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Department of Philosophy
(Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
613-520-2110
http://carleton.ca/philosophy

This section presents the requirements for programs in:

Program Requirements

Course Categories for Philosophy

For purposes of program description the Philosophy courses are classified as follows:

History of Philosophy

PHIL 2005 [1.0]Ancient Philosophy: The Search for Wisdom
PHIL 2101 [0.5]History of Ethics
PHIL 2201 [0.5]Introduction to Marxist Philosophy
PHIL 2202 [0.5]Topics in Marxist Philosophy
PHIL 2700 [0.5]Asian Philosophy
PHIL 3000 [0.5]Topics in Ancient Philosophy
PHIL 3001 [0.5]Early Greek Philosophy
PHIL 3002 [0.5]17th Century Philosophy
PHIL 3003 [0.5]18th Century Philosophy
PHIL 3005 [0.5]19th Century Philosophy
PHIL 3009 [0.5]Topics in European Philosophy
PHIL 3010 [0.5]Special Topics in Global Philosophical Traditions
PHIL 3104 [0.5]The Roots of Analytic Philosophy
PHIL 3330 [0.5]Topics in History of Social and Political Philosophy

Ethics, Society, and Aesthetics (ESA)

PHIL 2020 [0.5]Issues in Practical Philosophy
PHIL 2101 [0.5]History of Ethics
PHIL 2103 [0.5]Philosophy of Human Rights
PHIL 2106 [0.5]Information Ethics
PHIL 2120 [0.5]Philosophy of Technology
PHIL 2201 [0.5]Introduction to Marxist Philosophy
PHIL 2306 [0.5]Philosophy and Feminism
PHIL 2307 [0.5]Gender and Philosophy
PHIL 2320 [0.5]Children, Literature, and Philosophy
PHIL 2330 [0.5]Happiness, Well-being, and the Good Life
PHIL 2340 [0.5]Philosophy and Popular Culture
PHIL 2380 [0.5]Introduction to Environmental Ethics
PHIL 2401 [0.5]Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
PHIL 2408 [0.5]Bioethics
PHIL 2601 [0.5]Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 2807 [0.5]Philosophy of Art
PHIL 2901 [0.5]Truth and Propaganda
PHIL 3010 [0.5]Special Topics in Global Philosophical Traditions
PHIL 3102 [0.5]Philosophy of Law: The Logic of Law
PHIL 3320 [0.5]Contemporary Ethical Theory
PHIL 3330 [0.5]Topics in History of Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 3340 [0.5]Topics in Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 3350 [0.5]Philosophy, Ethics, and Public Affairs
PHIL 3360 [0.5]Philosophy, Economics, and Public Policy
PHIL 3380 [0.5]Environments, Technology and Values
PHIL 3450 [0.5]Topics in Aesthetics
PHIL 3540 [0.5]Philosophy of Emotions

 Language, Mind and World (LMW)

PHIL 2010 [0.5]Issues in Theoretical Philosophy
PHIL 2120 [0.5]Philosophy of Technology
PHIL 2301 [0.5]Introduction to the Philosophy of Science
PHIL 2320 [0.5]Children, Literature, and Philosophy
PHIL 2340 [0.5]Philosophy and Popular Culture
PHIL 2405 [0.5]Philosophy of the Paranormal
PHIL 2501 [0.5]Introduction to Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 2504 [0.5]Language and Communication
PHIL 2520 [0.5]Introduction to Philosophical Logic
PHIL 2540 [0.5]Personal Identity and the Self
PHIL 2550 [0.5]Moral Psychology
PHIL 2601 [0.5]Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 2901 [0.5]Truth and Propaganda
PHIL 3005 [0.5]19th Century Philosophy
PHIL 3010 [0.5]Special Topics in Global Philosophical Traditions
PHIL 3104 [0.5]The Roots of Analytic Philosophy
PHIL 3140 [0.5]Epistemology
PHIL 3150 [0.5]Metaphysics
PHIL 3301 [0.5]Issues in the Philosophy of Science
PHIL 3306 [0.5]Symbolic Logic
PHIL 3501 [0.5]Philosophy of Cognitive Science
PHIL 3502 [0.5]Mind and Action
PHIL 3503 [0.5]Artificial Intelligence: Philosophical and Ethical Issues
PHIL 3504 [0.5]Pragmatics
PHIL 3506 [0.5]Semantics
PHIL 3530 [0.5]Philosophy of Language
PHIL 3540 [0.5]Philosophy of Emotions

 Philosophy Courses Open to First-Year Students

Please note that not all of these courses are offered each year.
PHIL 1000 [0.5]Introductory Philosophy: Fields, Figures and Problems
PHIL 1100 [1.0]Looking at Philosophy
PHIL 1200 [0.5]The Meaning of Life
PHIL 1301 [0.5]Mind, World, and Knowledge
PHIL 1500 [1.0]Contemporary Moral, Social and Religious Issues
PHIL 1550 [0.5]Introduction to Ethics and Social Issues
PHIL 1610 [0.5]Great Philosophical Ideas, Part 1
PHIL 1620 [0.5]Great Philosophical Ideas, Part 2
PHIL 1700 [0.5]Philosophy of Love and Sex
PHIL 2001 [0.5]Introduction to Logic
PHIL 2003 [0.5]Critical Thinking
PHIL 2330 [0.5]Happiness, Well-being, and the Good Life
PHIL 2340 [0.5]Philosophy and Popular Culture

Philosophy
B.A. Honours (20.0 credits)

A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (10.0 credits)
1.  2.0 credits in:2.0
PHIL 2005 [1.0]
Ancient Philosophy: The Search for Wisdom
PHIL 3002 [0.5]
17th Century Philosophy
PHIL 3003 [0.5]
18th Century Philosophy
2.  1.0 credit in:1.0
PHIL 2010 [0.5]
Issues in Theoretical Philosophy
PHIL 2020 [0.5]
Issues in Practical Philosophy
3.  0.5 credit from:0.5
PHIL 2001 [0.5]
Introduction to Logic
PHIL 2003 [0.5]
Critical Thinking
4.  1.5 credits in Ethics, Society and Aesthetics at the 2000-level or higher1.5
5.  1.5 credits in Language, Mind and World at the 2000-level or higher1.5
6.  1.5 credits in PHIL, which may include 1.0 credit from:1.5
FYSM 1210 [0.5]
Special Topics in Philosophy
FYSM 1211 [0.5]
Looking at Philosophy
FYSM 1212 [0.5]
Contemporary Moral, Social, and Religious Issues
FYSM 1300 [1.0]
History of Philosophy
7.  2.0 credits in PHIL at the 4000-level or higher2.0
B. Credits Not Included in the Major CGPA (10.0 credits)
8.  8.0 credits not in PHIL8.0
9.  2.0 credits in free electives2.0
Total Credits20.0

