2023-2024 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Philosophy Minor
Requirements for a Minor in Philosophy
Students seeking a minor in philosophy are invited to work out an appropriate program with any member of the department. The program must include a minimum of 18 hours of philosophy, at least six hours of which must be upper-division (300- or 400-level), and at least one course must be chosen from PHI 400, PHI 420, PHI 430, PHI 440, PHI 450, PHI 460, or PHI 470. You can also choose a study of ethics from one of the practical ethics minors as follows.
Practical Ethics Minors
Choosing one of these minors will add a complementary credential to students in any Grand Valley major program by providing them with a thorough grounding in philosophical thinking about ethics and value. Students can choose courses tailored to their specific area of study. A grounding in philosophical thinking, especially thinking about ethics and value, is of significant personal, practical, and professional value to students pursuing many different major programs.
Students from all majors can elect one and only one of these minors. A minimum of 18 credits are required for any of the minors. Two courses are required courses in each of the minors, PHI 102 and PHI 460. Additionally, the student must select four electives, two of which must be upper division courses (300- or 400-level).
Ethics, Culture, and Society Minor
Courses Required
Students must complete the following:
- PHI 102 - Ethics (3 credits)
- PHI 460 - Rights, Duties, and the Meaning of Life: Moral Philosophy (3 credits)
Elective Courses
Select four courses (at least 12 credits) two of which must be upper division courses (300- or 400-level courses) from the list shown. These four elective courses can include up to two courses noted with asterisks:
- BIO 338 - Environmental Ethics (3 credits)
- NRM 300 - Ethical Recreation: Leave No Trace (1 credit)
- *PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy (3 credits)
- *PHI 103 - Logic (3 credits)
- PHI 210 - Eastern Philosophy (3 credits)
- *PHI 220 - Aesthetics (3 credits)
- PHI 230 - American Philosophy (3 credits)
- *PHI 250 - Existentialism (3 credits)
- PHI 300 - Theories of Human Nature (3 credits)
- PHI 320 - Power, Justice, and Freedom: Social and Political Philosophy (3 credits)
- PHI 325 - Ethics in Professional Life (3 credits)
- PHI 341 - Philosophy of Death and Dying (3 credits)
- PHI 370 - Sex Matters: Feminist Philosophy in the Contemporary World (3 credits)
- PHI 440 - Perception, Hallucination, Trust: Perspectives on Knowledge (3 credits)
Health Care Ethics Minor
Courses Required
Students must complete the following:
- PHI 102 - Ethics (3 credits)
- PHI 460 - Rights, Duties, and the Meaning of Life: Moral Philosophy (3 credits)
Elective Courses
Select four courses (at least 12 credits) two of which must be upper division courses (300- or 400-level courses) from the list shown. These four elective courses can include up to two courses noted with asterisks:
- AHS 321 - Ethical and Legal Responsibilities in Health Care (3 credits)
- BIO 328 - Biomedical Ethics (3 credits)
- *PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy (3 credits)
- *PHI 103 - Logic (3 credits)
- PHI 202 - Philosophy and Ethics of Health (3 credits)
- PHI 210 - Eastern Philosophy (3 credits)
- *PHI 220 - Aesthetics (3 credits)
- PHI 230 - American Philosophy (3 credits)
- *PHI 250 - Existentialism (3 credits)
- PHI 300 - Theories of Human Nature (3 credits)
- PHI 320 - Power, Justice, and Freedom: Social and Political Philosophy (3 credits)
- PHI 325 - Ethics in Professional Life (3 credits)
- PHI 341 - Philosophy of Death and Dying (3 credits)
- PHI 370 - Sex Matters: Feminist Philosophy in the Contemporary World (3 credits)
- PHI 420 - Philosophy of Science (3 credits)
- PHI 440 - Perception, Hallucination, Trust: Perspectives on Knowledge (3 credits)
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Ethics
Courses Required
Students must complete the following:
- PHI 102 - Ethics (3 credits)
- PHI 460 - Rights, Duties, and the Meaning of Life: Moral Philosophy (3 credits)
Elective Courses
Select four courses (at least 12 credits) two of which must be upper division courses (300- or 400-level courses) from the list shown. These four elective courses can include up to two courses noted with asterisks:
- BIO 338 - Environmental Ethics (3 credits)
- DS 360 - Ethics of Digital Culture (3 credits)
- *PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy (3 credits)
- *PHI 103 - Logic (3 credits)
- PHI 210 - Eastern Philosophy (3 credits)
- *PHI 220 - Aesthetics (3 credits)
- PHI 230 - American Philosophy (3 credits)
- *PHI 250 - Existentialism (3 credits)
- PHI 300 - Theories of Human Nature (3 credits)
- PHI 320 - Power, Justice, and Freedom: Social and Political Philosophy (3 credits)
- PHI 325 - Ethics in Professional Life (3 credits)
- PHI 341 - Philosophy of Death and Dying (3 credits)
- PHI 370 - Sex Matters: Feminist Philosophy in the Contemporary World (3 credits)
- PHI 420 - Philosophy of Science (3 credits)
- PHI 440 - Perception, Hallucination, Trust: Perspectives on Knowledge (3 credits)