Jun 07, 2025  
2025-2026 UH Mānoa Catalog 
  
2025-2026 UH Mānoa Catalog

Philosophy, BA


Admissions: Open

Process: Declaration

Min. Total Credits: 120 (73 in core & major + 47 in electives)

UHM General Education Core Requirements


Foundations


Written Communication (FW)


(3 credits)

Quantitative Reasoning (FQ)


Note: This requirement changed in Fall 2018. If you entered the UH System prior to that, please see your college/school advisor.

(FQ; 3 credits) replaces Symbolic Reasoning (FS; 3 credits) effective Fall 2018

Global and Multicultural Perspectives (FG)


(FGA, FGB, FGC; 6 credits)

  • Group A (FGA) courses cover the time period prehistory to 1500
  • Group B (FGB) courses cover the time period 1500 to modern times
  • Group C (FGC) courses cover the time period prehistory to modern times

Diversification


* See degree, college and major requirements for courses that can also fulfill these.

Arts (DA), Humanities (DH), and Literatures (DL)


(6 credits from 2 categories)

  • Arts (DA*)
  • Humanities (DH*)
  • ​Literatures (DL*)

Natural Sciences


  • Biological Science (DB*; 3 credits)
  • Physical Science (DP*; 3 credits)
  • Laboratory (science) (DY*; 1 credit )

Social Sciences (DS)


(DS*; a total of 6 credits from 2 different departments)

UHM Graduation Requirements


Focus


**The STAR Degree Check indicates Focus classes by “E,” “H,” “O,” and “W.” Class Availability indicates Focus sections with “ETH,” “HAP,” “OC,” and “WI.”

Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Issues (H)


(H or HAP**; 1 course, any level)

Contemporary Ethical Issues (E)


(E or ETH**; 1 course, 300- or 400-level)

Oral Communication (O)


(O or OC**; 1 course, 300- or 400-level)

Writing Intensive (W)


(W or WI**; 5 courses, at least two of which are at the 300- or 400-level)

Hawaiian Or Second Language (HSL)


  • competence at the 202 level

Credit Minimums


  • 120 total applicable
  • 30 UH Mānoa credits
  • 45 upper division (300+ level) credits

Grade Point Average


  • 2.0 cumulative or higher (Note: Other GPAs may be required.)
  • Good academic standing

College Requirements


Credit Maximums


  • 8 KRS activity
  • 9 Directed Reading / Research
  • 12 Practicum / Internship

Note


This was prepared to provide information and does not constitute a contract. See below for major requirements. Meet regularly with your major advisor

Major Requirements for BA in Philosophy


  • Admission: Open
  • Application: NA
  • Min. major credits: 30
  • Min. C grade (not C-) in all courses

Philosophy Distribution Requirements


Philosophy Distribution Requirements (24 credits)


Undergraduate Capstone


Philosophy Elective Courses (6 credits)


*Note: A minimum of 12 credits must have been taken at UH Mānoa, and this total of 12 credits must include the Mānoa Undergraduate capstone (PHIL 449 ). For a minor, a minimum of 9 credits must have been taken at UH Mānoa.

  • PHIL 200+*DL
  • PHIL 200+

Notes


Advising Center for the Colleges of Arts, Languages and Letters; Sakamaki D202; (808) 956-8755; advising@hawaii.edu
Philosophy Department: Sakamaki D-301; (808) 956-8649, philo@hawaii.edu; hawaii.edu/phil/
Philosophy Undergraduate Chair: Sean Smith, PhD; Sakamaki B-313; (808) 956-8954; smsmith9@hawaii.edu

4-Year Plan


This is a sample academic plan. Students should meet with an academic advisor prior to registration to formulate their own plan.

Year 1


Fall


Credits 15

Spring


  • FW Credits: 3
  • FG (A/B/C) Credits: 3
  • DS Credits: 3
  • DA/DH/DL Credits: 3 *
  • HSL 102 Credits: 3
Credits 15

Total Credits 30


Year 2


Fall


  • Hist. W. PHIL (200 level) Credits: 3
  • DB (or DP) Credits: 3
  • DY Credits: 1
  • DA/DH/DL Credits: 3
  • HSL 201 Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 2
Credits 15

Spring


  • Hist. W. PHIL (PHIL 414  Alpha) Credits: 3
  • DP (or DB) Credits: 3
  • HSL 202 Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
Credits 15

Total Credits 60


Year 3


Fall


  • Core Philosophical Fields Credits: 3
  • Core Philosophical Fields Credits: 3
  • Elective 300+ Credits: 3
  • Elective 300+ Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
Credits 15

Spring


  • PHIL Elective 200+ Credits: 3
  • PHIL Elective 200+ Credits: 3
  • Elective 300+ Credits: 3
  • Elective 300+ Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
Credits 15

Total Credits 90


Year 4


Fall


Credits 15

Spring


  • Eastern PHIL Credits: 3
  • Elective 300+ Credits: 3
  • Elective 300+ Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
Credits 15

Total Credits 120


Notes:

*Can be double counted with major; see your academic advisor for details.
Students must incorporate all focus requirements into this plan. Focus designations (i.e., W, E, O, H) are CRN specific & semester specific.
Minimum 45 upper division (300+ course) credits are required.