Philosophy with Concentration in Philosophy, Ethics and Public Affairs
B.A. Honours
(20.0 credits)

A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (12.0 credits)
1.  1.0 credit in:1.0
PHIL 2010 [0.5]
Issues in Theoretical Philosophy
PHIL 2020 [0.5]
Issues in Practical Philosophy
2.  2.0 credits from:2.0
PHIL 2101 [0.5]
History of Ethics
PHIL 3320 [0.5]
Contemporary Ethical Theory
PHIL 3330 [0.5]
Topics in History of Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 3340 [0.5]
Topics in Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 3350 [0.5]
Philosophy, Ethics, and Public Affairs
PHIL 3360 [0.5]
Philosophy, Economics, and Public Policy
3.  2.0 credits in Philosophy from:2.0
PHIL 1500 [1.0]
Contemporary Moral, Social and Religious Issues (satisfies two of four requirements)
PHIL 1550 [0.5]
Introduction to Ethics and Social Issues
PHIL 2103 [0.5]
Philosophy of Human Rights
PHIL 2106 [0.5]
Information Ethics
PHIL 2201 [0.5]
Introduction to Marxist Philosophy
PHIL 2202 [0.5]
Topics in Marxist Philosophy
PHIL 2306 [0.5]
Philosophy and Feminism
PHIL 2307 [0.5]
Gender and Philosophy
PHIL 2380 [0.5]
Introduction to Environmental Ethics
PHIL 2408 [0.5]
Bioethics
PHIL 2901 [0.5]
Truth and Propaganda
4.  1.5 credits in History of Philosophy1.5
5.  1.0 credit in Language, Mind and World1.0
6.  2.0 credits in PHIL at the 4000 level or above2.0
7.  2.5 credits in PHIL, which may include 1.0 credit from:2.5
FYSM 1210 [0.5]
Special Topics in Philosophy
FYSM 1211 [0.5]
Looking at Philosophy
FYSM 1212 [0.5]
Contemporary Moral, Social, and Religious Issues
FYSM 1300 [1.0]
History of Philosophy
B. Credits Not Included in the Major CGPA (8.0 credits)
Please note that some of the following courses may have PSCI prerequisites.
8.  1.0 credit in:1.0
PSCI 2301 [0.5]
History of Political Thought I
PSCI 2302 [0.5]
History of Political Thought II
9.  2.0 credits from:2.0
PSCI 3109 [0.5]
The Politics of Law and Morality
PSCI 3300 [0.5]
Politics and Literature
PSCI 3303 [0.5]
Feminist Political Theory
PSCI 3307 [0.5]
Politics of Human Rights
PSCI 3308 [0.5]
Modern Political Thought
PSCI 3309 [0.5]
Modern Ideologies
PSCI 3311 [0.5]
History of Muslim Political Thought
PSCI 3312 [0.5]
Enlightenment Political Thought
PSCI 3709 [0.5]
Ancient and Medieval Political Thought
PSCI 4103 [0.5]
The Modern State
PSCI 4302 [0.5]
Political Thought in the Modern Muslim Middle East
PSCI 4308 [0.5]
History of Political Enquiry
PSCI 4309 [0.5]
Contemporary Approaches to Political Enquiry
PSCI 4311 [0.5]
Political Theories of Democracy and Empire I
PSCI 4312 [0.5]
Political Theories of Democracy and Empire II
PSCI 4316 [0.5]
Contemporary Political Theory I
PSCI 4317 [0.5]
Contemporary Political Theory II
10.  2.0 credits not in PHIL2.0
11.  3.0 credits in free electives3.0
Total Credits20.0

Philosophy
B.A. Combined Honours (20.0 credits)

Combined Honours programs are available in Philosophy with any other Carleton program that allows for Combined Honours and can accommodate 7.0 credits in Philosophy.

A. Credits Included in the Philosophy CGPA (7.0 credits)
1.  1.5 credits in:1.5
History of Philosophy or
HUMS 2000 [1.0]
Reason and Revelation (and .5 credit in History of Philosophy, only applicable to B.Hum)
2.  1.0 credit in:1.0
PHIL 2010 [0.5]
Issues in Theoretical Philosophy
PHIL 2020 [0.5]
Issues in Practical Philosophy
3.  0.5 credit from: 0.5
PHIL 2001 [0.5]
Introduction to Logic
PHIL 2003 [0.5]
Critical Thinking
4.  1.0 credit in Language, Mind, and World1.0
5.  1.0 credit in Ethics, Society and Aesthetics1.0
6.  1.0 credit in PHIL at the 4000-level or above1.0
7.  1.0 credit in PHIL or 1.0 credit from:1.0
FYSM 1210 [0.5]
Special Topics in Philosophy
FYSM 1211 [0.5]
Looking at Philosophy
FYSM 1212 [0.5]
Contemporary Moral, Social, and Religious Issues
FYSM 1300 [1.0]
History of Philosophy
B. Additional Credit Requirements (13.0 credits):13.0
8. The requirements of the other discipline must be satisfied
9. Sufficient free electives to make 20.0 credits in total for the program
Total Credits20.0

Philosophy
B.A. (15.0 credits)

A. Credits Included in the Major CGPA (6.0 credits)
1.  1.0 credit in History of Philosophy1.0
2.  1.0 credit in PHIL, which may be satisfied by:1.0
FYSM 1210 [0.5]
Special Topics in Philosophy
FYSM 1211 [0.5]
Looking at Philosophy
FYSM 1212 [0.5]
Contemporary Moral, Social, and Religious Issues
FYSM 1300 [1.0]
History of Philosophy
3.  0.5 credit from:0.5
PHIL 2001 [0.5]
Introduction to Logic
PHIL 2003 [0.5]
Critical Thinking
4.  0.5 credit in 3000-level or higher PHIL0.5
5.  3.0 credits in 2000-level or higher PHIL3.0
B. Credits Not Included in the Major CGPA (9.0 credits)
6.  6.0 credits not in PHIL6.0
7.  3.0 credits in free electives3.0
Total Credits15.0

Minor in Philosophy (4.0 credits)

Open to all undergraduate degree students not in Philosophy programs.

Students are required to present a Minor CGPA of 4.00 or higher at graduation in order to be awarded a Minor in Philosophy.

