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Subplan in Philosophy and Literature

Undergraduates may major in Philosophy with a subplan in Philosophy and Literature. This field of study is declared in Axess and is printed on the transcript.

To declare the subplan, please email the Student Services Officer (ksahgal [at] stanford.edu (ksahgal[at]stanford[dot]edu)) or visit building 70, 71K for all declaration forms. Please check the Stanford Bulletin (ExploreDegrees) for the most up-to-date requirements.

B.A. in Philosophy (Philosophy and Literature Subplan)

Course Requirements (minimum 65 units):

Preparation
  1. An introductory course (PHIL 1-99 courses) 

    AND

  2. The Writing in the Major (WIM) course, PHIL 80 "Mind, Matter, and Meaning"
    1. PHIL 80 should be taken as soon as possible after the first introductory course since it prepares students for the more advanced philosophy courses required for achieving breadth in the discipline
    2. PHIL 80 must be completed with a grade of C- or higher
Core Courses

 

  1. Logic: Select one of the following. More advanced logic courses may also be counted for this requirement by petition.
  2. Philosophy of Science: This requirement may be satisfied by
    • any intermediate philosophy of science course numbered between PHIL 160-169
  3. Moral and political philosophy: This requirement may be satisfied by
    • PHIL 2 Introduction to Moral Philosophy
    • or any intermediate course devoted to central topics in moral and political philosophy numbered between PHIL  170-175
  4. Contemporary theoretical philosophy: This requirement may be satisfied by
    • any intermediate course numbered between PHIL 180-189.
  5. History of Philosophy: Select both of the following
Gateway Course
  • PHIL 81 Philosophy and Literature
    • PHIL 81 should normally be taken as early as possible in the student's career, normally in the sophomore year
National Literature
  • 3 courses in a single national literature, chosen by the student in consultation with the student's subplan advisor and the Philosophy and Literary Thought Advisor.
    • This normally involves meeting the language proficiency requirements of the relevant literature program. Units devoted to meeting language requirements do not count towards the unit requirements of the subplan.
Depth in Philosophy
  • Electives within philosophy totaling at least 5 units and drawn from courses numbered 100 or higher
Advanced Depth in Philosophy & Literature
  • 2 upper division courses of special relevance to philosophy and literature (see approved course list).
Capstone Seminars

The capstone experience aims to foster the integration of capacities, knowledge, and skills acquired in the student’s coursework for the major and to provide students with an opportunity to synthesize their undergraduate educational careers and to demonstrate their capacity for independent and creative philosophical work.

  1. One undergraduate capstone seminar from the PHIL 194 series must be completed

    AND

  2. One capstone seminar of relevance to the study of philosophy and literature, as approved by advisor
    1. In some cases, with approval of the Philosophy Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Philosophy and Literature Director of Undergraduate Studies, the same course may be used to meet both capstone simultaneously.
Electives

Electives within Philosophy beyond the core requirements totaling at least 5 units, and drawn from courses numbered 100 or higher.

Additional Requirements:


Units for Tutorial, Directed Reading (PHIL 196 Tutorial, Senior Year, PHIL 197 Individual Work, Undergraduate, PHIL 198 The Dualist Undergraduate Journal), The Dualist (PHIL 198 The Dualist Undergraduate Journal), Honors Seminar (PHIL 199 Seminar for Prospective Honors Students), or affiliated courses may not be counted in the 65-unit requirement.

No more than 10 units completed with grades of 'satisfactory' and/or 'credit' may be counted in the 65-unit requirement. Any courses taken for a letter grade in fulfillment of the core requirements must be taken for a minimum of 3 units and completed with a grade of 'C-' or higher.

A maximum of 15 transfer units may be counted toward the major, at most 10 of which may substitute for courses within Philosophy. Transfer credits may not substitute for PHIL 80 or PHIL 81, and are approved as substitutes for the five area requirements or PHIL 194 only in exceptional cases.

For more information on courses, see the Stanford Bulletin (ExploreCourses)