PHILOSOPHY AND THE MARQUETTE CORE CURRICULUM

The Philosophy Department is well-integrated into the Marquette Core Curriculum, with courses in every tier of the MCC. 

Foundation-Tier Courses

In addition to PHIL 1001 (Foundations in Philosophy), the Philosophy Department faculty regularly teaches sections of CORE 1929 (Foundations in Methods of Inquiry). It also offers the following Engaging Social System and Values 1 (ESSV1) courses.

Engaging Social Systems and Values 1 (ESSV1)

PHIL 2310 – Ethical Reasoning: Theory and Dialogue in Real-World Contexts * RUNNING SPRING 27 *
                      (formerly PHIL 2310 – Theory of Ethics)
PHIL 2720 – Philosophical Perspectives on Equality  * NEW! *

Discovery-Tier Courses

Students must take at least four courses in their chosen Discovery-Tier theme: at least one in the Humanities (HUM), one in Natural Science and Mathematics (NSM), and one in Social Science (SSC).

The Philosophy Department offers multiple HUM courses each semester, spanning all of the Discovery-Tier themes. In conjunction with the Cognitive Science Program, which is part of the Philosophy Department, it also offers two NSM courses. Courses listed below are HUM unless otherwise noted.

Up to two courses can count towards fulfilling both MCC Discovery-Tier requirements and the major requirements of primary Philosophy majors. 

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Basic Needs and Justice

PHIL 3501 – Philosophy of War and Peace * RUNNING FALL 26 *
PHIL 3509 – Philosophy of Disability * RUNNING SPRING 27 *
PHIL 3660 – Marx and Marxism
PHIL 3710 – Political Philosophy * RUNNING FALL 26 *
PHIL 3751 – Philosophy and History of Crime and Punishment
PHIL 4320 – Contemporary Ethical Problems
PHIL 4330 – Business Ethics * RUNNING FALL 26, SPRING 27 *
PHIL 4335 – Biomedical Ethics

Cognition, Memory and Intelligence

PHIL 2000 – Critical Reasoning: Informal Logic in Real-World Contexts * RUNNING FALL 26 *
                      (formerly PHIL 1000 – Logic)
INCG 2010 / PHIL 2010 – Introduction to Cognitive Science (NSM) * RUNNING FALL 26, SPRING 27 *
PHIL 3370 – Philosophy of Art   
PHIL 3450 – Epistemology * RUNNING FALL 26 *
PHIL 3460 – Philosophy of Language 
PHIL 3505 – Philosophy and Film * RUNNING FALL 26 *
PHIL 3620 – Medieval Philosophy         
PHIL 3650 – Early Modern Philosophy 
PHIL 4310 – History and Theory of Ethics
                      (formerly PHIL 3504 – Ethics and the Function of Reason in Human Life)
PHIL 4450 – Philosophy of Mind * RUNNING FALL 26 *
INCG 4997 – Capstone in Cognitive Science (NSM) * RUNNING FALL 26, SPRING 27 *

Crossing Boundaries

PHIL 3390 – Latin American Philosophy
PHIL 3507 – Global Justice
PHIL 3508 – Caribbean Philosophy
PHIL 3780 – Africana Philosophy

Expanding Our Horizons

PHIL 2460 – Philosophical Perspectives on Free Will   * NEW! RUNNING FALL 26! *
PHIL 3350 – Philosophy of the Environment
PHIL 3360 – Engineering Ethics   * NEW! *
PHIL 3410 – Metaphysics
PHIL 3470 – Philosophy of Technology
PHIL 3610 – Ancient Philosophy 
PHIL 3770 – Feminist Philosophy * RUNNING SPRING 27 *
PHIL 4470 – Philosophy of Science

Individuals and Communities

PHIL 2900 – Philosophy of Sport  * NEW! RUNNING FALL 27 *
PHIL 3503 – The Ethics of Intimacy
PHIL 3506 – Philosophy of Race * RUNNING SPRING 27 *
PHIL 3509 – Philosophy of Disability * RUNNING SPRING 27 *
PHIL 3710 – Political Philosophy * RUNNING FALL 26 *

 

Other Requirements: Writing-Intensive Courses

PHIL 3505 – Philosophy and Film * RUNNING FALL 26 *
PHIL 3610 – Ancient Philosophy
PHIL 4540 – Philosophy of Education
PHIL 4954 – Writing-Intensive Seminar in Philosophy * RUNNING FALL 26 *
INCG 4997 – Capstone in Cognitive Science * RUNNING FALL 26, SPRING 27 *

Other Requirements: Engaging Social Systems and Values 2 (ESSV2) Courses

PHIL 3502 – Narrating Freedom: Gender, Race and Mass Incarceration
PHIL 3507 – Global Justice
PHIL 4931 – Topics in Philosophy: Justice, Freedom and the Arts * RUNNING FALL 26 *
All PHIL EPP courses

Culminating Experience

Philosophy faculty teach half of the numerous sections of CORE 4929 The Service of Faith and Promotion of Justice, a culminating course that further integrates the Marquette Core experience, emphasizing reflection on and application of knowledge and skills developed in the Core. A special focus on vocation and discernment invites students to evaluate their course work at Marquette alongside their own worldview.

[Updated Jun 2026]