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Program Requirements
Note: University regulations apply to all students at Laurier. If there is any discrepancy between the program or progression requirements outlined on this page and those in the university's academic calendars, the academic calendars are the official sources of information. The information below is from the latest calendar, and you may be following progression requirements from an earlier calendar. Students are responsible for checking the appropriate calendar. Contact your program coordinator should you notice any discrepancies.
Undergraduate Program Requirements
- An honours program (single major) provides an opportunity for the in-depth study of philosophy.
- A combined honours program (or "double" major) allows you to combine an in-depth study of philosophy and another discipline (e.g. economics, biology, religion and culture, history, English, sociology, etc.).
- An honours or a double honours program is the normal requirement for graduate work in philosophy.
- Students who do not complete a major or an honours degree, but wish to have some concentration in philosophy, may complete a minor or an option.
The Honours Philosophy program consists of 20.0 credits.
- You must include at least 11.0 credits in Philosophy, but no more than 13.0
- No more than 7.0 credits may be at the junior level (100 level)
- The program as a whole must include 2.0 philosophy credits at the 300 level (4 courses) and 1.5 philosophy credits (3 courses) at the 400 level
- A minimum GPA of 5.0 overall, and a 7.0 in Philosophy, is required to graduate
- 1.0 credit in any 200 level (or above) non-English language course may be counted towards a philosophy elective requirement
- The requirement for a non-Honours philosophy BA is a minimum 4.0 GPA
Please Note:
- PP201 Reasoning and Argumentation is an elective only; it does not count towards the fulfillment of any core or area requirements.
- Prerequisites for 4th year courses are any two of PP350, PP370 and PP380.
- Special Topics and Seminar courses may be taken more than once at the same level only if the course code number has a different letter following it and a different name.
- Special Topics courses are “As offered” and refer to the specific courses offered in a particular academic year. Some courses are offered yearly while others are offered on a rotating basis which changes from year to year.
Core Courses (2.0 credits)
- PP110
- PP111
- PP204
- PP207
A minimum of 1.5 credits in History (complete 3 courses)
- PP220, PP240J, PP256, PP259, PP261, PP262, PP263, PP264, HP201, PP350*, PP352, PP450*, PP451, PP452
*Special topics in History
Area Courses 3.0 credits (6 courses in total)
- A minimum of a 1.5 credit in Values: PP203, PP213, PP215, PP216, PP217, PP218, PP219, PP223, PP224, PP230, PP233, PP240*, PP247, PP380*, PP381, PP386, PP480*
- A minimum of 1.5 credits in Metaphysics and Epistemology: PP209, PP214, PP225, PP226, PP229, PP240*, PP249, PP270, PP370*, PP371, PP372, PP470*, PP472, PP473, PP474
Elective Philosophy Courses
- 4.5 credits (9 courses) minimum; 6.0 credits (12 courses) maximum
Degree Program Electives
If you complete 13.0 Philosophy credits, you will need 7.0 credits of non-philosophy; if 12.0 PP credits, then 9.0 non-PP; etc.
Resources
The Honours BA Philosophy in combination with another Honours BA program consists of 20.0 credits.
- You must include at least 7.0 credits in Philosophy, but no more than 9.0 credits in Philosophy.
- No more than 7.0 credits may be at the 100 level.
- The program as a whole must include 1.5 philosophy credits at the 300 level (3 courses) and 1.0 philosophy credit (2 courses) at the 400 level.
- A minimum GPA of 5.0 overall, and a 7.0 in Philosophy, is required to graduate
- The requirement for a non-Honours philosophy BA is a minimum 4.0 GPA.
Please Note:
- Prerequisites for 4th year courses are any two of PP350, PP370 and PP380.
- Special Topics and Seminar courses may be taken more than once at the same level only if the course code number has a different letter following it, and a different name.
- For Combined Honours: Please check if your other honours major program recognizes any Philosophy courses in fulfillment of their requirements. If so, these can be “double counted” towards your Philosophy program’s needs and those of your other major. This does not reduce the overall number of credits needed for your Honours BA (20.0 credits) but this may increase the number of non‐major electives you may take.
- If you take a course in Philosophy and also take its equivalent in your other program, you will be charged with a repeat, meaning only the second grade counts, and you will not receive a credit for the first course completed. To avoid this, pay attention to any exclusions listed for a given course.
- Special Topics courses are “As offered” and refer to the specific courses offered in a particular academic year. Some courses are offered yearly while others are offered on a rotating basis which changes from year to year.
PP Core Courses (3.0 credits, 6 courses in total)
Required Main Courses - 1.5 credits (3 courses)
- PP110
- PP111
- Either PP201 or PP204
- PP220, PP240J, PP256, PP259, PP261, PP262, PP263, PP264, HP201, PP350 Special topics (in History), PP352, PP450 Seminar (in History), PP451, PP452
Elective Philosophy Courses - 4.0 Credits minimum; 6.0 Credits maximum
Elective courses in Philosophy must include at least 4.0 credits, but may include up to 6.0 credits. At least 1.5 credit among the elective courses must be at the 300 level, and at least 1.0 credit among the elective courses must be at the 400 level.
Notes for combined Honours: Please check if your other honours major program recognizes any Philosophy courses in fulfilment of their requirements. If so, these can be "double-counted" toward your Philosophy program's needs and those of your other major. This does not reduce the overall number of credits needed for your honours BA (20.0 credits), but may increase the number of non-major electives you may take.
Please also note, if you take a course in Philosophy and also take its equivalent in your other program, you will be charged with a repeat, meaning only the second grade counts, and you will not receive a credit for the first course. To avoid this, pay attention to any exclusions listed for a given course.