Requirements
1.  2.0 credit in PHIL at the 2000-level or above2.0
2.  0.5 credit from:0.5
PHIL 2001 [0.5]
Introduction to Logic
PHIL 2003 [0.5]
Critical Thinking
3.  0.5 credit in PHIL at the 3000-level or above0.5
4.  1.0 credit in PHIL or 1.0 credit from:1.0
FYSM 1210 [0.5]
Special Topics in Philosophy
FYSM 1211 [0.5]
Looking at Philosophy
FYSM 1212 [0.5]
Contemporary Moral, Social, and Religious Issues
FYSM 1300 [1.0]
History of Philosophy
5. The remaining requirements of the major discipline(s) and degree must be satisfied
Total Credits4.0

Mention : Français (4.0 credits)

Students in the Philosophy B.A. or the Philosophy B.A. Honours program may qualify for the notation Mention : Français by fulfiling the requirements outlined below. Those wishing to pursue this option should consult with the Department's Undergraduate Supervisor, whose approval is required for all courses under Mention : Français.

Philosophy courses presented in fulfilment of Mention : Français requirements can double as courses to satisfy the Philosophy B.A. or the Philosophy B.A. Honours requirements.

To graduate with the notation Mention : Français , Philosophy students must include in their program the following:

1.  1.0 credit in French language chosen in consultation with the French Department to perfect the student's French language skills.1.0
2. 1.0 credit taught in French at Carleton and concerned with the study of the heritage and culture of French Canada1.0
3.  1.0 credit from:1.0
PHIL 3901 [0.5]
Independent Study
PHIL 3902 [0.5]
Independent Study
PHIL 3903 [0.5]
Independent Study
PHIL 3906 [0.5]
Independent Study
PHIL 3907 [0.5]
Independent Study
PHIL 3908 [0.5]
Independent Study
with philosophical works read in French and papers submitted in French to be assessed by two members of the Philosophy Department knowledgeable in the language, or 1.0 credit in Philosophy at the 3000-level taught in French at another university and acceptable to the Philosophy Department. In addition, Philosophy students in B.A. Honours or Combined Honours must include:
4.  1.0 credit from special projects:1.0
PHIL 4900 [1.0]
Tutorial
PHIL 4901 [0.5]
Tutorial
PHIL 4902 [0.5]
Tutorial
PHIL 4903 [0.5]
Tutorial
PHIL 4904 [0.5]
Tutorial
PHIL 4906 [0.5]
Tutorial
in French, supervised by a member of the Department of Philosophy, or earned in a Philosophy seminar or seminars at the 4000-level taught in French at another university and acceptable to the Philosophy Department. Students must, in addition, satisfy the Honours requirement of 2.0 Carleton credits at the 4000-or 5000-level in Philosophy (1.0 for Combined Honours).
5. Combined Honours students must meet the Mention : Francais requirements of both Honours disciplines.
Total Credits4.0

Philosophy (PHIL) Courses

PHIL 1000 [0.5 credit]
Introductory Philosophy: Fields, Figures and Problems

What is metaphysics? Who was Socrates? What is Freedom? This introduction sketches many branches of philosophy and the important problems associated with each. It introduces great philosophers, present and past, and traces enduring philosophical themes.
Precludes additional credit for FYSM 1208 (no longer offered), FYSM 1211, PHIL 1100. This course is not suitable for students with previous formal study of philosophy.


PHIL 1100 [1.0 credit]
Looking at Philosophy

Introduction to philosophy: the nature of logical thinking; the existence of God; the objectivity of values; the meaning of life; free will, determinism and responsibility; the relation between mind and body; immortality; the possibility of knowledge. This course is not intended for Majors.
Precludes additional credit for FYSM 1208 (no longer offered), FYSM 1211 and PHIL 1000.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 1200 [0.5 credit]
The Meaning of Life

An introduction to concerns expressed by the perennial philosophical question, "What is the meaning of life?" Students will be familiarized with the major philosophical approaches to life's meaning through a consideration of various contemporary and late modern works in the philosophy of life.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 1301 [0.5 credit]
Mind, World, and Knowledge

Introduction to a variety of philosophical works, including contemporary, on such topics as: the nature of being, the mental, the external, consciousness, perception, experience, meaning, truth, the nature of knowledge, scientific understanding, and how language and thought represent the world.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 1006 (no longer offered), PHIL 1501 (no longer offered).
Lectures three hours per week.

PHIL 1500 [1.0 credit]
Contemporary Moral, Social and Religious Issues

Moral theories, atheism or theism, feminism, and free will. Moral arguments concerning abortion, affirmative action, racism, human rights, children's rights, world hunger, capital punishment, euthanasia, censorship, pornography, legal paternalism, animal rights and environmental protection.
Precludes additional credit for FYSM 1209 and PHIL 1550.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 1550 [0.5 credit]
Introduction to Ethics and Social Issues

An introduction to understanding, assessing, and formulating ethical arguments concerning controversial issues. Particular issues studied may include, world hunger, capital punishment, terrorism, euthanasia, abortion, pornography and hate speech, animal rights, the environment, and topics in theories of race, gender and disability.
Precludes additional credit for FYSM 1212 and PHIL 1500.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 1610 [0.5 credit]
Great Philosophical Ideas, Part 1

Major figures and developments in philosophy from the early Greeks to the year 1400. Descriptive and comparative approach, providing an understanding of the place of philosophers in the history of thought. Appreciation of critical reasoning is included for comprehending philosophical developments.
Precludes additional credit for FYSM 1300, PHIL 1600.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 1620 [0.5 credit]
Great Philosophical Ideas, Part 2

Major figures and developments in philosophy after the year 1400. Descriptive and comparative approach, providing an understanding of the place of philosophers in the history of thought. Appreciation of critical reasoning is included for comprehending philosophical developments.
Precludes additional credit for FYSM 1300, PHIL 1600.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 1700 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy of Love and Sex

A survey of philosophical classics, on themes of romantic love, self-love, altruistic love, sexuality, eroticism and the passion/reason dichotomy, from Plato's Symposium to Foucault's History of Sexuality; and an examination of related contemporary issues in light of these perspectives.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2001 [0.5 credit]
Introduction to Logic

An introduction to the techniques and philosophical implications of formal logic with emphasis on translation of expressions into symbolic form, testing for logical correctness, the formulation and application of rules of inference, and the relation between logic and language. Open to first-year students.
Lectures three hours a week. Tutorials may be offered in selected terms.

PHIL 2003 [0.5 credit]
Critical Thinking

Assessment of reasoning and the development of cogent patterns of thinking. Reference to formal logic is minimal. Practice in criticizing examples of reasoning and in formulating one's own reasons correctly and clearly. Open to first-year students.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2005 [1.0 credit]
Ancient Philosophy: The Search for Wisdom

An exploration of ancient philosophy as a search for wisdom and happiness from its Presocratic beginnings in Greece to its development in the Hellenistic world and Imperial Rome. Emphasis on philosophy as a contemplative activity and as a way of life.
Also listed as CLCV 2105.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2006, CLCV 2006, PHIL 2007, CLCV 2007 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in PHIL, or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2010 [0.5 credit]
Issues in Theoretical Philosophy

Issues drawn from epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and related fields will be examined through careful study of significant philosophical texts after 1900, along with some ensuing debates.
Prerequisite(s): enrolment in Honours or Combined Honours Philosophy programs, or in philosophy, Ethics, and Public Affairs, or permission of the Department.
Lectures and discussion three hours a week.

