Courses - PHIL Upper Division
General Education Category A must be completed prior to taking any upper division course except upper division language courses where students meet formal prerequisites and/or competency equivalent for advanced study.
306. Philosophies of China and Japan (3)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements.
Historical and critical study of the philosophical thought of China and Japan.
307. Philosophies of India (3)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements.
Historical and critical survey with emphasis on basic ideas and traditions.
330. Philosophy of Religion (3)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements.
Nature and function of religion and of fundamental religious concepts and ideals.
342. Metaphysics (3)
Prerequisite: Three units of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Problems of ontology and cosmology including such concepts as matter and energy, time and space, evolution and causality.
351. Political Philosophy (3)
Prerequisites: Students must have scored 11 or higher on the GWAR Placement Examination or successfully completed the necessary portfolio course that is a prerequisite for a GWAR Writing Intensive Capstone (subject to approval by the General Education Governing Committee (GEGC)).
Analysis of fundamental political concepts such as the legitimacy of government, the relation of justice to coercive power, the morality of war, political obligation, and sovereignty; and/or a study of political ideologies such as socialism, classical liberalism, and conservatism.
352. Philosophy of Law (3)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements, one or more Exploration courses, and upper-division standing.
Study of the historical development of the philosophy of law and examination of the problems in the field ranging from general theories to analysis of fundamental legal concepts and normative issues.
361. Philosophy of Art (3)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements, one or more Exploration courses, and upper-division standing.
Discussion of central problems in aesthetics, such as possibility of objectivity in criticism, modern and traditional definitions of a work of art, truth and meaning in the fine arts, natural beauty and its relationship to excellence in music, architecture, etc.
363. Ethical Theory (3)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements; 3 units of philosophy.
In-depth discussion of such issues as obligation, responsibility, social justice, and personal ideals.
381. Philosophy of Science (3)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements, one or more Exploration courses, and upper-division standing.
Problems, methods and fundamental concepts of the sciences, including the relationships of the sciences to each other, to mathematics and to philosophy.
382. Theory of Knowledge (3)
Prerequisite: Three units of philosophy.
Investigation of such concepts as knowledge, belief, certainty. Critical study of theories concerning such issues as our knowledge of the external world, the past, other minds.
400. Business Ethics (3)
Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements, at least one Explorations course.
Study of types of ethical dilemmas that take place in business organizations. Acquire concepts and tools needed to manage these complex value conflicts for the well being of individuals, organizations, and society.
Letter grade only (A-F). Same course as CBA 400. Not open for credit to students with credit in CBA 400.
401. Philosophy in Education (3)
Prerequisites: GE Foundation; at least a 3.0 GPA across all units attempted; at least 15 units of philosophy at the 200-level or higher with a 3.0 GPA across all units attempted in philosophy; and consent of instructor.
Examine philosophical works on education, analyze common exclusion of philosophy from K-12 curriculum, explore integration of philosophy into K-12 curriculum. Student is placed in local school district to lead weekly philosophy sessions. Service Learning.
May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units in different semesters.
403. Medical Ethics (3)
Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements; at least one Explorations course.
Covers main areas of bioethics: reproductive rights and liberties, definitions of health, disease, and disability, end of life care, distribution of health care, goals of health care. Philosophical texts, journal articles from medical humanities, ethics, medicine, and case studies used.
405. Philosophy in Literature (3)
Intensive exploration of philosophical ideas in selected literature with special attention to both philosophical and literary ways of reading and appreciating a text.
Not open for credit to students with credit in PHIL 305.
413./513. Continental Rationalism (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy to include PHIL 204, or consent of instructor.
Close study of such major figures as Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz.
414./514. British Empiricism (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy to include PHIL 204, or consent of instructor.
Close study of such major figures as Locke, Berkeley, and Hume.
416./516. Pragmatism (3)
Prerequisite: Three units of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Development of pragmatism as exemplified in the philosophies of Peirce, James, Dewey and Mead.
418./518. Existentialism (3)
Prerequisites: Three units of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Intensive study of such issues as self-as-existence, freedom and responsibility in their ethical, religious, political and aesthetic dimensions. Philosophers treated may include Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Marcel, Jaspers, Sartre and Camus.
419./519. Analytic Philosophy (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy to include PHIL 270, or consent of instructor.
Analysis of major movements in development of Anglo-American philosophy in the twentieth century, such as logical atomism, logical positivism and ordinary language philosophy. Study of contributions of such philosophers as Moore, Russell, Wittgenstein, Ayer, Ryle, Austin, Strawson, and Quine.
