UMass Boston

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Please review the first-year and transfer apply pages for important information about application requirements, deadlines, and application status check.

Apply as a First-Year Student

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Financing Your Education

Become a Beacon and pursue your passion in UMass Boston’s diverse, supportive environment. Many students across our 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs receive financial aid—providing access to an education that’s exceptional and affordable. Click below to learn more about financial aid opportunities and deadlines.

Financial Aid Deadlines & Application Process

Scholarships for First-Year & Transfer Students

Early action deadline: November 1; Regular Decision Deadline: June 15

Financing Your Education

Become a Beacon and pursue your passion in UMass Boston’s diverse, supportive environment. Many students across our 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs receive financial aid—providing access to an education that’s exceptional and affordable. Click below to learn more about financial aid opportunities and deadlines.

Financial Aid Deadlines & Application Process 

Scholarships for First-Year & Transfer Students

For additional information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s Office or send an email to Bursar@umb.edu.

Required Courses (12 Credits)

Take the four courses listed below.

• PHIL 211 - Ancient Philosophy 3 Credit(s)
• PHIL 212 - Modern Philosophy 3 Credit(s

• PHIL 150 - Critical Thinking 3 Credit(s)
  or
• PHIL 250 - Formal Logic 3 Credit(s)

• PHIL 475 - Philosophy Capstone 3 Credit(s)

Electives (18 Credits)

Take six additional philosophy courses. At least five courses must be at the 300-level or higher.

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Upon completion of the BA program, students will:

• be able to construct or reconstruct a structured argument
• Have a familiarity with philosophical methods 
• Have acquired critical analysis skills
• have acquired clear and engaging written communication skills
• be able to accurately represent and interpret philosophical sources

Students who complete these majors or minors will be able to:

• Understand how to ask and answer philosophical questions
• Know how to apply a humanistic philosophical approach to issues of life that can arise from any discipline or across disciplines
• produce clear and convincing written and oral arguments
• understand the history of philosophy (the Standard Major and the ESP major emphasize this more stringently)

Degree Requirements

If this is the student's only or primary major, the degree requirements below must be completed for graduation. See graduation requirements for more information:

University Requirements

College of Liberal Arts Requirements for Bachelor of Arts

Major Requirements

Complete 30 credits from ten courses, including four required courses and six electives.

Residency: At least six courses for the major must be completed at UMass Boston.

Course level: No more than two 100-level courses may be applied toward the major.

Pass/fail: Only one course taken pass/fail may count toward the major.

At least five philosophy courses in the major must be at the 300-level or higher.

Only one Independent Study (Phil 478 or 479) can count toward satisfying the requirements of the major, including the requirement that 5 courses must be taken at the 300-level or higher.

Department Chair: Professor Yumiko Inuka

Office Manager: Vendela Carlson
Location: Wheatley Hall, Floor: 05, Room: 00017

Phone: 617.287.6530
Fax: 617.287.6544

Mailing address: 

Philosophy Department
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125-3393