PHIL 2020 [0.5 credit]
Issues in Practical Philosophy

Issues drawn from ethics, social and political philosophy, and related fields will be examined through careful study of significant philosophical texts , along with some ensuing debates.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): enrolment in Honours or Combined Honours Philosophy programs, or in philosophy, Ethics, and Public Affairs, or permission of the Department.
Lectures and discussion three hours a week.

PHIL 2101 [0.5 credit]
History of Ethics

An introduction to ethical theories through a study of some of the major figures in moral philosophy, such as Aristotle, Hume, Kant and Mill.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2103 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy of Human Rights

Philosophical introduction to human rights sources, concepts, justifications, consequences, and challenges to them. Evolution of selected human rights as a) demands made in political struggles; b) declarations supported by moral or political principles and arguments; c) codes ratified and implemented by governments and international organizations.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2106 [0.5 credit]
Information Ethics

An exploration of ethical issues that arise in the Age of Information. Topics to be discussed may include technology, surveillance and privacy, social media and privacy, social media and cognitive bias, bias in algorithms, AI ethics, intellectual property, and freedom of expression and assembly.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2104 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2120 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy of Technology

Philosophical investigations of the nature of technology and the influence it has on our relationships with others, the natural world, and ourselves. Key themes may include the relation between technology and science and the role of technology in personal identity, social justice, and well-being.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2201 [0.5 credit]
Introduction to Marxist Philosophy

The evolution of Marx's social and political views in the setting of 18 th - and 19 th - century anarchism, liberalism and conservatism. Themes of humanism, freedom, rights, the state, democracy, alienation, and inequality, primarily as they develop into the theory of historical materialism.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2200.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy or permission of the Department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2202 [0.5 credit]
Topics in Marxist Philosophy

The dialectical materialism of Marx, Engels, and Lenin is compared with traditional materialist, idealist, and mechanist philosophy. Marxist views on issues such as equality, ethical objectivity, human well-being, matter and mind, the existence of God, knowledge versus skepticism, freedom of the will, and justice.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2200.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 2201 or 0.5 credit in the history of philosophy at the 2000-level or above.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2301 [0.5 credit]
Introduction to the Philosophy of Science

Philosophical issues arising out of the attempt to understand the world scientifically. Topics may include: scientific methodology, revolution, observation, explanation, causation, induction, reduction, the difference between natural and social scientific understanding, realism, instrumentalism, constructivism.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.


PHIL 2306 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy and Feminism

A study of philosophical issues arising from feminism. The course includes discussions of the historical roots of feminism, the role of reason and emotion, key concepts such as oppression, sexism, equality and difference, feminism and philosophies of race and of disability, and selected moral/political issues.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2307 [0.5 credit]
Gender and Philosophy

Topics may include gender and sex in the history of philosophy, intersections between the politics and theories of gender, sexuality, and race, the place of the body in philosophical theory, the influence of gender and sex on science/social science, and queer/trans issues and politics.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2320 [0.5 credit]
Children, Literature, and Philosophy

An exploration of issues at the nexus of philosophy, children’s literature, and childhood studies. Topics may include an examination of children’s books and young adult literature through a philosophical lens, as well as a critical examination of the “philosophy with children” movement.
Includes: Experiential Learning Activity
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy or second-year standing in a philosophy program, or permission of the department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2330 [0.5 credit]
Happiness, Well-being, and the Good Life

A philosophical exploration of what makes a good human life. Topics may include the role of happiness, well-being, and flourishing in a good life, the relations between these aspects, and the extent to which they depend on luck and social considerations.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2340 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy and Popular Culture

Philosophy is all around us, it permeates culture. This course explores philosophical questions through the lens of popular culture. The material used may include films, shows, music, novels, video games, advertising, comic books, and so on.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2380 [0.5 credit]
Introduction to Environmental Ethics

Major questions in environmental ethics: How should human beings view their relationship to the rest of nature? Is responsible stewardship of the environment compatible with current technology? Must future generations be protected? Do animals, other life forms, endangered species, ecosystems and/or the biosphere have value/rights?.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 1804.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2401 [0.5 credit]
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

AI and robotic technologies raise pressing ethical issues. Topics discussed may include big data and privacy, the ‘black box’ problem and bias, human-AI interaction, automation and responsibility, AI codes of ethics, the moral status of AI, and potential risks to humanity posed by superintelligence.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in PHIL, or second year standing.
Lecture three hours a week.

PHIL 2405 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy of the Paranormal

Examination of claims, concepts, theories and methods in parapsychology. Their scientific character and the relation of paranormal phenomena to philosophical issues such as survival of death, human nature, time, space, causality and perception.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy or permission of the Department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2408 [0.5 credit]
Bioethics

Ethical and political issues in medicine, public health, biotechnology, and the life sciences. Topics may include reproductive ethics, research on human subjects, animal research and treatment, justice and health care, physician-patient relationships, death and the end of life, and genetic engineering.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 3408.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week. Tutorials may be offered in selected terms.

PHIL 2501 [0.5 credit]
Introduction to Philosophy of Mind

An introduction to major philosophical issues concerning human cognition. Topics may include: the relation of mind to body, knowledge of other minds, the relation of mental states to personhood and personal identity, mental illness, consciousness, intentionality, action, mental realism.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2502.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.


PHIL 2504 [0.5 credit]
Language and Communication

Some of the central topics in the study of language and communication as pursued by linguists and philosophers. The nature of meaning; the connections between language, communication and cognition; language as a social activity.
Also listed as COMS 2504, LING 2504.
Precludes additional credit for COMM 2800, LALS 2504, LALS 2800 and PHIL 2800.
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2520 [0.5 credit]
Introduction to Philosophical Logic

An introduction to features of rational thinking activity, its expression, and its relation to the world, focusing on such topics as predication, truth, negation, necessity, entailment, logical form, or quantification.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2540 [0.5 credit]
Personal Identity and the Self

Philosophical perspectives on personal identity, the self, and the underlying issue of the relationship of the mind to the body. Both philosophical and psychological concepts of identity are discussed, as are related issues such as memory, introspection, and self-knowledge.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2502.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2550 [0.5 credit]
Moral Psychology

An examination of psychological underpinnings of morality, focusing on studies at the intersection of philosophy, psychiatry, and psychology.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2601 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy of Religion

A study of philosophical issues arising from religion. Topics may include: arguments for and against the existence of God, religious experience, death and the afterlife, miracles, God and evil, the relationship between religion and science, and the relationship between religion and ethics.
Also listed as RELI 2738.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 2700 [0.5 credit]
Asian Philosophy

An examination of South Asian and East Asian philosophical texts, from the period of the Upanishads and early Buddhism in India to modern philosophical movements. Historical sources may include Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Confucian or Taoist texts, with a focus on metaphysical, epistemological or ethical themes.
Prerequisite(s): second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week. May be offered as an online course in selected terms.

