Students in the Philosophy Honors Program must complete 36 hours of philosophy classes while maintaining a 3.6 GPA. No course in which a grade below C has been earned may be counted toward the major. You will take:
- 6 hours in Ethics and Value Theory
- 6 hours in History of Philosophy
- 6 hours in Epistemology/Metaphysics/Philosophy of Mind/Logic/Philosophy of Language/Philosophy of Science
- 3 hours of Philosophy Seminar
- 12 hours of Philosophy electives
- 3 hours of Honors Thesis
Specific course lists and course descriptions can be found in the UAB Course Catalog.
Special Notes
Questions?
Feel free to contact the department chair.
The content of special topics courses (PHL 290, 291, 292) and seminars (PHL 490, 491, 492) vary from offering to offering.
Which honors requirement they might satisfy depends on the content, but such courses often fit clearly into one of the above categories. For instance, a course on the Ethics of the Natural and Built Environment would qualify as an ethics course and would satisfy the requirement in Ethics and Value Theory. Students who are unsure about which requirement an individual course satisfies should ask the professor teaching the course or contact the department chair.
Depending on the content, PHL 290 or PHL 490 may be taken more than once to fulfill different requirements. For example, a student may take a 490 seminar on Aristotle to fulfill part of the History of Philosophy requirement, and then take a second 490 seminar on philosophy and cognitive science to fulfill the seminar requirement itself.
Some students reach their senior year only to discover that they have an excess of courses in one required area while being deficient in one of the others.
Naturally, this situation can be prevented by careful planning, but in individual cases a single course from one area might be substituted to satisfy the requirements of another. This is always done at the discretion of the department chair. Questions about such courses, as well as requests for adjustments or substitutions, should be addressed to the chair, either in person or in writing.
Occasionally students find themselves unable to complete the honors thesis.
In such instances the professor will assign a grade for the Directed Readings course but the student will graduate without the honors distinction.
The Philosophy Honors Track is designed for highly qualified, motivated philosophy majors. If admitted to the program, you will be prepared for in-depth philosophical research and related graduate and professional opportunities through enhanced course requirements and a directed honors thesis.
Eligibility
To be accepted into the Philosophy Honors Track, a student must:
- be a philosophy major
- have at least sophomore standing
- have completed at least 9 hours in UAB philosophy courses
- have and maintain at least a 3.5 GPA in UAB philosophy course work
- submit a formal application for Honors in Philosophy to the department chair.
Please note that being admitted to the Honors Track is not a guarantee that you will be allowed to write an honors thesis. Ideally you will already have a paper from a previous course that can be developed into an honors thesis.
Honors Program Applications
You can pick up an application from the department office or by downloading the pdf. You should identify a faculty sponsor who will recommend you for the program.
It is the chair's responsibility to formally approve admission into the track. Admission, which can be expected by any student who meets the eligibility requirements, is acknowledged by a letter of invitation to the student to join. If you later decide to move or return to the general track, simply tell the chair.
The Philosophy and Law Minor focuses on the philosophical, moral, and political underpinnings of law and of the legal system. Courses give students a context for examining the philosophical elements of law in the United States, as well as the modes of thought found in legal processes and political organization. Since legal arguments frequently rely on ideas from moral theory, exposure to ethics is a crucial component. Students will gain an understanding of how the law functions and why it is organized in the way it is. This can help students develop the skills needed to critically question and evaluate our legal system, both historically and contemporarily.
While it is not itself a pre-law or legal studies program, the Philosophy and Law Minor can be an excellent curricular addition for students with interests in law, public service, and government.
Program Details
You will take 18 hours of classes, at least 9 of them at the 200-level or above. A complete list of minor requirements and courses are available in the UAB Undergraduate Catalog.
Ready to Apply?
All the information you need to apply can be found on UAB's Undergraduate Admissions Hub.
A minor in philosophy provides a chance to systematically examine the most fundamental questions about human existence and the universe. It also can give you the skills to follow and critically evaluate verbal and written arguments, essential for success in most professions and something that will remain with you long after you finish your education.