Resources
Students must apply for direct entry to this program and meet competitive entrance requirements. After admission to the program, they are also guaranteed admission to the University of Sussex Law School provided they continue to meet progression requirements every term they are at Laurier. Students will spend the first two years at Laurier, the next three years at Sussex obtaining their LLB credentials, and a final year back at Laurier for completion of their BA requirements.
A partnership agreement between the two universities permits the transfer of five (5.0) senior credits from the University of Sussex towards the Laurier degree. Courses prescribed by the National Committee on Accreditation of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada will be offered at Laurier in Year 6 and will fulfil Canadian regulations for the practice of law anywhere in Canada (after writing additional bar exams or articling). These Year 6 courses are also used to fulfil some of the remaining program requirements towards the Honours Bachelor of Arts degree.
Requirements
The Honours BA in Philosophy is only available at the Waterloo Campus. It consists of 20.0 credits of which no more than 6.0 credits may be at the 100 level. A minimum of 11.0 credits are required for the Philosophy major. Prior to departing for studies at the University of Sussex, students must have completed the 10.0 credits that are listed under Year 1 and Year 2 below.
Due to the compacted nature of the Sussex Stream, students are required to pursue their degree in the following manner:
Year 1 (5.0 credits)
- PP110 (Fall Term)
- PP111 (Fall Term)
- PP201 or PP204
- 0.5 credits in History of Philosophy chosen from: PP220, PP256, PP259, PP261, PP262, PP263, PP264, HP201
- 0.5 credits in Values chosen from: PP203, PP207, PP213, PP215, PP216, PP217, PP218, PP219, PP223, PP224, PP230, PP233, PP247
- 0.5 credits in Metaphysics and Epistemology chosen from: PP209, PP214, PP225, PP226, PP229, PP249, PP270
- 2.0 elective credits
Year 2 (5.0 credits)
- 1.0 credits in History of Philosophy chosen from: PP220, PP256, PP259, PP261, PP262, PP263, PP264, HP201
- 1.0 credits in Values chosen from: PP203, PP207, PP213, PP215, PP216, PP217, PP218, PP219, PP223, PP224, PP230, PP233, PP247
- 1.0 credits in Metaphysics and Epistemology chosen from: PP209, PP214, PP225, PP226, PP229, PP249, PP270
- 0.5 credit at the PP300 level
- 1.5 elective credits
Years 3 – 5 (5 credits)
Students pursue an LLB at the University of Sussex. Upon successful completion of their LLB, students will be awarded 5.0 transfer credits equivalent to 3.0 credits of senior Philosophy electives and 2.0 senior elective credits.
Year 6 (5 credits)
- 0.5 credits at the PP300 or 400 level
- 1.0 credit at the PP400 level
- 3.5 additional credits, including courses to be offered by Laurier to prepare students to write the National Accreditation exams leading to legal practice in Canada
Any 3.0 credits in Philosophy, including at least 2.0 senior credits.
Undergraduate Option
This option is open to all non-majors in Philosophy. A GPA minimum of 6 overall at the end of year 1, 2, or 3 is required for entrance into the program. A GPA of minimum 7 in the courses designated for the option is required to graduate with the option.
Students must take a total of eight courses, including three core courses and five electives. No course may count as both a core course and an elective course.
Core Courses
- PP223: Contemporary Moral Issues
- PP203: Social and Political Philosophy or PP213: Legal Philosophy
- One of:
- PP217: Medical Ethics
- PP247: Business Ethics
- PP224: Philosophy and the Environment
Elective Courses
Note: CMEG300 is a prerequisite for CMEG301.
- PP110: Values and Society
- PP203: Social and Political Philosophy
- PP207: Ethical Theory
- PP213: Legal Philosophy
- PP216: Critical Social Theory
- PP217: Medical Ethics
- PP219: Feminist Philosophy
- PP224: Philosophy and the Environment
- PP230: Philosophy of War and Peace
- PP233: Sex, Love and Friendship
- PP247: Business Ethics
- PO350: Theories of Justice
- AN210: Intercultural Competencies
- AN243: Law, Culture and Society
- CMEG300: Introduction to Community Engagement
- CMEG301: Social Inclusion, Local Democracy and Community Enterprise
- GS220: Being Human: Cultural Analysis in a Global Age
- GS211: Actors and Approaches in International Development
- GS231: War, Culture and Conflict
- SY207: Social Theory I
- SY208: Social Theory II
- SY210: Social Inequalities
Graduate Program Requirements
Students must develop their programs in consultation with the graduate officer. Not all elective courses may be available each year. The graduate officer must approve the student’s program in all cases. To qualify for the degree a student must successfully complete the following:
- Five approved graduate courses
- PP688: MA Research Seminar
- PP695*: Major Research Paper
Grades for all courses will be assigned in accordance with the course requirements specified in the academic calendar.
With the approval of the graduate officer, students may take a maximum of 0.5 credits from outside the program. In addition to this, students may also arrange to take one of their courses as a directed studies course under the supervision of an individual professor in the Philosophy department.
Course Sequence
The normal sequence of registration is as follows:
Fall Term
- Three courses
Winter Term
- PP688
- Two courses
Spring Term
- PP695*: Major Research Paper
Major Research Paper
Under the supervision of a faculty member, students will complete a paper (PP695*: Major Research Paper) in which they engage in original research on an approved topic. Papers should be at least 7,500 words long but must not exceed 8,750 words, excluding bibliography but including endnotes. The supervisor will be responsible for assigning a grade to the major research paper.