PHIL 2807 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy of Art

Philosophical approaches to the study of art. Topics such as: the nature of art and artistic value; representation and symbolism in art; art and artifice; art and the emotions; art, culture and ideology; post-structuralism and art; theories of creativity; relationship between artworks and audiences.
Also listed as ARTH 2807.
Lecture three hours a week.

PHIL 2901 [0.5 credit]
Truth and Propaganda

Ancient and modern techniques of persuasion from analytical, ethical and jurisprudential perspectives. Objectivity and bias, advertising and public relations ethics, the viability of democracy in the light of pressures on and within the modern mass media.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2900 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in PHIL or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours per week.

PHIL 3000 [0.5 credit]
Topics in Ancient Philosophy

A study of philosophers, texts, problems and issues in ancient philosophy, generally with a focus on Plato and Aristotle.
Also listed as CLCV 3011.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy and second-year standing, or permission of the department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3001 [0.5 credit]
Early Greek Philosophy

A study of the pre-Socratic Greek philosophers and of the Sophists and Socrates.
Also listed as CLCV 3001.
Prerequisite(s): CLCV 2105 or PHIL 2005 or permission of the Department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3002 [0.5 credit]
17th Century Philosophy

European philosophy of the 17 th century. Representative works of writers such as Francis Bacon, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, and Locke.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy and second-year standing in a philosophy program, or permission of the department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3003 [0.5 credit]
18th Century Philosophy

European philosophy of the 18 th century. Representative works of writers such as Berkeley, Hume, and Kant.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy and second-year standing in a philosophy program, or permission of the department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3005 [0.5 credit]
19th Century Philosophy

European philosophy in the 19 th century. May include Hegel, Marx, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Mill.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 3007.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy and second-year standing in a philosophy program, or permission of the Department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3009 [0.5 credit]
Topics in European Philosophy

A study of philosophers, texts, problems and issues in any period of European philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3010 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Global Philosophical Traditions

A study of philosophers, texts, and doctrines beyond the Western tradition. Traditions covered will vary but may include Asian, African, Muslim or Indigenous philosophy, possibly with critical comparison to Western counterparts.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2004.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3102 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy of Law: The Logic of Law

Legal reasoning and analysis of concepts of particular significance to the law, including justice, rights and duties, liability, punishment, ownership and possession.
Also listed as LAWS 3102.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy or permission of the Department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3104 [0.5 credit]
The Roots of Analytic Philosophy

In the context of the work of such writers as Frege and Bradley, a discussion of early philosophical works of Russell, Moore and Wittgenstein. In addition some early representatives of positivism and pragmatism may be examined.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy and second-year standing in a philosophy program, or permission of the department.
Lectures and seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 3140 [0.5 credit]
Epistemology

Fundamental issues concerning the relation between evidence, rationality, and knowledge. Topics may include: skepticism, the nature of belief, the structure of justification, the relative contributions of reason and sense experience to knowledge, innate knowledge, the problem of induction, and the knowledge of other minds.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2300.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy and third-year standing in a philosophy program or permission of the department.


PHIL 3150 [0.5 credit]
Metaphysics

Philosophical issues concerning the fundamental nature of being. Topics may include: time and temporality, space, substance, universals/particulars, identity, causation, freedom/determinism, the nature of norms.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2302.
Prerequisite(s): 0.5 credit in philosophy and third-year standing in a philosophy program, or permission of the department.


PHIL 3301 [0.5 credit]
Issues in the Philosophy of Science

Selected topic(s) in the philosophy of science, such as its relationship to values, or in the philosophy of a particular science (such as philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of physics, philosophy of biology, and philosophy of the social sciences).
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 2301 or permission of the department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3306 [0.5 credit]
Symbolic Logic

A review of the basic techniques of propositional and predicate logic. Natural deduction and consistency trees. Soundness and completeness. Alternative semantics. Extensions to basic logic: identity, modal logic with possible world semantics, three valued systems, deontic logic.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 3305.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 2001 or permission of the Department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3320 [0.5 credit]
Contemporary Ethical Theory

Critical study of modern ethical theories, their views on the nature of morality and the justification of moral claims. Topics may include utilitarianism, libertarianism, communitarianism, egoism, neo-Kantianism, virtue ethics, social contract ethics, feminist ethics, and moral rights.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2102.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 2020 or PHIL 2101 or permission of the department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3330 [0.5 credit]
Topics in History of Social and Political Philosophy

A critical examination of selected topics and perspectives in the history of social and political philosophy.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 3300.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3340 [0.5 credit]
Topics in Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy

A critical examination of some contemporary approaches to topics in social and political philosophy, such as liberalism, feminism, contractarianism, Marxism, libertarianism, and communitarianism.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 3300.
Prerequisite(s): a course in philosophy or second-year standing.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3350 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy, Ethics, and Public Affairs

Advanced study of a set of public policy issues, a particular theory or group of theories, or a particular philosopher, concerning philosophical and ethical aspects of public affairs.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing or permission of the department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3360 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy, Economics, and Public Policy

The course explores issues at the intersection of philosophy and economics, with a special focus on socially and politically relevant issues. Topics may include: efficiency, cooperation, equity and distributive justice, commodification and the moral limits of markets.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing or permission of the department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3380 [0.5 credit]
Environments, Technology and Values

Advanced treatment of ethical issues concerning technologies and environments, including: sustainable development, women and the environment, biological diversity, intrinsic or natural value or rights of non-humans, humans' relation to the rest of the natural world, obligations to future generations, liberty versus equality.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2804.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 1804 or PHIL 2380 and third-year standing, or permission of the Department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3450 [0.5 credit]
Topics in Aesthetics

Topics may include theories of aesthetic norms and valuation from ancient Greece onward, or applications of aesthetic theory to various genres of art.
Precludes additional credit for PHIL 2400, PHIL 3400, PHIL 3401, and PHIL 3402.
Prerequisite(s): At least 0.5 credit in philosophy, or HUMS 1000, or ARTH 2807, or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 3501 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy of Cognitive Science

Philosophical issues arising from cognitive science. Topics may include: the proper methodology for studying the mind, the very possibility of a “science of mind”, the computer model of the mind and reactions to it.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 2501 or PHIL 2502 or second-year standing in Cognitive Science, or permission of the department.


