2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Jun 27, 2025

2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Philosophy Minor

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Philosophy Overview

Undergraduate Program

The Philosophy Department offers an undergraduate major in philosophy, a concentration in Ethics and Public Policy, two minors in philosophy and a variety of elective courses, which nonmajors may take to broaden their education and fulfill requirements in the Clark Core. The department also offers core or elective courses in Law & Society, Environmental Science & Policy, and Health, Science & Society. For more information, please visit the Philosophy Department’s website.

Student Research

For independent research, the Department offers students the opportunity to do a Directed Study course (Phil 299) or, in some cases, an honors thesis. Recent directed study topics have been as diverse as: Mary Astell, Intermediate Logic, Schopenhauer, and Philosophy of Music. Students interested in a directed study should consult with members of the Philosophy faculty. On the Honors thesis, see below.

Department Prizes and Awards, and Student and Honor Societies

Each year the department inducts selected junior and senior philosophy majors into Phi Sigma Tau, the national philosophy honor society. The department has the Massachusetts Alpha Chapter of Phi Sigma Tau. In the spring, the department awards one or more prizes to exemplary graduating seniors, including the David Saltman Prize for excellence in philosophy, the Excellence in Philosophical Studies award, and the Logic Award.

The Philosophy Club, a student organization, sponsors lectures, colloquia and informal educational and social activities for all interested Clark students.

Minor Requirements

Students pursuing a minor in philosophy at Clark can choose one of two specializations. Each requires six courses in philosophy and is designed to develop students’ intellectual skills and to familiarize them with the fundamental methods of philosophical inquiry.

I Problems and Theories

Stresses the importance of logic to philosophical inquiry and allows students to pursue a range of electives in areas of interest.

One course in formal logic

PHIL 110 - Introduction to Symbolic Logic

Three electives at any level

Any three 100- or 200-level philosophy courses up to PHIL 277 will satisfy this requirement.

Two advanced (200 level) electives

Any two 200-level philosophy courses up to PHIL 277 will satisfy this requirement.

II Figures and Traditions

Emphasizes a grounding in the History of Philosophy and engages perennial questions like: ‘How ought I to live?’, ‘What is knowledge?’ and ‘Do human beings have free will?’.

Two courses in history of philosophy

PHIL 141 - History of Ancient Philosophy

PHIL 143 - History of Early Modern Philosophy

Two electives at any level

Any two 100- or 200-level philosophy courses up to PHIL 277 will satisfy this requirement.

Two advanced (200 level) electives

Any two 200-level philosophy courses up to PHIL 277 will satisfy this requirement.

Philosophy Faculty

Program Faculty

Paul Bohan-Broderick, Ph.D.
Wiebke Deimling, Ph.D.
C. Wesley DeMarco, Ph.D.
Jennifer Greene, Ph.D.
Scott Hendricks, Ph.D.
Ravi Sharma, Ph.D. - Department Chair

Emeriti Faculty

Davis Baird, Ph.D.
Judith DeCew, Ph.D.
Patrick Derr, Ph.D.
Walter Wright, Ph.D.

Philosophy Courses

Courses offered within the last 2 Academic Years