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Department of Philosophy | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Summer 2025

Philosophy Honours

Bachelor of Arts

This program is for students who are capable of self-direction who wish to pursue advanced work in philosophy with the benefit of individual attention.

Admission Requirements

Entering students must first complete 60 units including 12 upper division philosophy units, and must fulfil the lower division requirements as listed below.

A cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in upper division philosophy courses, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in all philosophy courses, is required for entrance and continuance, but does not by itself guarantee acceptance or continuance.

To enroll, students should write to the Philosophy Department’s Undergraduate Chair, who will provide an application form. The Philosophy Department’s Undergraduate Curriculum Committee decides who is admitted to the program.

Program Requirements

Students complete 120 units, as specified below.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete the following 15 units by taking all of

PHIL 110 - Introduction to Logic and Reasoning (3)
PHIL 150 - Great Works in the History of Philosophy (3)
PHIL 201 - Epistemology (3)
PHIL 203 - Metaphysics (3)
PHIL 221 - Ethical Theory (3)

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete at least 48 philosophy upper division units, with a minimum philosophy cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 and philosophy upper division grade point average (UDGPA) of 3.5 (calculated on all SFU PHIL courses), including at least one of

PHIL 320 - Social and Political Philosophy (3)
PHIL 321 - Topics in Moral Philosophy (3)
PHIL 322 - History of Ethics (3) *
PHIL 326 - Topics in Law and Philosophy (3)
PHIL 329 - Law and Justice (3)
PHIL 421W - Advanced Topics in Ethical Theory (4)

and at least one of

PHIL 302 - Topics in Epistemology and Metaphysics (3)
PHIL 341 - Philosophy of Science (3)
PHIL 343 - Topics in the Philosophy of Mind (3)
PHIL 344 - Topics in the Philosophy of Language (3)
PHIL 345W - Philosophy of Mathematics (3)
PHIL 455W - Advanced Topics in Epistemology and Metaphysics (4)

and at least two of

PHIL 322 - History of Ethics (3)
PHIL 350 - Ancient Philosophy (3)
PHIL 352 - 17th Century Philosophy (3)
PHIL 356 - 18th Century Philosophy (3)
PHIL 357 - Topics in the History of Philosophy (3)
PHIL 358 - 19th Century Philosophy (3)
PHIL 451W - Advanced Topics in the History of Philosophy (4)

and

PHIL 467W - Advanced Seminar (4)
PHIL 479 - Honours Tutorial in Philosophy (3) **

PHIL 300 may not be used to satisfy the upper division requirements of this program.

Each student’s upper division philosophy courses should include at least four 400- or 800-level courses, including both of PHIL 467W and PHIL 479.

In PHIL 479, the student will work with a faculty supervisor to write an honours thesis. This will normally be a development of a paper previously written for a 400- or 800-level philosophy seminar, though in exceptional circumstances a paper from a 300-level philosophy course can be used. Optionally, PHIL 479 will culminate in a public presentation of the honours thesis, with audience Q & A.

* unless counted as a history stream requirement

** must complete with a grade B or higher

Honours in Philosophy: Concentration in Law and Philosophy

A cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in upper division philosophy courses, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in all philosophy courses, is required for entrance and continuance, but does not by itself guarantee acceptance or continuance.

To enroll, students should write to the Philosophy Department’s Undergraduate Chair, who will provide an application form. The Philosophy Department’s Undergraduate Curriculum Committee decides who is admitted to the program.

Students may qualify for this concentration by completing the philosophy honours lower division requirements listed above and the following upper division requirements.

Students must complete at least 48 philosophy upper division units, with a minimum philosophy cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 and philosophy cumulative upper division grade point average (UDGPA) of 3.5 (calculated on all SFU PHIL courses), including

PHIL 326 - Topics in Law and Philosophy (3)
PHIL 329 - Law and Justice (3)

and at least two of

PHIL 320 - Social and Political Philosophy (3)
PHIL 321 - Topics in Moral Philosophy (3)
PHIL 322 - History of Ethics (3)
PHIL 327 - Global Health Ethics (3)
PHIL 328 - Environmental Philosophy (3)
PHIL 421W - Advanced Topics in Ethical Theory (4)

and at least two of

PHIL 302 - Topics in Epistemology and Metaphysics (3)
PHIL 341 - Philosophy of Science (3)
PHIL 343 - Topics in the Philosophy of Mind (3)
PHIL 344 - Topics in the Philosophy of Language (3)
PHIL 345W - Philosophy of Mathematics (3)
PHIL 350 - Ancient Philosophy (3)
PHIL 352 - 17th Century Philosophy (3)
PHIL 356 - 18th Century Philosophy (3)
PHIL 357 - Topics in the History of Philosophy (3)
PHIL 358 - 19th Century Philosophy (3)
PHIL 451W - Advanced Topics in the History of Philosophy (4)
PHIL 455W - Advanced Topics in Epistemology and Metaphysics (4)

and

PHIL 467W - Advanced Seminar (4)
PHIL 479 - Honours Tutorial in Philosophy (3) *

PHIL 300 may not be used to satisfy the upper division requirements of this program.

Each student’s upper division philosophy courses should include at least four 400- or 800-level courses, including both of PHIL 467W and PHIL 479.

In PHIL 479, the student will work with a faculty supervisor to write an honours thesis. This will normally be a development of a paper previously written for a 400- or 800-level philosophy seminar, though in exceptional circumstances a paper from a 300-level philosophy course can be used. Optionally, PHIL 479 will culminate in a public presentation of the honours thesis, with audience Q & A.

* must complete with a grade B or higher

Seminars and Special Topics Courses

A student may not enroll in a philosophy seminar or selected topics course which duplicates work for which the student has received credit in another philosophy seminar or special topics course.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Honours Degree Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) honours programs, students complete at least 120 units, which includes

  • at least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
  • students complete at least 60 upper division units, which must include at least 48 units in upper division courses in a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences honours program; no more than 15 upper division units that have been transferred from another institution can be used toward this requirement
  • at least 60 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
  • students complete lower division requirements for at least one Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences honours program
  • students are required to achieve an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division CGPA of at least 3.0, and an honours program CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 3.0

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.