The Philosophy Program

The Marshall University Philosophy Program has three full-time faculty members, all having earned Ph.D. degrees from top philosophy schools. We are unique in the tri-state area in three ways. We offer courses in three of the major contemporary philosophical styles, analytic, continental, and pragmatist philosophy, rather than just one. We are part of the only interdisciplinary degree in the area, the Marshall Humanities Major, team-teaching with the programs of classics and religious studies. (In other words, we benefit from the insights of three disciplines in studying philosophy in its various historical and cultural contexts.) And our degree is organized as a “contract” with each major, in which the student designs a large part of her or his own overall program.

Our faculty members are deeply familiar with a wide range of the history of philosophy from Plato to the present. They are also at the cutting edge of their various specialties, doing adventurous research, and being in contact with a variety of leading philosophers. This creates an exciting environment for our students, and unusual opportunities for our majors to make contacts and enter graduate school. Recent graduates have gone on to graduate study at nationally respected schools, in philosophy, English, law, divinity, and art history.

More generally, entering into philosophy enables us to participate better in the “dance of life”: to appreciate the joyful things more fully and widely and to steer through the hard things more successfully. It is at this deep level of developing what is meaningful in individual and communal life, more than any other, that our faculty members’ research and teaching contribute to exploring illuminating and helpful ground.

Faculty

Dr. Jeremy Barris

Dr. Jeffrey Powell

Dr. Justin Simpson

Contact us:

philosophy@marshall.edu

Fall 2026 Courses

PHL 200: Introduction to Philosophy Ancient Period (Simpson) TR 2-3:15, HH 446

PHL 201: Introduction to Philosophy Modern Period (Barris) Online Course, 2 sections

PHL 201: Introduction to Philosophy Modern Period (Powell) Virtual, TR 9:30-10:45

PHL 202: Ethics of Health Care (Powell) Online Course

PHL 203: Philosophy & Human Existence (Simpson), TR 4-5:15, HH 447

PHL 250: Humanities and Film (Simpson) MW 1-2:15, HH 134

PHL 321: Current Philosophical Trends (Barris) Online Course, 2nd 7 wks

PHL 330: Philosophy of Sex (Powell) Online Course, 1st 7 wks

Course Catalog 2026-2027

  - General Education Course

PHL 200   Intro Phil Ancient Period (CT)3 Credit hours   

The origins of philosophical activity among the Greeks by means of a selective sounding of several major thinkers.

Attributes: Critical Thinking, Core II Humanities, Multicultural

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 200H   Intro Phil Ancient-Honors (CT)3 Credit hours   

A detailed consideration of selected texts from Ancient philosophy, such as the pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, the Epicureans, the Academic Skeptics, and the neo-Platonists.

Pre-req: ACT Composite with a score of 26 or SAT Verbal Before March 16 with a score of 600.

Attributes: Critical Thinking, Core II Humanities, Multicultural

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 201   Intro Phil Modern Period (CT)3 Credit hours   

Questions and answers concerning the nature of existence and human values and how we come to know them.

Attributes: Critical Thinking, Core II Humanities, Multicultural

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 202   Ethics of Health Care (CT)3 Credit hours   

A basic introduction to ethical theory, followed by an application of this theory to problems in health care. For students in health care professions and those interested in applied ethics.

Attributes: Critical Thinking, Multicultural

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 203   Philosophy & Human Exist (CT)3 Credit hours   

An introduction to philosophy drawing from both ancient and modern thinkers and texts.

Attributes: Critical Thinking, Core II Humanities, Multicultural

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 204   AI and Ethics3 Credit hours   

We discuss what AI and technology are; how they systematically affect our encounters with, and understanding of, the world; how those encounters interact with values like equality, autonomy, progress.

Attributes: Core II Humanities

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 215   Managing Life3 Credit hours   

Philosophical approaches to dealing with life's deep challenges and difficult moments, with the help of some of the great classics of world thought.

Attributes: Critical Thinking, Core II Humanities, Multicultural

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 250   Humanities and Film (CT)3 Credit hours   

An interdisciplinary course to introduce students to the elements of a humanistic education through study of film. (Same as Classics 250 and Religious Studies 250; PR or CR: ENG 101)

Pre-req: ENG 101 with a minimum grade of C or ENG 200H (may be taken concurrently) or ENG 201H (may be taken concurrently) or ENG 101P (may be taken concurrently).

