← Philosophy (PHILOS)

Hardest courses in Philosophy

Plan ahead for courses where students have earned lower grades.

Lowest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.

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16 courses

Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Only courses with at least 100 letter grades are ranked.

Teaches critical skills in comprehending, evaluating, and engaging in contemporary reasoning, focusing on argument in mass media.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Farid Masrour, Gregory Nirshberg, Katie Deaven: Workload includes problem sets, midterms, and a final, with a probability unit for QRA credit. Reviews suggest exams rely on in-class practice and homework patterns, requiring focused attendance to understand material not covered in slides.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

ELEMENTARY LOGIC covers the formal characteristics of logical truth and inference.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Bruno Whittle, Peter Vranas: Workload varies by instructor. Peter Vranas’s problem sets and exams were reported as extremely difficult and time-consuming relative to lecture content. Bruno Whittle’s homework is generally considered reasonable, with practice sets mirroring exams, though some students found the material information-heavy or abstract in later sections.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

GREAT MORAL PHILOSOPHERS covers major themes of moral philosophy from Plato and Aristotle to Bentham and Mill.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

PHILOS 551 explores the nature of mind and mental states, examining their relationship to physical states through recent advances in philosophy and psychology.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Farid Masrour, Sarah Paul: Readings are consistently characterized as dense, though Masrour simplifies them while Paul provided no clarification.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

PHILOS 432 covers various philosophers from the 17th century through the early 20th century.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

PHILOS 141 introduces philosophy by exploring the meaning of life through classical and contemporary texts.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

One historical reviewer reported low difficulty, noting they did well without reading the material and only attending lectures.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2024–Fall 2024

PHILOS 101 introduces students to various philosophical questions and the strategies philosophers use to address them.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The course involves three essays and exams, with grading heavily weighted toward writing assignments and participation, though study guides are provided for tests.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

PHILOS 541 explores ethical theories and problems from the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

Covers moral problems, ethical theory, skepticism, and practical ethics.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Grading relies on three difficult papers, though readings are optional.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

PHILOS 560 explores major problems in metaphysics including existence, universals, space and time, and substance.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Students who demonstrate effort and care for the class are likely to do well under his reasonable grading standards.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY covers philosophers from the presocratics to the Stoics and Epicureans, with particular emphasis on Plato and Aristotle.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The grade is based on three tutorials, which one reviewer found easy enough to skip lectures. Another noted that achieving an A requires doing well, and syllabus dates are not provided.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

PHILOS 243 examines moral issues in business through case studies and the reasons used to settle them.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Aaron Yarmel, Arun Baxter, Casey Rufener: Workload varies by instructor. Some require minimal weekly assignments and easy exams, while others demand difficult readings and multiple open-note tests. Attendance policies also differ, ranging from highly encouraged to mandatory.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

PHILOS 341: CONTEMPORARY MORAL ISSUES provides a philosophical study of major moral issues in contemporary society.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of David O'Brien, Harry Brighouse, Kevin Dewan, Marcos Picchio: Workload typically includes three papers, two exams or tests, and weekly discussion posts or short responses, which reviewers generally found manageable.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

PHILOS 454 offers intensive study of selected classical philosophers, movements, or problems.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

PHILOS 555 (Political Philosophy) examines philosophical doctrines for justifying political decisions and analyzes concepts like justice, authority, and natural rights.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Fall 2025

PHILOS 244 introduces contemporary moral and political issues in AI and Data Ethics, integrating technical concepts with case studies on privacy, automation, and algorithmic justice.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Burgandy Basulto: Reviewers characterize the workload as easy with lenient grading and extension policies, though one notes a final essay project requiring a choice between argumentative or media connection formats.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2025–Spring 2026