PHIL 3502 [0.5 credit]
Mind and Action

Philosophical thought concerning the relation between mentality and agency. Topics may include: the relation between belief, desire, and behaviour; rationality and normativity; representing and doing; subjectivity and intersubjectivity; physical and psychological laws; mental causation. Authors may include: Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Ryle, Sellars, Anscombe, Davidson, Taylor, McDowell.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 2501 or PHIL 2502, or permission of the Department.


PHIL 3503 [0.5 credit]
Artificial Intelligence: Philosophical and Ethical Issues

Topics examined through the lens of philosophy and cognitive science may include humans’ obligations towards AI, sentient AI, implications of AI for models of cognition, designing ethical AI systems, implications of using AI in healthcare, and social inequality and job displacement related to AI.
Also listed as CGSC 3603.
Prerequisite(s): CGSC 2001 or PHIL 2501 and third-year standing in Cognitive Science or Philosophy.
Seminar 3 hours per week.

PHIL 3504 [0.5 credit]
Pragmatics

The study of language use in its conversational and cultural contexts. Topics include: conversational implicature; deixis; the semantics-pragmatics boundary; speaker's reference; speech acts. May include cross-cultural pragmatics.
Also listed as LING 3504.
Precludes additional credit for LALS 2800 [1.0], LALS 3504, MCOM 2800 [1.0], MCOM 3504 and PHIL 2800 [1.0].
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing, and one of FYSM 1206, LALS 1000, LALS 1001, LING 1001, PHIL 2001, PHIL/LALS/LING/COMM/MCOM 2504 or LALS/LING 3505/PHIL 3506; or permission of the Department of Philosophy or School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3506 [0.5 credit]
Semantics

Study of language meaning. Lexical meaning and meanings of larger linguistic expressions, including nominal units, verbal units, and sentences. Meaning relationships between utterances. Relationship between linguistic meaning (semantics) and contextual meaning (pragmatics). Basic formal treatments of semantics.
Also listed as LING 3505.
Precludes additional credit for LALS 3505.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing, and one of LALS 1000, LALS 1001, LING 1001, PHIL 2001, PHIL/LALS/LING/COMM/MCOM 2504 or PHIL/LALS/LING 3504; or permission of the Department of Philosophy or School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3530 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy of Language

An intensive introduction to philosophy of language. Topics may include meaning, reference and truth, speech acts, the nature of concepts, language learning, metaphor, compositionality, context-sensitivity.
Prerequisite(s): third-year standing, and one of FYSM 1206, LALS 1000, LALS 1001, LING 1001, PHIL 2001, PHIL/LALS/LING/COMM/MCOM 2504 or LALS/LING 3504 or LALS/LING 3505/PHIL 3506; or permission of the department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3540 [0.5 credit]
Philosophy of Emotions

Emotions are central to human experience and widely studied in philosophy and science. In order to better understand them and their role in our lives, this course explores philosophical questions about emotions as they arise in philosophy of mind and cognitive science, ethics, and aesthetics.
Prerequisite(s): PHIL 2501, or permission of the department.
Lectures three hours a week.

PHIL 3901 [0.5 credit]
Independent Study

Essays and/or examinations based on a list of readings provided by the instructor.
Prerequisite(s): normally restricted to students with at least 3.0 credits in philosophy and with high standing in philosophy courses and permission of the Department.


PHIL 3902 [0.5 credit]
Independent Study

Essays and/or examinations based on a list of readings provided by the instructor.
Prerequisite(s): normally restricted to students with at least 3.0 credits in philosophy and with high standing in philosophy courses and permission of the Department.


PHIL 3903 [0.5 credit]
Independent Study

Essays and/or examinations based on a list of readings provided by the instructor.
Prerequisite(s): normally restricted to students with at least 3.0 credits in philosophy and with high standing in philosophy courses and permission of the Department.


PHIL 3906 [0.5 credit]
Independent Study

Essays and/or examinations based on a bibliography constructed by the student in consultation with the instructor.
Prerequisite(s): normally restricted to students with at least 3.0 credits in philosophy and with high standing in philosophy courses and permission of the Department.


PHIL 3907 [0.5 credit]
Independent Study

Essays and/or examinations based on a bibliography constructed by the student in consultation with the instructor.
Prerequisite(s): normally restricted to students with at least 3.0 credits in philosophy and with high standing in philosophy courses and permission of the Department.


PHIL 3908 [0.5 credit]
Independent Study

Essays and/or examinations based on a bibliography constructed by the student in consultation with the instructor.
Prerequisite(s): normally restricted to students with at least 3.0 credits in philosophy and with high standing in philosophy courses and permission of the Department.


PHIL 4003 [0.5 credit]
Seminar in philosophy Before the Modern Period

Detailed study of selected philosophers or issues in philosophy before the modern period.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5600, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4004 [0.5 credit]
Seminar in philosophy Before the Modern Period

Detailed study of selected philosophers or issues in philosophy before the modern period.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5600, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4005 [0.5 credit]
Seminar in Modern Philosophy

Detailed study of selected philosophers or issues in modern philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5600, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4006 [0.5 credit]
Seminar in Modern Philosophy

Detailed study of selected philosophers or issues in modern philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5600, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4007 [0.5 credit]
Seminar in Contemporary Philosophy

Detailed study of selected philosophers or issues in contemporary philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5500, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4008 [0.5 credit]
Seminar in Contemporary Philosophy

Detailed study of selected philosophers or issues in contemporary philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5500, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4055 [0.5 credit]
Lexical Semantics

Study of the meaning of words. Topics may include lexical decomposition, meaning variation, lexical relations, and lexical aspect.
Also listed as LING 4510.
Precludes additional credit for LING 4055 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): LING 3505 or PHIL 3506.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as LING 5510 and PHIL 5660, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminars three hours a week.

PHIL 4100 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic

Detailed study of a special topic in philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5000, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4210 [0.5 credit]
Seminar in Philosophy of Language or Linguistics

Detailed study of selected issues or the work of selected philosophers in philosophy of language or on philosophical topics in linguistics.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth year standing in a Philosophy Honours programme or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5200, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4220 [0.5 credit]
Seminar in philosophy of Mind or Cognition

Detailed study of selected issues or the work of selected philosophers in philosophy of mind or philosophical aspects of cognition.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth year standing in a Philosophy Honours programme or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5200, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4230 [0.5 credit]
Seminar in Metaphysics, Epistemology, or Philosophy of Science

Detailed study of selected issues or the work of selected philosophers in metaphysics, epistemology, or philosophy of science.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth year standing in a Philosophy Honours programme or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5250, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4300 [0.5 credit]
Seminar in Ethical Theory or Meta-Ethics

Detailed study of selected issues pertaining to ethical theory or issues of meta-ethics such as realism, relativism, moral knowledge.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5300, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4320 [0.5 credit]
Seminar in Ethics or Moral Philosophy

Detailed study of selected issues in ethics or moral philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5350, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4330 [0.5 credit]
Seminar in Social or Political Philosophy

Detailed study of selected issues in social or political philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 5350, for which additional credit is precluded.
Seminar three hours a week.

