Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Philosophy

Program Coordinator, Lincoln B. Stevens

Faculty

Lincoln B. Stevens, PhD

Program Objectives

The courses and curriculum of the philosophy program are designed to achieve the following student outcomes:

  • demonstrate knowledge of and proficiency in the disciplines of philosophy, including logic, ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, and the philosophy of religion;
  • articulate the influential ideas of the historically important philosophers and philosophical movements;
  • exhibit a love of philosophical learning and the love of Christian service through philosophical research and writing;
  • articulate a Christian philosophical worldview;
  • analyze philosophical claims in terms of their meaning and implications;
  • critique philosophical theories and beliefs in terms of their justification;
  • exhibit proficiency in defending philosophical truth claims and systems of thought;
  • integrate knowledge of philosophy with other disciplines; and
  • evidence the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue graduate studies in philosophy, religion, and law as well as careers in university teaching, government, law business, publishing, Christian apologetics, and Christian ministry.

Philosophy Departmental Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

Required Philosophy Courses

PHI2003g Introduction to Philosophy

3

PHI2023g Classical and Christian Philosophy

3

aPHI2063G World Religions

3

aPHI3023 Introduction to Logic

3

aPHI3033 Social Justice

3

aPHI3043 Modern Philosophy

3

aPHI3093 Christian Apologetics

3

aPHI4003 Contemporary Philosophy

3

ART/PHI4013 Aesthetics and Post-modern Art

3

Select one of the following:

1-4

aPHI3089 Special Topics in Philosophy

 

PHI4001 Philosophical Research and Writing

 

HON4099 Honors Project in Philosophy

 

Required Language Courses

Select intermediate foreign language or language studies option.

3-12

Intermediate foreign language (3-12)

 

Or

 

Language studies (12)

 

ENG4003 Literary Criticism and Theory (3)

 

Select two of the following: (6)

 

ENG2083G English Literature II

 

ENG2113G American Literature II

 

ENG2133G World Literature II

 

Select one of the following: (3)

 

ENG3133 Introduction to Linguistics

 

ENG4063 Traditional and Modern Grammars

 

General Education Courses

HIS1013G The Western Tradition in World Context

3

ART1002G Art in the Western World

2

Required Cognate Courses

HIS1003g Western Civilization I: Antiquity to the Reformation

3

MTH1002G Music in the Western World

2

Total

41-53 Hours

The student with a major in philosophy is required to complete a minor in another discipline.

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy-Humanities

Required Philosophy Courses

PHI2003g Introduction to Philosophy

3

PHI2023g Classical and Christian Philosophy

3

aPHI2063G World Religions

3

aPHI3023 Introduction to Logic

3

aPHI3033 Social Justice

3

aPHI3043 Modern Philosophy

3

aPHI3093 Christian Apologetics

3

aPHI4003 Contemporary Philosophy

3

ART/PHI4013 Aesthetics and Post-modern Art

3

Select one of the following:

1-4

aPHI3089 Special Topics in Philosophy

 

PHI4001 Philosophical Research and Writing

 

HON4099 Honors Research Project in Philosophy

 

Required Language Courses

Select intermediate foreign language or language studies option.

3-12

Intermediate foreign language (3-12)

 

Or

 

Language Studies (12)

 

ENG4003 Literary Criticism and Theory (3)

 

Select two of the following: (6)

 

ENG2083G English Literature II

 

ENG2113G American Literature II

 

ENG2133G World Literature II

 

Select one of the following: (3)

 

ENG3133 Introduction to Linguistics

 

ENG4063 Traditional and Modern Grammars

 

Required Humanities Courses

Two humanities components required (see below)

36-40

Total

67-83 Hours

The student with a major in philosophy-humanities must complete two distinct 18+ hour components from humanities disciplines other than philosophy. Additional components can be designed and approved for philosophical content by the philosophy program chair.

Approved components include:

American and International Politics

HIS2013g United States History to 1865

3

HIS2023g United States History since 1865

3

POL1003G American Politics and Government

3

aHIS3023g Early National America 1783-1850

3

aHIS3043g United States History since 1945

3

Select one of the following:

3

aPOL3113 International Relations

 

HIS4003 Seminar in Foreign Policy

 

aHIS3079 Special Topics in U.S. History

 

aHIS3089 Special Topics in European History

 

aHIS3099 Special Topics in non-Western History

 

Total

18 Hours

Biblical Literature

BIB2013 Biblical Hermeneutics

3

BIB3083 Pentateuch

3

BIB3023 Life and Teachings of Jesus

3

Select one of the following:

3

BIB3003 Eighth Century Hebrew Prophets

 

BIB3013 Seventh and Sixth Century Hebrew Prophets

 

BIB3063 Psalms and Wisdom Literature

 

Select two of the following:

6

BIB3053 Johannine Literature

 

aBIB3043 Life and Letters of Paul

 

BIB3073 Acts and General Epistles

 

Total

18 hours

Communication

COM2053G Media and Society

3

aCOM3073 Intercultural Communication

3

COM3043G Persuasion

3

aCOM3013g Organizational Communication

3

aCOM4023 Theories of Communication and Rhetoric

3

COM4002 Media Law and Ethics

2

Select one of the following:

3

COM3053 Mass Media Theory

 

COM4003 Seminar in Communication

 

Total

20 Hours

Developmental Psychology

PSY1013G General Psychology

3

PSY2013 Life Span Developmental Psychology

3

PSY3073 Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence

3

PSY3042 Psychology of Adulthood and Aging

2

PSY3043 Psychology of Personality

3

PSY4073 History and Systems of Psychology

3

Select one of the following:

3

PSY4023 Physiological Psychology

 

PSY4089 Special Topics in Psychology
(when applicable)

 

Total

20 Hours

Empirical Psychology

PSY1013G General Psychology

3

SOC/PSY3053 Social Psychology

3

PSY4023 Physiological Psychology

3

PSY4073 History and Systems of Psychology

3

Select one of the following:

3-4

PSY2044 Theories of Learning

 

PSY2063 Cognitive Psychology

 

Select one of the following:

3

PSY3043 Psychology of Personality

 

PSY3063 Abnormal Psychology

 

PSY4089 Special Topics in Psychology
(when applicable)

 

Total

18-19 Hours

History of Western Ideas

HIS1003g Western Civilization I: Antiquity to the Reformation

3

HIS1013G The Western Tradition in World Context

3

HIS3003 Age of the Renaissance and Reformation

3

HIS3073 Emergence of Modern Europe

3

Select two of the following:

6

aHIS3053g History of Modern Britain

 

aHIS3063g History of Modern Russia

 

aHIS3079 Special Topics in U.S. History

 

aHIS3089 Special Topics in European History

 

Total

18 Hours

Literature*

ENG2073G English Literature I

3

ENG2083G English Literature II

3

ENG3033 Shakespeare

3

ENG4003 Literary Criticism and Theory

3

Select one of the following:

3

ENG2103G American Literature I

 

ENG2113G American Literature II

 

Select one of the following:

3

ENG2123G World Literature I

 

ENG2133G World Literature II

 

Total

18 Hours

*If this option is chosen, and literature is chosen as one of the student’s humanities components in the major, the student must take one additional literature course in consultation with the academic advisor.

Religion

BIB2013 Biblical Hermeneutics

3

Upper division biblical literature (3000 or above)

3

CHH3013 Christian Heritage I

3

CHH3053 Christian Heritage II

3

THE4003 Christian Theology I

3

THE4013 Christian Theology II

3

Total

18 Hours

Sociology

SOC1013G Introduction to Sociology

3

aSOC3073 Sociology of Community

3

SOC4003 Sociology of Religion

3

aSOC4013 Sociology of the Family

3

SOC4043 Classical Sociological Theory

3

Select one of the following:

3

aSOC4023 Sociology of Early Christianity

 

aSOC4033 Sociology of the New Testament

 

Total

18 Hours

Theology

BIB2013G Biblical Hermeneutics

3

THE3003G Christian Beliefs

3

THE4003 Christian Theology I

3

THE4013 Christian Theology II

3

THE3013 Doctrine of Christian Holiness

3

THE4083 Wesley’s Life and Thought

3

Total

18 Hours

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy Pre-Law

Required Philosophy Courses

PHI2003g Introduction to Philosophy

3

PHI2023g Classical and Christian Philosophy

3

aPHI2063G World Religions

3

aPHI3023 Introduction to Logic

3

aPHI3033 Social Justice

3

aPHI3043 Modern Philosophy

3

aPHI3093 Christian Apologetics

3

aPHI4003 Contemporary Philosophy

3

ART/PHI4013 Aesthetics and Post-modern Art

3

Select one of the following:

1-4

aPHI3089 Special Topics in Philosophy

 

PHI4001 Philosophical Research and Writing

 

PHI5091 Honors Research Project

 

Required Legal Studies Courses

MAN3003 Business Law I

3

CJU1003 Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

CJU3003 Criminal Law and Procedures

3

CJU4002 Criminal Justice Capstone: Restorative Justice

2

COM4002 Media Law and Ethics

2

Required American Political Tradition Courses

HIS2013g United States History to 1865

3

HIS2023g United States History since 1865

3

aHIS3043g United States History since 1945

3

POL1003G American Politics and Government

3

Required Cognates

MAT2063G Introduction to Statistics

3

ACC2053 Principles of Accounting I

3

ECO2033 Principles of Microeconomics

3

PSY1013G General Psychology

3

Select one of the following:

3

SOC1013G Introduction to Sociology

 

PSY/SOC3053 Social Psychology

 

aSOC3073 Sociology of Community

 

aSOC4013 Sociology of the Family

 

Total

68-71 Hours

It is recommended that a student with a major in philosophy pre-law also complete a minor in another discipline.

Christian Apologetics Minor

PHI2003g Introduction to Philosophy

3

aPHI2063G World Religions

3

aPHI3023 Introduction to Logic

3

aPHI3033 Social Justice

3

aPHI3093 Christian Apologetics

3

aPHI4003 Contemporary Philosophy

3

Total

18 Hours

Philosophy Minor

PHI2003g Introduction to Philosophy

3

Philosophy electives

6

Select one of the following:

3

aPHI3033 Social Justice

 

aPHI3023 Introduction to Logic (recommended for those planning to attend graduate school)

 

Select two of the following:

6

PHI2023g Classical and Christian Philosophy

 

aPHI3043 Modern Philosophy

 

aPHI4003 Contemporary Philosophy

 

Total

18 Hours

Pre-Law Philosophy Minor

PHI2003g Introduction to Philosophy

3

aPHI3089 Special Topics in Philosophy: Philosophy of Law and Politics

3

aPHI3033 Social Justice

3

aPHI3023 Introduction to Logic

3

aPHI3043 Modern Philosophy

3

aPHI4003 Contemporary Philosophy

3

Total

18 Hours