American Public University System Catalog
2026 - 2027 Catalog
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Program Description
The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy degree is designed to expose students to the fundamentals of Western philosophy. Courses in this program will enable students to explore the history of Western philosophy, logic, ethics, the philosophy of science, and the fundamentals of metaphysics and ethics.
Through the use of logic and argumentation, students will learn to think critically and objectively, write clearly and effectively, and navigate complex intellectual, social, and legal issues. This program helps to prepare students for professional responsibilities often requiring a high level of analytical thought in fields such as ethics, instruction, business, or social justice organizations.
Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:
- Examine the historical development and evolution of philosophy from its origins through contemporary times.
- Evaluate the various schools of philosophical and moral thought, as well as the historical context and the rationale behind their respective development.
- Apply logic by demonstrating the proper use of inductive, deductive, and abductive reasoning.
- Evaluate various criteria for justifying claims of knowledge and morality.
- Construct philosophical positions in various compositions and critically analyze philosophical questions.
- Apply philosophical inquiry to contemporary events.
Degree at a Glance
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General Education Requirements
30
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Major Required
36
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Final Program Requirement
3
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Elective Requirements
51
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Total Semester Hours
120
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Degree Program Requirements
General Education (30 semester hours)
| Arts & Humanities (6 semester hours) 1 |
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Select 2 courses from the following:
6 |
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Arabic I
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Arabic II
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Art Appreciation
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Survey of Photography
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Film and Literature
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Image Enhancement using Adobe Photoshop®
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Literature of American Encounters, Revolution, and Rebellion
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From Abolition to #MeToo: Literature of the American Civil Rights Movement
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Pivotal Figures in Early British Literature
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British Literature from Wordsworth through the Wasteland
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Leadership in World Literature: Antiquity to the Early Modern Period
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Literature of the Newly Globalized World: The Individual’s Struggle to Adapt
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Music Appreciation
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Jazz and Rock
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World Music and Cultures
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Introduction to Philosophy
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Critical Thinking
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Introduction to Ethics
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Philosophy of Science
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Thinking & Acting Ethically
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Introduction to the Study of Religion
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Introduction to World Religions
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Spanish I
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Spanish II
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| Civics, Political & Social Sciences (6 semester hours) |
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Select 2 courses from the following:
6 |
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Introduction to Anthropology
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World Archaeology
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Human Sexuality
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Planning Your Future with Purpose in Humanities & Education
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Social Media and Society
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Intercultural Communication
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Microeconomics
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Macroeconomics
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Humane Education: A Global Interdisciplinary Perspective
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Exploring Society & Cultures via Science Fiction
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Introduction to Geography
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Practical Food Safety and Awareness
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International Relations I
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Introduction to Political Science
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American Government I
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Introduction to Psychology
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Death and Dying
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Hope and Resilience
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Introduction to Sociology
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Social Problems
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American Popular Culture
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| Communication: Writing, Oral, and Multimedia (9 semester hours) |
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Select 1 course from the following:
3 |
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Emerging Technology for College Success
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Public Speaking
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Interpersonal Communications
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Proficiency in Writing
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Argumentation and Rhetoric
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Introduction to Literature
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Technical Writing
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Scientific Writing
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Effective Business Communication
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Human Relations Communication
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Information Literacy and Global Citizenship
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Introduction to Information Technology Writing
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Human Relations
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| History (3 semester hours) |
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Select 1 course from the following:
3 |
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American History to 1877
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American History since 1877
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World Civilization before 1650
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World Civilization since 1650
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Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War
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Western Civilization since The Thirty Years War
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African-American History before 1877
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African-American History since 1877
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History of the American Indian
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History of Science
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| Mathematics and Applied Reasoning (3 semester hours) |
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Select 1 course from the following:
3 |
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Accounting I
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Accounting for Non Accounting Majors
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Beginning Programming
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College Algebra
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College Trigonometry
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Pre-Calculus
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Introduction to Statistics
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Math for Liberal Arts Majors
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Calculus
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| Natural Sciences (3 semester hours) |
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Select 1 course from the following:
3 |
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Introduction to Biology
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Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology
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Introduction to Chemistry
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Introduction to Meteorology
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Introduction to Geology
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Introduction to Environmental Science
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Introduction to Physics
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Introduction to Astronomy
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Total Semester Hours 30 |
Major Required (36 semester hours)
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Select 5 courses from the following:
15 |
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Introduction to Ethics
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Philosophy of Science
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Logic
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Environmental Ethics
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Philosophy of Law
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Bioethics
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Metaphysics and Epistemology
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Total Semester Hours 36 |
Final Program Requirement (3 semester hours)
Total Semester Hours 3 |
Elective Requirements (51 semester hours)
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Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill requirements listed above. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major. 51 |
Total Semester Hours 51 |
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All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101-Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110-Making Writing Relevant.