Concurrent PR: ENG 101 or ENG 200H or ENG 201H or ENG 101P

Attributes: Critical Thinking, Core II Humanities, Multicultural

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 270   Intro to Formal Logic (CT)3 Credit hours   

Introduction to three standard systems of formal logic: traditional categorical syllogistic logic, sentential logic, and first-order predicate logic.

Attributes: Critical Thinking

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 280 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   

Group or individual study of areas demanding further study of a more specialized depth.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 281 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   

Group or individual study of areas demanding further study of a more specialized depth.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 282 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   

Group or individual study of areas demanding further study of a more specialized depth.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 283 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   

Group or individual study of areas demanding further study of a more specialized depth.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 301 Plato's Republic3 Credit hours   

A deconstruction of the major time-worn prejudices and presuppositions of Platonism by way of a radical reading of Plato's great dialogue the REPUBLIC.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 302 Applied Ethics3 Credit hours   

The application of basic ethical theories to contemporary moral issues drawn from such fields as medicine, business and the environment.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 303 Ethics3 Credit hours   

A critical study of diverse moral norms, ideals and systems in theory and practice.

Attributes: COLA Humanities

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 304 Logic & Interpretation3 Credit hours   

Theory and practice of valid principles of thinking including developing the skills of justifying diverse types of belief and evaluating reasons for conflicting standpoints (for example, racial, gender, and ethnic differences).

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 306   Philosophy of Art3 Credit hours   

Examination of the qualities involved in the appreciation of beauty which serve as standards of taste.

Attributes: Multicultural

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 315 American Philosophy3 Credit hours   

Great American thinkers, including thinkers such as Emerson (transcendentalism), Peirce, James, Dewey, and Rorty (pragmatism), Royce (idealism), Quine (analytic philosophy), and de Man (post-structuralism).

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 320   Comparative Philosophy3 Credit hours   

The relations of the world's philosphies to the basic cultural and religious traditions of the world and to the development of the world community.

Attributes: International

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 321 Current Phil Trends3 Credit hours   

Selected reading in contemporary thought embracing such movements as realism, Marxism, post-structuralism, deconstruction, and postmodernism.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 330 Philosophy of Sex3 Credit hours   

Introduction to some of the basic authors, texts, and themes in this branch of philosophy beginning with Plato's SYMPOSIUM.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 340   Sexual Orient & Gender3 Credit hours   

An introduction to the philosophy of sexual orientation and its relation to gender, with a special focus on issues of knowledge and politics.

Attributes: Multicultural

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 353   Philosophy of Science3 Credit hours   

Reflections on crucial concepts of modern science relevant to philosophical issues in interpreting man and the universe; special attention given to epistemological and other problems of mathematics and physical and social sciences.

Attributes: Multicultural

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 363   Philosophy of Feminism3 Credit hours   

An introduction to contemporary feminist theory including discussion of current gender-related issues.

Attributes: Multicultural

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 375 Humanities Internship3-12 Credit hours   

This course provides the academic structure for- and assessment of- an internship experience.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 392 Junior Seminar3 Credit hours   

Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or ENG 200H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 200H or PHL 201 or PHL 201E or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 303E or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 393 Junior Seminar3 Credit hours   

Pre-req: ENG 102 with a minimum grade of D or ENG 302 with a minimum grade of D or ENG 201H with a minimum grade of D or ENG 200H with a minimum grade of D or YGS 162 with a minimum grade of D or IST 201 with a minimum grade of D or CL 231 with a minimum grade of D or CL 232 with a minimum grade of D or CL 319 with a minimum grade of D or PHL 200 with a minimum grade of D or PHL 200H with a minimum grade of D or PHL 201 with a minimum grade of D or PHL 201E with a minimum grade of D or PHL 303 with a minimum grade of D or PHL 303E with a minimum grade of D or PHL 321 with a minimum grade of D or PHL 340 with a minimum grade of D or PHL 353 with a minimum grade of D or RST 205 with a minimum grade of D or RST 206 with a minimum grade of D or RST 300 with a minimum grade of D or RST 304 with a minimum grade of D or RST 320 with a minimum grade of D or RST 325 with a minimum grade of D.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 400 Ancient Philosophy3 Credit hours   

Advanced study of major philosophers drawn from the ancient Greek and Roman period.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 401 Modern Philosophy3 Credit hours   

Advanced study of major movements in philosophy from the 17th century on, movements such as rationalism, empiricism, idealism, and existentialism.

