Programs
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Philosophy
| Course Number and Title | Hrs. | Prerequisites |
| 1 intro course (PHIL 104, 205, 208 or 217) | 3 | none |
| 1 ethics course (PHIL 210, 215 or 280) | 3 | none |
| 1 logic course (PHIL 220 or 320) | 3 | none |
| 2 hist. courses (PHIL 311, 312, 313 or 314) | 6 | PHIL 104, 205, 208, 210, 215 or 217 |
| 3 PHIL electives (300 level or above) | 9 | |
| 24 hrs. |
Note: At least 15 hours of coursework must be taken at the 300 level or above.
Why consider minoring in Philosophy?
The Philosophy minor is designed to complement most major programs at Ashland. Training in philosophy will help you enhance your critical thinking, analytical writing, and historical reasoning, regardless of your major or plan of study. You’ll find these skills valuable in all areas of your personal and professional life.
To graduate with a Philosophy minor, you’ll take the following courses:
| Course Number and Title | Hrs. | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| 1 intro course (PHIL 104, 205, 208 or 217) | 3 | none |
| 1 ethics course (PHIL 210, 215 or 280) | 3 | none |
| 1 logic course (PHIL 220 or 320) | 3 | none |
| 1 hist. courses (PHIL 311, 312, 313 or 314) | 3 | PHIL 104, 205, 208, 210, 215 or 217 |
| 1 PHIL elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| 15 hrs. |
Note: At least 6 hours of coursework must be taken at the 300 level or above.
Embracing an Ethical Mindset
Are you interested in studying the difference between right and wrong, good and bad, with a special emphasis on discovering the reasons why people make such judgments?
Ashland University's unique ethics minor is shared between the Philosophy and Religion departments to train you to be more ethically diverse and aware of your global responsibilities.
If planned correctly, almost every major can benefit from the opportunity to add this minor with as little as one additional course beyond your core requirements.
How it Works
To obtain this minor, you must satisfy two courses from each department (6 hours each), and then you can choose an approved elective (3 hours), designated by the Ethics Minor Committee.
Note that Religion and Philosophy majors may count only one of the ethics courses from that major toward the ethics minor requirement in that department.
| Course Number and Title | Hrs. | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy ethics courses – 6 hours | ||
| PHIL 210: Phil. of Human Nature | 3 | None |
| PHIL 215: Intro to Ethics | 3 | None |
| PHIL 280: Applied Ethics | 3 | None |
| 9 hrs. | ||
| Religion ethics courses – 6 hours | ||
| REL 109: Exploring Christian Ethics | 3 | None |
| REL 220: Taking Human Life | 3 | None |
| REL 308: Faith and Society | 3 | None |
| REL 401: Sem. in Christian Ethics | 3 | REL 106 or 109 |
| Any Approved Elective – 3 hours | 3 | (variable) |
| 15 hrs. | ||
The Interdisciplinary Studies Major provides students with an opportunity to complete a degree with a primary foundation in practical thinking and ethics. In addition, the student will develop this foundation through the choice of two concentrations in either the humanities, the sciences, or a business-oriented practicum. It will conclude with a capstone thesis, that will require the student to unify the foundation with the concentrations into a cohesive understanding.
This program has two unique advantages. (1) It prepares students for a broad range of careers across fields such as marketing, supply chain management, social work, hospitality services, and finance. Entrepreneurial graduates might start their own business or work for businesses in related areas. (2) Yet it also empowers our students to become careful, critical thinkers, and to learn how to apply principles of integrity and ethical decision-making to address real-world issues. Both of these are central to the mission of AU.
