Undergraduate Catalog

Eight Semester Plan

This eight-semester plan (see important details) is intended to guide students through a four-year undergraduate career, with completion of an academic major and all college-wide degree requirements. The plan is designed as an advising tool – a starting point for careful discussions between students and their academic advisors. In consultation, a student and advisor will adjust the plan to accommodate the student’s prerequisite needs, transferred credits, and other such variables.

The plan below reflects General Education (GE4) requirements in effect as of Fall 2019. Students who matriculated prior to that date will find the previous plan associated with their majors here. For a summary of GE4 requirements, see New Paltz General Education Requirements.

Students are responsible for reviewing their Progress Reports each semester to track their own progress toward degree requirements.

Philosophy

Year 1

Fall SemesterSpring Semester
CourseCredits
PHI120 Intro Classics (West Civ) / PHI130 Intro Problems (Hum)3
ENG160 Composition I (prereq, if needed)3
Gen Ed: Foreign Language 13
Gen Ed: World Civizations - see Note 13
Elective3
Total15
CourseCredits
PHI201 Symbolic Logic (Gen Ed: Mathematics) - see Note 23
Gen Ed: Basic Communication4
Gen Ed: Foreign Language 23
Gen Ed: Natural Science Course3
Gen Ed: The Arts3
Total16

Year 2

Fall SemesterSpring Semester
CourseCredits
Gen Ed: Social Science3
PHI211 Ancient Greek Philosophy (Western Civ) - see Note 33
Gen Ed: Humanities, if not already taken - see Note 43
Gen Ed: United States Studies3
Elective - see Note 53
Total15
CourseCredits
Gen Ed: Natural Science Course3
Diversity course3
Elective3
PHI215 Modern Philosophy (Western Civilization)3
Philosophy elective - see Note 63
Total15

Year 3

Fall SemesterSpring Semester
CourseCredits
PHI304 Ethics3
Non-Western Philosophy course by advisement - see Note 63
Major elective or general elective3
Electives6
Total15
CourseCredits
Upper-division major requirement or elective3
Upper-division major elective3
Upper-division electives6
Writing Intensive (WI) course, if not yet taken, or elective3
Total15

Year 4

Fall SemesterSpring Semester
CourseCredits
PHI471 Theory of Knowledge or PHI474 Metaphysics (WI) - Note 73
Upper-division major elective3
Upper-division electives9
Total15
CourseCredits
PHI490 Seminar - see Note 83
Major elective or elective3
Upper-division electives9
Total15

Notes

The following philosophy courses fulfill the Gen Ed: World Civilizations category:PHI251 Indian Philosophy (WRLD), PHI252 East Asian Philosophy (WRLD)

PHI201 Symbolic Logic is required for the philosophy major and fulfills the Gen Ed: Mathematics requirement. It is strongly recommended that philosophy majors take Symbolic Logic as early as possible in their major program.PHI201 Symbolic Logic (MATH)

Other philosophy courses that fulfill the Gen Ed: Western Civilization requirement:PHI120 Introduction to Western Philosophy (WEST), PHI215 Modern Philosophy (WEST), PHI310 Later Greek and Roman Philosophy (WEST), PHI311 Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy (WEST)

The following philosophy courses fulfill the GE: Humanities requirement:PHI130 Introduction to Philosophical Problems (HUM), PHI343 Aesthetics (HUM), PHI344 Philosophy of the Arts (HUM)

This elective might very well be used to take another language course. The Dept. of Philosophy recommends that all students study a foreign language at least through the intermediate level, if not beyond.

Courses meeting the non-Western requirement include the following:PHI251 Indian Philosophy (WRLD), PHI252 East Asian Philosophy (WRLD), PHI330 Chinese Philosophy, PHI332 Buddhist Philosophy

These courses are offered in alternating years.PHI471 Theory Of Knowledge, PHI474 Metaphysics

PHI490 Seminar, intended for upper-division majors, is offered each spring, and the subject will vary.

Total Credits: 121