Pre-req: PHL 201 or PHL 201E.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 420 Metaphysics3 Credit hours   

Advanced study of the most basic nature of reality. (PR: 3 hrs. of philosophy).

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 421 Philosophy of Knowledge3 Credit hours   

Advanced study of the nature and possibility of knowledge.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 451 Phil of History & Culture3 Credit hours   

Ancient and modern theories of the meaning and consequence of history and culture.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 455 Philosophy of Religion3 Credit hours   

Theories of the nature and functions of religion, including the meaning of religious language and the problems of belief.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 460 Phil of Politics & Power3 Credit hours   

Advanced study of the significance or the place in human reality of political organization, negotiation, strategy and power.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 465 Existential Philosophy3 Credit hours   

A study of existential philosophers from Kierkegaard to Heidegger, Sartre and beyond.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 470 Philosophy of Logic3 Credit hours   

Advanced study of the nature of logic: whether logic is possible at all, how far it applies, and whether and how there can be conflicting logics.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 480 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   

Shared study and research on a special topic as announced.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 481 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   

Shared study and research on a special topic as announced.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 482 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   

Shared study and research on a special topic as announced.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 483 Special Topics1-4 Credit hours   

Shared study and research on a special topic as announced.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 485 Independent Study1-4 Credit hours   

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 486 Independent Study1-4 Credit hours   

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 487 Independent Study1-4 Credit hours   

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 488 Independent Study1-4 Credit hours   

Attributes: No Textbook Required

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 490 Senior Seminar in Humanities3 Credit hours   

Designed for majors as a senior humanities seminar and the culminating interdisciplinary study in the humanities program. (Same as CL 490 - 494 and RST 490 - 494)

Pre-req: ENG 102 with a minimum grade of D or ENG 302 with a minimum grade of D or ENG 201H with a minimum grade of D or ENG 200H with a minimum grade of D or YGS 162 with a minimum grade of D or IST 201 with a minimum grade of D or CL 231 with a minimum grade of D or CL 232 with a minimum grade of D or CL 233 with a minimum grade of D or CL 319 with a minimum grade of D or PHL 200 with a minimum grade of D or PHL 200H with a minimum grade of D or PHL 201 with a minimum grade of D or PHL 303 with a minimum grade of D or PHL 321 with a minimum grade of D or PHL 340 with a minimum grade of D or PHL 353 with a minimum grade of D or RST 205 with a minimum grade of D or RST 206 with a minimum grade of D or RST 300 with a minimum grade of D or RST 304 with a minimum grade of D or RST 320 with a minimum grade of D or RST 325 with a minimum grade of D.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 491 Senior Seminar in Humanities3 Credit hours   

Designed for majors as a senior humanities seminar and the culminating interdisciplinary study in the humanities program. (Same as CL 490 - 494 and RST 490 - 494)

Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or ENG 200H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 200H or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 492 Senior Seminar in Humanities3 Credit hours   

Designed for majors as a senior humanities seminar and the culminating interdisciplinary study in the humanities program. (Same as CL 490 - 494 and RST 490 - 494)

Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or ENG 200H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 200H or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 340 or PHL 321 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 493 Senior Seminar in Humanities3 Credit hours   

Designed for majors as a senior humanities seminar and the culminating interdisciplinary study in the humanities program. (Same at CL 490 - 494 and RST 490 -494)

Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or ENG 200H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 200H or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

PHL 494 Senior Seminar in Humanities3 Credit hours   

Designed for majors as a senior humanities seminar and the culminating interdisciplinary study in the humanities program. (Same as CL 490 - 494 and RST 490 -494)

Pre-req: ENG 102 or ENG 302 or ENG 201H or ENG 200H or YGS 162 or IST 201 or CL 231 or CL 232 or CL 233 or CL 319 or PHL 200 or PHL 200H or PHL 201 or PHL 303 or PHL 321 or PHL 340 or PHL 353 or RST 205 or RST 206 or RST 300 or RST 304 or RST 320 or RST 325 or ENG 201.

Grade Mode: Normal Grading Mode

Graduate Course Catalog 2026-2027