BS in Interdisciplinary Studies (Revised: 1/2020)
| Course Number and Title | Hours | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics/Practical Thinking Foundations Sequence | ||
| PHIL 220* – Practical Thinking | 3 | |
| MATH 110* – Finite Mathematics | 3 | Two years of high school algebra |
| MATH 208* – Elementary Statistics | 3 | Math ACT score of 18 or above, or math SAT score of 480 or above, or MATH 100 |
| PHIL 320 – Symbolic Logic | 3 | PHIL 220 recommended |
| PHIL 210* – Philosophy of Human Nature | 3 | |
| PHIL 215 – Ethics | 3 | |
| REL 109 – Exploring Christian Ethics | 3 | |
| REL 220* – Taking Human Life | 3 | |
| Choose two from the following: | 6 | |
| Note: If not selected as part of the foundation, any 300+ level course below may be taken as part of a concentration. | ||
| MATH 223 – Discrete Mathematics I | (3) | Three years of high school college prep math |
| PHIL 280H* – Workplace Ethics | (3) | |
| PHIL 280D – Bioethics | (3) | |
| PHIL 280B* – Environmental Ethics | (3) | |
| REL 400 – Christian Literature | (3) | REL 106 or REL 109 |
| JDM 303 – Media Law & Ethics | (3) | |
| CS 320* – Cyber Ethics | (3) | |
| MGT 343* – Social Responsibility & Business Ethics | (3) | MGT 240 |
| 30 hours |
Complete 2 of the following Concentrations:
| Course Number and Title | Hours | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Art and Design: | ||
| Any 300-level art history course | (3) | |
| English: | ||
| Any 300-level course or higher | (3) | ENG 102 |
| ENG 314* – Literature and Gender | (3) | ENG 102 |
| ENG 330* – African Literature | (3) | ENG 102 |
| Foreign Language: | ||
| FL 315* – French Women Writers | (3) | |
| History: | ||
| HIST 321 – Warfare: Ancient and Modern | (3) | |
| Journalism and Digital Media: | ||
| JDM 303 – Media Law & Ethics | (3) | |
| JDM 405* – Global Impact of Social Media | (3) | Junior status |
| Philosophy: | ||
| CHEM/GEOL/PHYS/PHIL 350 – Science as a Cultural Force | (3) | Any natural science core course |
| Religion: | ||
| REL 308 – Faith and Society | (3) | REL 106, REL 107 or REL 109 |
| REL 400 – Christian Literature | (3) | REL 106 |
| REL 404 – Seminar in Christian Theology | (3) | REL 106 or REL 109 |
| Course Number and Title | Hours | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Biology: | ||
| BIO 129 – Drugs, Poisons, Pollutants, and the Human Perception of Risk | (3) | |
| Chemistry, Geology, and Physics | ||
| CHEM/GEOL/PHYS/PHIL 350 – Science as a Cultural Force | (3) | Any natural science core course |
| PHYS 320 – Origins of the Universe | (3) | High school algebra and trigonometry |
| Communication Studies: | ||
| COM 302* – Intercultural Communication | (3) | COM 101 or COM 120 |
| COM 304* – Interpersonal Communication | (3) | COM 101 or COM 120 |
| COM 305 – Organizational Communication | (3) | COM 101 or COM 120 |
| COM 343* – Conflict, Mediation, and Negotiation | (3) | COM 101 or COM 120 |
| Computer Science: | ||
| CS 320* – Cyber Ethics | (3) | |
| Economics: | ||
| ECON 301 – Game Theory | (3) | Core math/logic requirement |
| ECON 342 – Global Economics | (3) | ECON 232 or ECON 233 |
| Political Science: | ||
| POLSC 343 – Western Political Thought: Ancient Political Thought | (3) | POLSC 101 |
| POLSC 345 – Western Political Thought: Early Modern Political Thought | (3) | POLSC 101 |
| Psychology: | ||
| PSYC 305 – Social Psychology | (3) | PSYC 101 |
| PSYC 307 – Personality | (3) | PSYC 101 |
| PSYC 330 – Health Psychology | (3) | PSYC 101 |
| Social Work: | ||
| SOCWK 304 – Human Behavior Across the Lifespan | (3) | SOCWK 221 or sophomore status |
| SOCWK 305 – Family Violence | (3) | |
| SOCWK 306 – Social Environment and Human Behavior | (3) | SOC 301 or co-requisite |
| SOCWK 350 – Death and Dying | (3) | |
| Sociology: | ||
| SOC 301* – Race, Ethnicity, and Minority Issues | (3) | |
| SOC 340* – Marriage and Family | (3) | |
| SOC 352* – Deviance | (3) |
Practicum Concentration - 15 hours minimum
At least 3 of 5 courses must be at the 300-level (Do not need to come from same area)
| Course Number and Title | Hours | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Economics: | ||
| ECON 334* – Money and Banking | (3) | ECON 233 |
| ECON 348* – Business Analytics | (3) | MATH 208 |
| Entrepreneurship | (3) | |
