the Ohio College Association since 1931. The College Association was founded in 1867.
The Ohio Philosophical Association has as its purpose the encouragement of "research in philosophy in the colleges and universities in Ohio." The membership comprises all those who teach philosophy in institutions which are members of the Ohio College Association and those who are members of this Association at the age of retirement.
Phi Sigma Tau
Phi Sigma Tau is the International Honor Society in Philosophy. Founded in 1930 and incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in 1955, the Society now has a network of over 200 chapters throughout the United States and Canada, at both public and private institutions of higher learning. The purpose of Phi Sigma Tau is to encourage interest and activity among students and to promote ties between philosophy departments in accredited institutions.
Ashland University's PHI SIGMA TAU, Ohio Mu Chapter, honors students who have demonstrated academic excellence in philosophy. Membership is by invitation, selected from students who meet the following minimum conditions: have completed 9 semester hours of philosophy, with a GPA of at least 3.5 in two of those classes, and a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
2021-22 Members
- Eric Breeden
- Kaitlyn Clark
- Michael Clark
- Drew Creger
- Alec Dunlap
- Mikayla Gypton
- Lydia Heckert
- James Metzger
- Carrick Miller
- Nicholas Novotny
- Shane Royce
- Kasey Siciliano
- Nathan Sims
- Joseph Smith
- Lexi Weyer
AU Philosophy Club
Members of the Ashland Philosophy Club are interested in philosophy, getting together, eating pizza, watching the occasional movie, and getting into existential trouble. If you don't believe us, just ask...
Meetings are commonly held twice a month during the semester. We also conduct our traditional Socrates Café discussions (called Soccafés, for short), like to host movie nights and participate in the occasional Phil Core Brannigan (the existential trouble we just mentioned above).
To find out about our schedule please watch for fliers on campus, click on the link above, or you can email one of the officers to get on the email list.
Everyone and anyone is welcome, no philosophy background necessary.
Be sure to check out our WALL, DOCS and LINKS on the FB page. It's all good stuff!
Faculty & Staff
202, Center for the Humanities of Bixler Hall
419.289.5894 / lmancha@ashland.edu
Department of Philosophy
208, Center for the Humanities of Bixler Hall
419.289.5654 / wvaughan@ashland.edu
Department of Philosophy