Program Details
You will take 18 hours of classes, at least 9 of them at the 200-level or above. A complete list of minor requirements and courses are available in the UAB Undergraduate Catalog.
Ready to Apply?
All the information you need to apply can be found on UAB's Undergraduate Admissions Hub.
The Ethics Track is for UAB students who are interested in focusing on moral questions and reasoning in their time as an undergraduate and after graduation. It serves as a specific way to tailor the Philosophy major for students interested in ethical and social issues, including those aiming to work in business, law, and the health professions.
To enroll in the ethics track simply consult with the department chair.
Requirements
A complete list of course descriptions for this track are available in the UAB Undergraduate Catalog.
Why an Ethics Track?
There are a range of career paths in which recent UAB philosophy graduates are actively engaged, but many involve moral issues and reasoning. Several recent UAB philosophy graduates have attended medical schools at places like Harvard, Vanderbilt, and UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. Other recent graduates are in law school or practicing attorneys, working for the government or nonprofit organizations, or employed at financial institutions.
Such fields require dealing with sensitive moral and social issues. A good doctor, for example, not only knows how to heal the human body but also how to treat patients ethically and how to be sensitive to the moral dilemmas they face in their personal lives. This has been recognized by the American Association of Medical Colleges. The current MCAT format includes a “Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills” section that includes questions from “humanities disciplines, including ethics and philosophy, cross-cultural studies, and population health.” Philosophy majors, particularly those well-trained in ethics, have significant advantages when it comes to pursuing graduate education in medicine. They have a roughly 50% medical school acceptance rate, which is higher than students from any other major.
Philosophy majors tend to outperform their peers in other tests required for admission to graduate programs in a variety of disciplines. Philosophy students perform the best overall on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), they tie with Economics majors for the highest average score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and they have the third highest scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
Philosophy covers many topics not just in ethics, such as the difference between knowledge and mere belief, the possibility of self-aware machines, and the formal study of logic. Students on the Ethics Track touch on these sorts of questions but focus on social, moral, and political issues, such as the ethics of human cloning, the objectivity of morality, and the authority of legal institutions.
The major in philosophy is built around two aims:
- the study of the methods, problems, and history of philosophy
- applications of and current developments within the discipline.
We teach our students to present and critically analyze arguments, orally and in written form. Our graduates have pursued careers in teaching, law, medicine, counseling, and business.
Program Details
There are three different ways to major in philosophy at UAB: the general track, the ethics track, and the honors program. When a student first declares a major in philosophy, he or she is classified in the general track. Students remain in this track unless they request entry and are successfully admitted into one of the other tracks. These requests are made by the department chair.
A complete list of major requirements, courses, and a proposed four-year program of study for Philosophy majors are available in the UAB Undergraduate Catalog.
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General Track
The General Track suits the interests, needs, and scheduling desires of many philosophy majors. It is popular with students with general philosophical interests, with double majors, or with significant non-academic responsibilities (job, etc.). The general track consists of any 10 philosophy courses (30 hours) — 21 hours must be at the 200 level or above, and 9 hours must be at the 400 level or above (one of which must be a Capstone: PHL 490, 491, or 492).
Other than the Ethics Track (see below), students who wish to focus on a particular area of philosophy within the General Track should consult the department chair to find a special advisor who can help with course selections that would fit their interests. -
Ethics Track
The Ethics Track is for students interested in focusing on ethical reasoning and social issues during their time as an undergraduate and after graduation. This track is particularly fitting for students aiming to work in business, law, and the health professions.
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Honors Program
The Honors Program requires 12 philosophy courses (36 hours), including the satisfaction of a distribution requirement and the composition of an honors thesis with a faculty supervisor or reader. Students graduating in the honors program graduate "With Honors in Philosophy.”
Ready to Apply?
All the information you need to apply can be found on the UAB Undergraduate Admissions website.
