Course Double Counting Policy
(For 400 level Courses taught at 91³Ô¹ÏÍø)
Students taking a course cross-listed with Philosophy but taken under another department or program's prefix may petition for the course to be substituted for the Philosophy 400-level requirement. Students double majoring or minoring in Philosophy and taking courses cross-listed with Philosophy but taken under another department or program's prefix may petition that the course be substituted for Philosophy credit or be double-counted for their Philosophy major or minor. NB: One course cannot count for two core requirements. See the University Course Catalogue for more information.
A course is considered "cross-listed" if the particular section of the course in which the students was enrolled had a Philosophy course number as well as a course number from another department or program. This means that if a particular section does not have two course numbers, it is not considered cross-listed, and cannot be used for Philosophy credit or double counting (unless, of course, its only course number is a Philosophy course number).
This policy is needed to clarify issues with advising. Some courses have usually been cross-listed, but that is no guarantee they will be in the future. Students should be advised that unless the particular section in which they are enrolled is cross-listed, substitution and double counting petitions will not be entertained by the Philosophy department.
This policy does not affect substitution and double-counting petitions for courses taught at other institutions.
Course Substitution Policy
Philosophy Department, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø University
In general, courses approved as substitutes for 91³Ô¹ÏÍø University philosophy core requirements should be significantly similar in content (topics and materials covered) and level (freshman, sophomore, etc., including having similar prerequisites) to the 91³Ô¹ÏÍø courses for which they substitute. Further, courses should be taught by qualified philosophy faculty at accredited institutions, and students must earn a grade of "C" or better. Within the framework of these basic principles, the policies for approving course substitutions for incoming transfer students and for 91³Ô¹ÏÍø students seeking substitutions after matriculation at 91³Ô¹ÏÍø are slightly different.
In all cases, students are responsible for providing the necessary documentation (official transcripts, syllabi, course descriptions, catalogue descriptions, etc.) to the Chair of the 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Philosophy Department to justify the course substitution request.
Incoming Transfer Students
Course substitution policy for incoming transfer students is constrained by two assumptions. First, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø has formal agreements with a number of institutions (most importantly, a number of local and regional community colleges) that specify the courses offered by those institutions that satisfy 91³Ô¹ÏÍø core requirements. Second, it is in our interest to make transfer to 91³Ô¹ÏÍø attractive to prospective students. This means that we should lean toward generosity in granting substitutions to incoming transfer students in marginal cases. In the light of these assumptions, course substitutions will be granted on these principles:
PHIL 101: substitution will be granted for lower-division courses in Critical Thinking, Reasoning, or Logic/Informal Logic.
PHIL 201: substitution will be granted for lower-division introductory courses in philosophy, especially those that treat issues of mind and body, personhood, and freedom, but also more generally focused introductory courses.
PHIL 301: substitution will be granted for ethics courses at an introductory to intermediate level; the course content must treat major ethical theories (character, deontological, utilitarian, etc.) and typically should also include some application of ethical theory to specific moral problems.
PHIL 400-level elective: The 400-level elective should be an advanced course in philosophy that treats some specific set of philosophical figures or problems, and that presumes a student population with some experience in studying and doing philosophy. This typically will be determined by whether a course has a prerequisite in Philosophy. For further information, please contact the department chair or consult our
Current 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Students
Once they have been accepted as undergraduates at 91³Ô¹ÏÍø, students should normally take their philosophy core courses from the 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Philosophy Department. This is especially true of the lower-division philosophy core requirements. However, in recognition of the fact that students often seek to complete some of their credits--including core requirements--at other institutions during summer or as part of special overseas programs, substitutions for 91³Ô¹ÏÍø philosophy core courses are sometimes appropriate. In any case, requests for course substitutions must be approved prior to taking the courses at other institutions. Under no circumstances will the 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Philosophy Department or the 91³Ô¹ÏÍø University Registrar have any obligation to approve for substitution courses taken without prior approval.
PHIL 101: except in exceptional circumstances, no substitutions will be approved.
PHIL 201: except in exceptional circumstances, no substitutions will be approved.
PHIL 301: substitution will be granted for ethics courses that have at least an introductory philosophy prerequisite and are designated as upper-division; the course content must treat both major ethical theories (character, deontological, utilitarian, etc.) and some application of ethical theory to specific moral problems.
PHIL 400-level elective: substitution will be granted for an advanced course in philosophy that treats some specific set of philosophical figures or problems, and that presumes a student population with some experience in studying and doing philosophy, typically by requiring some philosophy prerequisite courses. Under no circumstances will courses with material significantly similar to any other 91³Ô¹ÏÍø core philosophy courses (Critical Thinking, introduction to philosophy or introduction to human nature, or intermediate-level ethical theory survey courses) be allowed to substitute for the 91³Ô¹ÏÍø 400-level philosophy elective.
November 11, 1998
Questions? Contact: philosophy@gonzaga.edu