| ENTP 345* – Entrepreneurial and Family Business Management | (3) | ENTP 245, MGT 240, MKT 233 |
| Finance: | ||
| FIN 322* – Personal Asset Management | (3) | Sophomore status |
| Health and Risk/Public relations (pre-req. of Com 120 preferred): | ||
| COM 205* – Intro. to Public Relations | (3) | COM 101 or COM 120 |
| COM 320* – Health Communication | (3) | COM 101 or COM 120 |
| COM 420* – Health Public Relations | (3) | COM 101 or COM 120, Junior status |
| COM 425* – Risk and Crisis Communication | (3) | COM 101 or COM 120, Junior status |
| COM 370* – Informatics in Health Communication | (3) | COM 101 or COM 120, Junior status |
| Hospitality: | ||
| HSM 135 – Intro. to the Hospitality Industry | (3) | |
| HSM 235* – Hospitality Cost Control | (3) | MATH 208 |
| HSM 334 – Management of Institutional Employees | (3) | Sophomore status |
| HSM 335* – Environmental Management | (3) | |
| Supply-Chain Management: | ||
| SCM 243 – Procurement | (3) | MKT 233 |
| MGT 343* – Social Responsibility and Business Ethics | (3) | MGT 240 |
| SCM 316* – Supply Chain Management | (3) | MATH 208, MKT 233, or MGT 240 |
| SCM 350 – Logistics | (3) | SCM 316 |
| Marketing: | ||
| MKT 233* – Principles of Marketing | (3) | |
| MKT 311* – Market Analysis and Research | (3) | IS 221, MKT 233, and MATH 208 |
| MKT 326 – Consumer Behavior | (3) | PSYC 101 |
| Merchandising/Retail: | ||
| MKT 314* – Advertising principles | (3) | MKT 233 |
| MKT 315* – Retail Merchandising | (3) | MKT 233 |
| Management: | ||
| MGT 240* – Introduction to Management | (3) | |
| MGT 318* – Organizational Behavior | (3) | MGT 240 |
| MGT 343* – Social Responsibility & Business Ethics | (3) | MGT 240 |
*Courses currently available online or in development
Note: Students who choose to take CHEM/GEOL/PHYS/PHIL 350 may count it either for the Science or the Humanities concentration, but not both.
Capstone
| Course Number and Title | Hours | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| IDS 490 - Capstone Thesis | 1 | Senior Status |
Total Concentration Hours: 30
Total Hours: 61
Curriculum
Alumni
If you are an alumnus or alumna, please be sure to take our EXIT survey. We would love to have updated information about you, as well as get your opinion about the value of our program in your life.
The link to our EXIT survey
Organizations
American Philosophical Association
The American Philosophical Association was founded in 1900 to promote the exchange of ideas among philosophers, to encourage creative and scholarly activity in philosophy, to facilitate the professional work and teaching of philosophers and to represent philosophy as a discipline.
Having grown from a few hundred members to over 10,000, the American Philosophical Association is one of the largest philosophical societies in the world and the only American philosophical society not devoted to a particular school or philosophical approach.
Society of Christian Philosophers
The Society of Christian Philosophers was organized in 1978 to promote fellowship among Christian Philosophers and to stimulate study and discussion of issues which arise from their Christian and philosophical commitments. One of its chief aims is to go beyond the usual philosophy of religion sessions at the American Philosophical Association and to stimulate thinking about the nature and role of Christian commitment in philosophy.
Ohio Philosophical Association
The Ohio Philosophical Association has existed as a section of the Ohio College Association since 1931. The College Association was founded in 1867.
The Ohio Philosophical Association has as its purpose the encouragement of "research in philosophy in the colleges and universities in Ohio." The membership comprises all those who teach philosophy in institutions which are members of the Ohio College Association and those who are members of this Association at the age of retirement.
Phi Sigma Tau
Phi Sigma Tau is the International Honor Society in Philosophy. Founded in 1930 and incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in 1955, the Society now has a network of over 200 chapters throughout the United States and Canada, at both public and private institutions of higher learning. The purpose of Phi Sigma Tau is to encourage interest and activity among students and to promote ties between philosophy departments in accredited institutions.
