Introduction

Please click here to see the Philosophy department information.

Philosophy of Science concerns the logic of scientific inquiry, raising questions such as:

• What is the best way to use observational evidence to learn about the natural world?
• How can findings be justified as objectively credible reasons to accept a hypothesis or a theory?
• How can we spot biases and procedural errors--and then control them to enhance the quality of investigation?
• What justifies classifying and grouping observational phenomena when the world does not come pre-labeled?
• What criteria should we use when forming hypotheses, and are there 'established' truths we must accept in order to begin hypothesizing?

The scientific method is a creation of human beings --an ongoing project to devise the most logical and rational means to extract information about the natural world. It is that project that is the centerpiece of Philosophy of Science.

These program requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic department, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their major, minor and CLAS advisors to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.

Program Delivery

• This is an on-campus program.

Declaring This Minor

• Please see or contact department advisor Mark Tanzer (mark.tanzer@ucdenver.edu) for more information

• Click here to go to information about declaring a minor.

General Requirements

Students must satisfy all requirements as outlined below and by the department offering the minor.

• Click here for information about Academic Policies

Program Requirements

1. Students must complete a minimum of 15 PHIL credit hours.

2. Students must complete a minimum of nine upper-division (3000-level and above) PHIL credit hours.

3. Students must earn a minimum grade of C- (1.7) in all courses that apply to the minor and must achieve a minimum cumulative minor GPA of 2.0. Courses taken using P+/P/F or S/U grading cannot apply to minor requirements.

4. Students must complete a minimum of nine PHIL credit hours with CU Denver faculty.

Program Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations

1. For those students who major in philosophy, up to two courses can satisfy the requirements for both programs.

2. Religious Studies courses cannot be used to fulfill the requirements for the minor.

3. For a particular PHIL 4812 Special Topics in Philosophy/PHIL 4980 Special Topics in Philosophy course to serve as an elective, the course material must be relevant to the minor and advisor approval to use the course as an elective is required.

4. It is possible to use PHIL courses not listed below to fulfill elective requirements but requires advisor approval.

5. Courses taken at other institutions must either be transferred as direct equivalent to a CU Denver course or be approved by an advisor in the Philosophy Department for application towards the minor.

6. Courses not specifically listed here but offered by the Department may count toward the degree upon the approval of the Department Undergraduate Advisor.

Minor Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete the following required courses:		6
PHIL 2441	Logic, Language and Scientific Reasoning
PHIL 3340	Investigating Nature: Introduction to the Philosophy of Science
or PHIL 4350	Philosophy of Science
Complete nine additional credit hours from the following list of elective courses:		9
PHIL 3032	Twentieth Century Analytic Philosophy
PHIL 3350	Metaphysics
PHIL 3360	Epistemology
PHIL 3430	How to think green: Environmental Ethics
PHIL 3440	Introduction to Symbolic Logic
PHIL 3441	Philosophical Reasoning Skills
PHIL 4101	Pragmatism: Classical American Philosophy
PHIL 4242	Medicine, Health Care, and Justice: Bioethics
PHIL 4300	Mind, Body, and Consciousness: Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 4740	Empiricism
PHIL 4920	Philosophy of Media and Technology
Total Hours		15

Learning Outcomes for a Philosophy of Science minor:

• Recognize and comprehend the salient elements of philosophy's significant historical figures, periods, and areas.
• Understand how philosophical frameworks and theories expand the meanings and implications of existing cultural areas (e.g. those found in science technology, the arts, politics, medicine, social justice. 

To learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes for this program, please visit our website.