1991-1993 Catalog - Catalogs - West Virginia University

courses to provide a basis for careers in music librarianship, computer science, musicmerchandising, arts management, or music criticism may be chosen.Admission RequirementsStudents wishing to enter this program must have the approval of the programadviser, and must meet audition requirements in a principal performance area, whichcan be piano, organ, voice, or band or orchestra instrument. Additional details may befound in the College of Creative Arts, Division of Music section of this catalog underthe heading "Bachelor of Arts Degree."PhilosophyDegree: Bachelor of ArtsVirginia H. Klenk, ChairpersonNature of ProgramThe word "philosophy" originally meant love of knowledge; now it means theinvestigation of fundamental questions that have puzzled human beings for ages.Philosophy deals with such questions as: What is the ultimate nature of reality? Whatdo we really know, and how do we know it? What is morally right, and how should welive? What is the nature of the human mind and the self? Is there a god, and howmight human beings come to have knowledge of God? What is the ideal form ofgovernment? Typically, the philosophy student studies the history of basic views aboutknowledge, the world, and human nature. The student also develops logical skills todeal with specific philosophical issues relevant to life, such as current moral problems.Philosophy is a discipline that raises questions about the foundations of otherdisciplines. Thus, within the general field of philosophy, there is the philosophy ofscience, the philosophy of religion, the philosophy of history, the philosophy of art, andso on. By its nature, philosophy tends to be interdisciplinary. Majors often find that it ishelpful to combine the study of philosophy with a concentration of courses in anotherarea.Those who desire careers in the teaching of philosophy will need the Ph.D.degree. Being a philosophy major is also excellent preparation for advanced study in anumber of other areas, including law and business. The philosophy major developscritical reasoning and writing skills and an ability to analyze problems from a variety ofperspectives.Degree RequirementsA major in philosophy requires 30 hours in philosophy, including 18 hours ofupper-division work. The following courses are required: Philosophy 10, 20, 120, and1 04 or 1 08, and 1 66 or 1 71 . A grade of C or higher must be earned in coursesrequired for the major, and majors must possess at least a C average in all philosophycourses in order to graduate. Majors planning to do graduate work in philosophy arestrongly urged to take Philosophy 106.A department advisor will help students select philosophy electives and coursesfrom other departments suited to students' specific educational goals and interests.Minor in PhilosophyAny student admitted to a degree program in the College of Arts and Sciencesmay complete a minor in philosophy. The minor is designed to acquaint students witha broad range of philosophical topics and skills, and to introduce them to the fundamentalissues in philosophy. The minor consists of 15 hours in philosophy, with at leastnine hours at the upper division level. Students must attain at least a 2.0 average incourses for the minor.128 College of Arts and Sciences