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Academic Advising Handbook

Philosophy

Table of Contents

• Division Requirements
• Major Requirements
• Sample First and Second Year Programs
• Off-campus Study Options

Sample First and Second Year Programs

Note 1. All Philosophy courses at the 200 level are open to first-year students. Each course has places reserved for first-year students.

Note 2. Philosophy courses at the 200 level have no prerequisites. 

Note 3. Any two Philosophy courses at the 200 level will serve as an appropriate introduction to Philosophy. 

Note 4. An intended major should take Logic before the end of the sophomore year. 

Note 5. An intended major does not have to begin taking Philosophy courses in the first year. An intended major who takes two Philosophy courses in the sophomore year, one being Logic, may easily finish the major in a four-year program. 

Note 6. Check the catalog for Philosophy course prerequisites. Some specify a 200-level course, such as Logic.

For students beginning the major as first-year students

A pattern of courses for the first year:

A pattern for the sophomore year:

For students beginning the major as sophomores

A pattern of courses for the sophomore year:

A pattern of courses for the junior year:

Off-campus Study Options

Philosophy students have participated in a number of Reed's approved programs over the years. A site of particular interest for philosophy students with 2 years of college-level German has been the exchange program with Tübingen University in Germany. Tübingen, one of the oldest universities, has a very strong philosophy department with broad course offerings across the discipline. Other sites of interest include: The Universities of Sussex and East Anglia in England; Trinity College Dublin in Ireland; and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem offering courses in Jewish Thought, Classical Thought, Bible and Ancient Near East, and Islamic and Middle East studies. Philosophy students with sufficient language preparation can take philosophy courses in Reed programs in France, Costa Rica, Spain, and Russia.

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