Letter grade only (A-F).
421./521. Plato (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy to include PHIL 203, or consent of instructor.
Close study of Plato's thought, based primarily on readings from his works.
422./522. Aristotle (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy to include PHIL 203, or consent of instructor.
Close study of Aristotle's thought, based primarily on readings from his works.
423./523. Kant (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy to include PHIL 204, or consent of instructor.
Intensive study of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason.
424./524. Hegel (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy to include PHIL 204, or consent of instructor.
Study of Hegel's Philosophy of Mind and Logic, and selected writings by Hegel and other topics.
425./525. Wittgenstein (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy to include PHIL 204, or consent of instructor.
Close study of the later philosophy of Wittgenstein, centering on Philosophical Investigations.
451. Liberty and Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in American Law (3)
Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements, one or more Explorations courses, and upper-division standing; and 6 units of philosophy, or consent of instructor. Junior standing required; Senior standing recommended.
Philosophical and legal analysis of how liberty and justice for different races, ethnic groups and genders have been treated in American law.
455./555. Philosophical Perspectives on Sex and
Love (3)
Prerequisite: Six units of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Philosophical perspectives on sex and love explores philosophical issues concerning sex, gender and love through readings and discussion of classical and contemporary philosophical sources. Topics such as sexual perversion, romantic love and gender discrimination.
Same course as WGSS 455. Not open for credit to students with credit in W/ST 455 or WGSS 455.
482. Introduction to Cognitive Science (3)
Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements; at least one Explorations course; upper-division standing; at least six units in two areas chosen from Computer Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, and Psychology.
Introduction to cognitive science including historical development, foundational philosophical presuppositions, core topics, underlying theoretical framework, explanatory goals, different methodologies and theoretical contributions of its constitutive disciplines.
Same course as PSY 382. Not open for credit to students with credit in PSY 382.
483./583. Philosophical Psychology (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Nature of the mind. Psychological concepts such as intention, consciousness, action, motive, imagination, belief and purpose.
484./584. Philosophy of Language (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Philosophical thought about language and meaning.
489. Philosophy Internship/Pre-Law (3-6)
Prerequisites: Consent of Philosophy Department Chair; completion of a minimum of 15 upper-division units required for the Philosophy major.
Internship with private organizations and governmental agencies. Work done under the joint supervision of the program sponsor and CSULB Philosophy Pre-Law Advisor. Mid-term, final report and internship conferences are required. (Activity 9 hours)
490./590. Selected Topics - Early Philosophy (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Detailed and intensive study of figures, periods or issues in ancient or medieval philosophy.
May be repeated to a maximum of 9 units with different topics. Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes.
491./591. Selected Topics - Modern Tradition (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Detailed and intensive study of a significant philosopher or of some issue or theme of the modern (1600-1900) philosophical era.
May be repeated to a maximum of 9 units with different topics. Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes.
492./592. Selected Topics - Twentieth Century
Philosophy (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Detailed and intensive study of a significant philosopher or of a school or movement of the twentieth century.
May be repeated to a maximum of 9 units with different topics. Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes.
493./593. Selected Topics - Metaphysical Studies (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Seminar study of a selected metaphysical topic. Sample topics: Time, Personal Identity, Philosophical Theology, Philosophy of Action, Process Philosophy.
May be repeated to a maximum of 9 units with different topics. Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes.
496./596. Selected Topics - Value and Evaluation (3)
Prerequisites: Six units of philosophy or consent of instructor.
Seminar study of a selected topic in value or evaluation. Sample topics: Theories of Value, Freedom and Determinism.
May be repeated to a maximum of 9 units with different topics. Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes.
497H. Undergraduate Honors Seminar (3)
Prerequisites: 1) Admission to the undergraduate Honors Program in Philosophy. 2) Undergraduate Honors Thesis (PHIL 498) or (with consent of instructor) taken concurrently.
A capstone seminar designed to prepare exceptional undergraduate majors for graduate studies in philosophy and other disciplines. Complements Undergraduate Honors Thesis (PHIL 498).
Letter grade only (A-F).
498H. Undergraduate Honors Thesis (3)
Prerequisites: Admission to the undergraduate Honors Program in Philosophy.
Directed Studies course on a topic chosen by students in consultation with their Honors Thesis Director. Students register for thesis credits both fall and spring terms. Students are also required to register for Phil 497H during the spring term.
Letter grade only (A-F). May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units in different semesters.
499. Directed Studies (1-3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Independent study of special topics under supervision of a faculty member.
May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units.
