Philosophy

Department Website: Philosophy

Philosophy has played a central role in Jesuit education since its inception, a tradition that is reflected by the place of philosophy in the Gonzaga University Core curriculum. Philosophy courses included as part of the University Core curriculum for all undergraduate programs aid students in developing skills of thought and logical analysis (PHIL 101 Reasoning), introduce students to sustained reflection on basic questions of human nature and personhood (PHIL 201 Philosophy of Human Nature), and examine the practical and theoretical considerations relevant to human morality and value (PHIL 301 Ethics). The department offers 400-level philosophy courses on a wide variety of topics, which serve to integrate work in the University Core curriculum, and to encourage students to reflect on their future roles in the world.

The Philosophy Department also offers courses leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major or minor in philosophy. Beyond the philosophy courses that fulfill the University Core (PHIL 101 Reasoning, PHIL 201 Philosophy of Human Nature, PHIL 301 Ethics, PHIL 432 CIS:), students must complete an additional 9 credits of upper-division course work for a Philosophy Minor, and an additional 24 credits for a Philosophy Major. The major includes a 3-course sequence in the history of philosophy; topical seminars that focus on philosophical research, discussion, and writing; and a broad range of 400-level electives, which allows students to develop a program of studies tailored to their own interests. Each student is required to take at least one course in contemporary philosophy, and one course in ethics or political philosophy. Majors must take at least two philosophy seminars and minors must take at least one. These seminars are identified by their numbers (PHIL 400-430) and they will all carry a Writing Enriched designation, which fulfills a requirement of the University Core curriculum.

Students may also earn a Philosophy Major by completing the department's Kossel Concentration in Philosophical Studies. The Kossel Concentration follows the course of studies established for the training of college seminarians by the Program of Priestly Formation of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The goal of the Kossel Concentration, as stated in the Program, is for students (1) to organize and synthesize their study of the liberal arts through the study of philosophy and (2) to prepare for the study of theology in the post-baccalaureate seminary. Although specifically designed for the students of Bishop White Seminary, the Kossel Concentration is open to all Gonzaga students. The curricular requirements for the Kossel Concentration include all of the requirements of the regular Philosophy Major, but students in the Kossel Concentration must devote their elective courses to traditional areas of Catholic philosophy. They must also complete extra courses in Latin. The Kossel Concentration is named after the late Clifford Kossel, S.J., who taught philosophy at Gonzaga for most of his adult life.
An undergraduate Major in Philosophy is useful preparation for a variety of careers. The focus on logic, argumentation, and moral theory is valuable to students with career plans in law. Students with interests in business, public policy, or government service can benefit from the many courses which provide reflective analysis on the ways in which political, moral, and social values are embedded in social institutions. A degree in philosophy can be valuable when applying to a variety of professional schools which actively look for liberal arts majors and to employers who do the same.