PHIL 4403 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Applied Ethics

Detailed study of a special topic in applied ethics.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4404 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Applied Ethics

Detailed study of a special topic in applied ethics.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4405 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Aesthetics or Philosophy of Art

Detailed study of a special issue or a single author in aesthetics and/or philosophy of art.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4406 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Aesthetics or Philosophy of Art

Detailed study of a special issue or a single author in aesthetics and/or philosophy of art.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4407 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Philosophy of Law

Detailed study of a special topic in philosophy of law.
Also listed as LAWS 4103.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Law or Philosophy Honours program or permission of either Department.
Seminars three hours a week.

PHIL 4408 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Philosophy of Law

Detailed study of a special topic in philosophy of law.
Also listed as LAWS 4104.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Law or Philosophy Honours program or permission of either Department.
Seminars three hours a week.

PHIL 4503 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Philosophy of Computing

Detailed study of a special topic in philosophy of computing.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4504 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Philosophy of Computing

Detailed study of a special topic in philosophy of computing.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4505 [0.5 credit]
Formal Semantics

Advanced topics in compositional semantics and its interfaces. Topics may include: logic, semantic types, lambda calculus, intentional contexts, possible world semantics, interfaces with syntax and pragmatics quantification, anaphora, presupposition, implicatures, scope and binding, and model theory.
Also listed as LING 4505.
Precludes additional credit for LALS 4507 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): LALS 3505 or LING 3505 or PHIL 3506 or permission of the Department of Philosophy or School of Linguistics and Language Studies.
Seminars three hours a week.

PHIL 4603 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Feminist Philosophy

Detailed study of a special topic in feminist philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4604 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Feminist Philosophy

Detailed study of a special topic in feminist philosophy.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4606 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Continental Philosophy

Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4607 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Continental Philosophy

Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4701 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Logic

Detailed study of a special topic in Logic.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4702 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Logic

Detailed study of a special topic in Logic.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4703 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Philosophical Logic

Detailed study of a special topic in Philosophical Logic.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4704 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Philosophical Logic

Detailed study of a special topic in Philosophical Logic.
Prerequisite(s): eligibility for fourth-year standing in a Philosophy Honours program or permission of the Department.
Seminar two hours a week.

PHIL 4900 [1.0 credit]
Tutorial

Prerequisite(s): permission of the Department. Note: Students who wish to enrol in a tutorial course must consult the Undergraduate Supervisor, before registration.


PHIL 4901 [0.5 credit]
Tutorial

Prerequisite(s): permission of the Department. Note: Students who wish to enrol in a tutorial course must consult the Undergraduate Supervisor, before registration.


PHIL 4902 [0.5 credit]
Tutorial

Prerequisite(s): permission of the Department. Note: Students who wish to enrol in a tutorial course must consult the Undergraduate Supervisor, before registration.


PHIL 4903 [0.5 credit]
Tutorial

Prerequisite(s): permission of the Department. Note: Students who wish to enrol in a tutorial course must consult the Undergraduate Supervisor, before registration.


PHIL 4904 [0.5 credit]
Tutorial

Prerequisite(s): permission of the Department. Note: Students who wish to enrol in a tutorial course must consult the Undergraduate Supervisor, before registration.


PHIL 4906 [0.5 credit]
Tutorial

Prerequisite(s): permission of the Department. Note: Students who wish to enrol in a tutorial course must consult the Undergraduate Supervisor, before registration.


Note: Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca.

Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca

B.A. Regulations

The regulations presented below apply to all Bachelor of Arts programs. In addition to the requirements presented here, students must satisfy the University regulations common to all undergraduate students including the process of Academic Continuation Evaluation (consult the Academic Regulations of the University section of this Calendar).

First-Year Seminars

B.A. degree students are strongly encouraged to include a First-Year Seminar (FYSM) during their first 4.0 credits of registration. Students are limited to 1.0 credit in FYSM and can only register in a FYSM while they have first-year standing in their B.A. program. 

Breadth Requirement

Among the credits presented at graduation, students in both the B.A. and the B.A. Honours degrees and B.Co.M.S. are required to include 3.0 breadth credits, which must include 1.0 credit in three of the four breadth areas identified below. Credits that fulfil requirements in the Major, Minor, Concentration, Specialization, or Stream may also be used to fulfil the Breadth Requirement.

Students admitted with a completed university degree are exempt from breadth requirements.

Students in the following interdisciplinary programs are exempt from the B.A. breadth requirement.

  • African Studies
  • Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Environmental Studies
  • Human Rights
  • Human Rights and Social Justice
Breadth Area 1: Culture and Communication

American Sign Language, Art History, Art and Culture, Communication and Media Studies, Digital Humanities, English, Film Studies, French, Journalism, Media Production and Design, Music, and Languages (Arabic, English as a Second Language, German, Greek, Hebrew, Indigenous Languages, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish).

Subject codes: ARAB, ARTH, ASLA, CHIN, COMS, DIGH, ENGL, ESLA, FILM, FINS, FREN, GERM, GREK, HEBR, ITAL, JAPA, JOUR, KORE, LANG, LATN, MPAD, MUSI, PORT, RUSS, SPAN

Breadth Area 2: Humanities

African Studies, Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies, Archaeology, Canadian Studies, Child Studies, Classical Civilization, Critical Race Studies, Directed Interdisciplinary Studies, Disability Studies, Environmental and Climate Humanities, European and Russian Studies, History, Human Rights and Social Justice, Humanities, Indigenous Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Linguistics, Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Philosophy, Religion, Sexuality Studies, South Asian Studies, and Women's and Gender Studies.

Subject codes: AFRI, ALDS, ARCY, CDNS, CHST, CLCV, CRST, DBST, DIST, EACH, EURR, HIST, HRSJ, HUMR, HUMS, INDG, LACS, LING, MEMS, PHIL, RELI, SAST, SXST, WGST

Breadth Area 3: Science, Engineering, and Design

Architecture, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Science, Food Science and Nutrition, Health Sciences, Industrial Design, Information Resource Management, Information Technology (BIT), Information Technology (ITEC), Interactive Multimedia and Design, Interdisciplinary Science and Practice, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Network Technology, Optical Systems and Sensors, Photonics, Statistics, Physics, and Technology, Society, Environment.