International Students
One of the best things about UAB is its amazing diversity of its students. We value every student and the richly different perspectives, characteristics, and life experiences that contribute to UAB’s unique environment. We want you to have every opportunity to succeed in your course work and college life. Here are eight easy tips for you to follow:
Are you an international student interested in studying engineering at UAB?
- Visit the UAB International Student and Scholar Services website. They have all sorts of forms, guides, and helpful links to make your life easier.
- Don’t be shy. Let your instructors know that English is your second language.
- Take advantage of class study groups. They let you go over material at your pace.
- Record lectures (with your instructors’ permission). Transcribe your recording to notes.
- Meet regularly with your advisor. They are experts and can help!
- Visit the UAB English Language Institute. They will give you assistance with both oral and written English.
- Visit the UAB Writing Center. They have tutors and instructional workshops.
- Frustrated and out of options? UAB counselors are there for you.
We invite you to explore all of the programs and services offered to international students. International Student and Scholar Services will be able to advise you about how to apply and who to contact for information. Please visit their website, or send general questions to
And remember — you are not alone! There are other international students/non-native English speakers in just about every class you take! Share your stories and help each other!
No matter how good a student you are, having good advice is essential to your academic success. Students are assigned College of Arts and Sciences advisors based on their status as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior.
Incoming and Transfer Students
If you are a new student, meet with your advisor before signing up for classes. The hardest part of your first year should be your classes, not deciding what they should be. Take the easy way out: Make an appointment to talk or meet with your academic advisor before you attend New Student Orientation.
Contact the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office at (205) 934-6135 for help with registering but also with making the most of your choice to attend UAB!
The College of Arts and Sciences' Academic Advising website has everything you need — advice, contact information, and all kinds of helpful links.
Current Students
You can rely on your academic advisor for information, assistance, and encouragement throughout your time at UAB. In general, advisors will:
- help you identify your goals and develop educational plans to reach them;
- help you understand degree requirements, course selection, and schedule planning;
- refer you to resources across campus that can boost your academic performance;
- help you understand academic policies and procedures; and
- provide information about potential areas of study.
Visit the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office to find contact information for the Philosophy advisor.
If you have yet to declare a first major, consider choosing philosophy. The Department of Philosophy at UAB offers a wide range of philosophy courses for you to explore and you will find many areas of philosophy that will pique your interest. Taking philosophy classes can help you become better at critical thinking and at expressing yourself in writing. You will find interesting and deep questions to ponder in each philosophy class. You will find interesting and deep questions to ponder in each philosophy class. When you have completed at least 10 such courses, you will have earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, and you will have spent your time well as a student at UAB in discussing many fascinating questions and topics with your professors and other students in your classes.
If you discover that you have particular interest in questions such as "How should we live our lives?" or "Is right or wrong the same for everyone?" consider the Ethics Track in the Philosophy Major. You will still get all the benefits of being a philosophy major and you will be able to do so by taking more classes in ethics.
The professors are so knowledgeable and encouraging. Also the Ethics Bowl team is great!
The philosophy program also offers you opportunities to work under the mentorship of professors who will provide you with personal attention when you do individually directed studies for credit. And by taking two (2) additional courses above the required 10 for the major—including writing an honors thesis with a faculty supervisor—you can complete the Philosophy degree with Honors.
One of the great things about the philosophy major at UAB is its flexibility. You are not required to take a lot of courses in a particular order. Instead, you can choose the courses that interest you and that best fit your schedule. This makes philosophy an ideal second major if you already have a major. Being a double major may help you stand out in your chosen field of study. By adding a Philosophy Major, you can enhance the other major that you are studying.
The flexibility that makes a Philosophy Major at UAB so great is shared by the Philosophy Minor. Adding a Philosophy Minor, or a Minor in Philosophy and Law, only requires a few classes — classes that can greatly enhance your other studies. They can also help you to develop those important skills picked up as you study more philosophy. Stand out from the crowd by doing a Philosophy Major or Minor!