Philosophy

Philosophy
Minor

Division of Humanities

A philosophy minor prepares students for any major or career that demands insight, careful problem-solving, and ethical intelligence, including jobs in legal studies, medical professions, or the implementation of ethical business practices. By critically analyzing beliefs—especially their own—the minor empowers students to ask reflective questions in order to come to a better understanding of themselves, other people, the natural world, and the institutions that govern them.

The philosophy minor is designed to be rigorous as well as flexible to student interests, fitting well with most of YHC’s majors. At least one philosophy course in the minor can also be used to fulfill a general education requirement.

When viewing requirements for your minor, please select appropriate catalog year.

Learn More

What classes will you take?

  • A diverse set of classes in the liberal arts core
  • Major classes in Philosophy, including:
    • PHIL 1300 - Critical Thinking: What even is “thinking,” and what makes a thought distinctively “critical” compared to an ordinary thought? How does thinking take shape in aphorisms, arguments, and essays? This course introduces students to techniques in basic reasoning, dialogue, logic, formal argument, informal fallacies, and forms of critical theory.
    • PHIL 2310 - Human Rights and Philosophy of Law: A philosophical study of moral, existential, and metaphysical issues involving the nature of laws and rights, theories of war and state sovereignty, and the global political world. Special attention will be paid to humanitarian interventions and violations of human rights, and theories of law and economic impacts.
    • PHIL 3250 - Biomedical Ethics: An examination of moral issues in healthcare, biomedical research, and changing medical technology. The course looks at assumptions make in doctor/patient relationships, and in the notions of health, disease, and disability. It explores questions of death and dying, genetic reproduction, animal experimentation, and more. The approach will be both philosophical and practical, in the attempt to apply ethical theories to biomedical issues.

To fulfill the remaining 12 credit hours (4 courses), students can choose from a diverse set of PHIL course offerings, including “Philosophy of Film and Popular Culture,” “Feminist Philosophies,” “Philosophy of Religion,” and “Metaphysics.” For a full list of courses, please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog linked above.

What can you do with a philosophy minor?

Philosophy prepares you for a range of graduate school and career options. Because philosophy minors are taught to think critically, adopt multiple-perspectives, and approach problems with ethically-minded, creative, and unorthodox solutions, minors often pursue successful careers in law, medicine, government, journalism, business ethics, public service, social work, and teaching.