Subject codes: ACSE, AERO, ARCC, ARCH, ARCN, ARCS, ARCU, BIOC, BIOL, BIT, CHEM, CIVE, COMP, ECOR, ELEC, ENSC, ENVE, ERTH, FOOD, HLTH, IDES, IMD, IRM, ISAP, ISCI, ISCS, ISYS, ITEC, MAAE, MATH, MECH, NET, NEUR, NSCI, OSS, PHYS, PLT, SREE, STAT, SYSC, TSES

Breadth Area 4: Social Sciences

Anthropology, Business, Cognitive Science, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geomatics, Global and International Studies, Global Politics, Interdisciplinary Public Affairs, International Affairs, Law, Migration and Diaspora Studies, Political Management, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Public Affairs and Policy Management, Social Work, Sociology/Anthropology, Sociology.

Subject codes: ANTH, BUSI, CGSC, CRCJ, ECON, ENST, GEOG, GEOM, GINS, GPOL, INAF, IPAF, LAWS, MGDS, PADM, PAPM, POLM, PSCI, PSYC, SOCI, SOWK

Declared and Undeclared Students

Degree students are considered "Undeclared" if they have been admitted to a degree, but have not yet selected and been accepted into a program within that degree. The status "Undeclared" is available only in the B.A. and B.Sc. degrees. Undeclared students must apply to enter a program upon or before completing 3.5 credits.

Change of Program Within the B.A. Degree

To transfer to a program within the B.A. degree, applicants must normally be Eligible to Continue (EC) in the new program, by meeting the CGPA thresholds described in Section 3.1.9 of the Academic Regulations of the University. 

Applications to declare or change programs within the B.A. degree online must be made online through Carleton Central by completing a Change of Program Elements (COPE) application form within the published deadlines. Acceptance into a program, or into a program element or option, is subject to any enrollment limitations, as well as specific program, program element, or option requirements as published in the relevant Calendar entry.

Minors, Concentrations, and Specializations

Students may add a Minor, Concentration, or Specialization by completing a Change of Program Elements (COPE) application form online through Carleton Central. Acceptance into a Minor, Concentration, or Specialization normally requires that the student be Eligible to Continue (EC) and is subject to any specific requirements of the intended Minor, Concentration, or Specialization as published in the relevant Calendar entry and in Section 3.1.9 of the Academic Regulations of the University.

Mention : français

Students registered in certain B.A. programs may earn the diploma notation Mention : français by completing part of their program requirements in French, and by demonstrating knowledge of the history and culture of French Canada. The general requirements are listed below. For more specific details, consult the departmental program entries.

Students in a B.A. Honours program must present:

  1. 1.0 credit in French language;
  2. 1.0 credit devoted to the history and culture of French Canada;
  3. 1.0 credit at the 2000- or 3000-level in the Honours discipline taken in French; and
  4. 1.0 credit at the 4000-level in the Honours discipline taken in French.

Students in a B.A. program must present:

  1. 1.0 credit in advanced French;
  2. 1.0 credit devoted to the history and culture of French Canada;
  3. 1.0 credit at the 2000- or 3000-level in the Major discipline taken in French.

Students in Combined Honours programs must fulfil the Mention : français requirement in both disciplines.

Courses taught in French (Items 3 and 4, above) may be taken at Carleton, at the University of Ottawa on the Exchange Agreement, or at a francophone university on a Letter of Permission. Students planning to take courses on exchange or on a Letter of Permission should take careful note of the residence requirement for a minimum number of Carleton courses in their programs. Consult the Academic Regulations of the University section of this Calendar for information regarding study on exchange or Letter of Permission.

Admissions Information

Admission Requirements are for the 2024-25 year only, and are based on the Ontario High School System. Holding the minimum admission requirements only establishes eligibility for consideration. The cut-off averages for admission may be considerably higher than the minimum. See also the General Admission and Procedures section of this Calendar. An overall average of at least 70% is normally required to be considered for admission. Some programs may also require specific course prerequisites and prerequisite averages and/or supplementary admission portfolios. Higher averages are required for admission to programs for which the demand for places by qualified applicants exceeds the number of places available. The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program by program basis. Consult admissions.carleton.ca for further details.

Note: Courses listed as recommended are not mandatory for admission. Students who do not follow the recommendations will not be disadvantaged in the admission process.

Admissions Information

Admission requirements are based on the Ontario High School System. Prospective students can view the admission requirements through the Admissions website at admissions.carleton.ca. The overall average required for admission is determined each year on a program-by-program basis. Holding the minimum admission requirements only establishes eligibility for consideration; higher averages are required for admission to programs for which the demand for places by qualified applicants exceeds the number of places available. All programs have limited enrolment and admission is not guaranteed. Some programs may also require specific course prerequisites and prerequisite averages and/or supplementary admission portfolios. Consult admissions.carleton.ca for further details.

Note: If a course is listed as recommended, it is not mandatory for admission. Students who do not follow the recommendations will not be disadvantaged in the admission process.

Admission Requirements

Degrees

  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

First Year

For B.A. and B.A. (Honours)
The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent including a minimum of six 4U or M courses. The six 4U or M courses must include a 4U course in English (or anglais). Applicants submitting an English language test to satisfy the requirements of the English Language Proficiency section of this Calendar may use that test to also satisfy the 4U English prerequisite requirement.

Biology
For the major in Biology in the B.A. program, in addition to the 4U English, a 4U course in Chemistry is required. Advanced Functions, and Calculus and Vectors are recommended.

Criminology and Criminal Justice
Access to the CCJ B.A. degree is limited to students already registered in the CCJ B.A. Honours who apply to transfer, and to graduates of the Algonquin College Police Foundations program.

Advanced Standing

Applications for admission beyond first year will be assessed on their merits. Applicants must normally be Eligible to Continue in their year level, in addition to meeting the CGPA thresholds described in Section 3.1.9 of the Academic Regulations of the University. Advanced standing will be granted only for those subjects assessed as being appropriate for the program and the stream selected.

Co-op Option

Direct Admission to the 1st Year of the Co-op Option
Co-op is available for the following Majors in the B.A. (Honours) degree: Anthropology, English, Environmental Studies, European and Russian Studies, French, Geography, Geomatics, History, Law, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology.

Applicants must:

  1. meet the required overall admission cut-off average and prerequisite course average. These averages may be higher than the stated minimum requirements;
  2. be registered as a full-time student in the Bachelor of Arts Honours with one of the majors listed above;
  3. be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work placements).

Meeting the above requirements only establishes eligibility for admission to the program. The prevailing job market may limit enrolment in the co-op option. Students should also note that hiring priority is given to Canadian citizens for co-op positions in the Public Service Commission.

Note: continuation requirements for students previously admitted to the co-op option and admission requirements for the co-op option after beginning the program are described in the Co-operative Education Regulations section of this Calendar.

Advanced Standing

B.A. and B.A. (Honours) Program

Applications for admission to the second or subsequent years will be assessed on their merits. Advanced standing will be granted only for those courses that are determined to be appropriate.