Ashland University's PHI SIGMA TAU, Ohio Mu Chapter, honors students who have demonstrated academic excellence in philosophy. Membership is by invitation, selected from students who meet the following minimum conditions: have completed 9 semester hours of philosophy, with a GPA of at least 3.5 in two of those classes, and a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
2017-18 Members
- Nicholas Bartulovic
- Dennis Clark
- Kristin Fellure
- Braeden Fitzgerald
- Morgan Harrison
- Meagan Kemmerer
- Morgan Miller
- Bethany Schlemmer
- Naomi Sims
- Lainy Spies
- Sebastian Vidika
AU Philosophy Club
Members of the Ashland Philosophy Club are interested in philosophy, getting together, eating pizza, watching the occasional movie, and getting into existential trouble. If you don't believe us, just ask...
Meetings are commonly held twice a month during the semester. We also conduct our traditional Socrates Café discussions (called Soccafés, for short), like to host movie nights and participate in the occasional Phil Core Brannigan (the existential trouble we just mentioned above).
To find out about our schedule please watch for fliers on campus, click on the link above, or you can email one of the officers to get on the email list.
Everyone and anyone is welcome, no philosophy background necessary.
Be sure to check out our WALL, DOCS and LINKS on the FB page. It's all good stuff!
Faculty & Staff
206, Center for the Humanities of Bixler Hall
419.289.5135 / mhamilto@ashland.edu
Department of Philosophy
202, Center for the Humanities of Bixler Hall
419.289.5894 / lmancha@ashland.edu
Department of Philosophy
208, Center for the Humanities of Bixler Hall
419.289.5654 / wvaughan@ashland.edu
Department of Philosophy
Philosophy News
Animated Philosophers
Writer, editor, and host George Chatzivasileiou has put together some great introductions to the great thinkers of history. Called "Animated...Philosophers", these videos are short and worth watching, covering a range of thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, and others!
You can link to his YouTube page here to see the videos: Animated...Philosophers
Enjoy his video on Socrates below:
...Read more
Deborah Fleming wins prestigious PEN/Diamondstein-Spielvogel Award
The Philosophy Dept. would like to extend its congratulations to our colleague, Deborah Fleming, who recently was awarded the prestigious PEN/Diamondstein-Spielvogel award for the "Art of the Essay" category.
Dr. Fleming, Professor of English at Ashland University, was awarded the highly prestigious prize in New York City earlier this week. Her book Resurrection of the Wild: Meditations on Ohio's Natural Landscape was chosen from an impressive list of finalists.
Previous winners of this award include such literary giants as: Ursula K. Le Guin, James Wolcott, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Marilynne Robinson.
Read more about the award here: https://pen.org/literary-award/pendiamonstein-spielvogel-award-for-the-art-of-the-essay-10000/
Congratulations to Dr. Fleming on this fantastic recognition for her work!
Read more about the praise this book has garnered here: http://www.kentstateuniversitypress.com/2020/we-have-a-winner-resurrection-of-the-wild-wins-2020-pendiamonstein-spielvogel-award-for-the-art-of-the-essay/
Purchase Dr. Fleming's book at your local bookstore or here:
https://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Wild-Meditations-Natural-Landscape/dp/1606353756...Read more
World Logic Day
Today is World Logic Day. Created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), it was first celebrated in 2019.
Held annually on January 14th, World Logic Day was established to “bring the intellectual history, conceptual significance and practical implications of logic to the attention of interdisciplinary science communities and the broader public."
To read more about this important event, click here!
...Read more
Upcoming Bretzlaff Talk!
Francis J. Beckwith is Professor of Philosophy & Church-State Studies at Baylor University, where he also serves as associate director of the graduate program in philosophy. He is the author of over 100 academic articles, book chapters, reference entries, and reviews. Among his nearly twenty books are Never Doubt Thomas: The Catholic Aquinas as Evangelical and Protestant (Baylor University Press, 2019), Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice(Cambridge University Press, 2007), Return to Rome: Confessions of an Evangelical Catholic (Brazos Press, 2009), Politics For Christians: Statecraft As Soulcraft (IVP, 2010), and Taking Rites Seriously: Law, Politics, and the Reasonableness of Faith (Cambridge University Press, 2015), winner of the American Academy of Religion’s prestigious 2016 Book Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion in Constructive-Reflective Studies. A graduate of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis (M.J.S.), as well as Fordham University—where he earned the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in philosophy--he has held visiting appointments at the University of Colorado, Boulder (2016-17 Visiting Professor of Conservative Thought & Policy), the University of Notre Dame (2008-2009 Mary Ann Remick Senior Visiting Fellow in the Center for Ethics & Culture), and Princeton University (2002-2003 Visiting Research Fellow in the James Madison Program)....Read more
