We offer courses and seminars in core areas of philosophy such as metaphysics and epistemology, value theory, and history of philosophy, but encourage interdisciplinary engagement with other areas. In fact, some of our seminars are cross-listed with other subjects and they often involve faculty from other departments and schools such as linguistics and law.

Overview of Courses

View the USC Schedule of Classes to browse course offerings by semester and year.

PHIL 500: Introduction to Contemporary Philosophical Literature

Analysis of selected philosophical problems and theses of current interest; explication of major contemporary papers and/or books is emphasized.

PHIL 501: Seminar in Recent Philosophy

Contemporary philosophical issues and literature.

PHIL 503: Introduction to Contemporary Philosophical Literature on Value

Analysis of selected philosophical problems and theses of current interest; explication of major contemporary papers and/or books is emphasized.

PHIL 505: Proseminar in Central Topics in Contemporary Philosophy

Key developments in central areas of philosophy are used to provide training in philosophical analysis, criticism, and writing of precise philosophical prose.

PHIL 510: Philosophical Logic

Applications of logical theory to contemporary philosophical research. Elements of model theory, recursion theory; Goedel’s Incompleteness results; modal logic and its interpretations. Recommended preparation: PHIL 350.

PHIL 515: Studies in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy

Problems in research in selected portions of ancient and medieval philosophy.

PHIL 520: Studies in Modern Philosophy

Problems in research in selected portions of modern philosophy.

PHIL 525: Seminar in Phenomenology

The origin, principles, and development of the phenomenological movement from Brentano to Merleau-Ponty.

PHIL 530: Seminar in Philosophy of Law

Theories of the nature of law; emphasis on recent writing; legal concepts such as rights, powers, liability, legal responsibility, law, and morality.

PHIL 537: Seminar in Social and Political Philosophy

Advanced literature on selected topics in social and political philosophy, including the nature of law, man, and society; ideals such as justice and freedom.

PHIL 540: Seminar in Ethics

Advanced topics and literature in ethical theory.

PHIL 545: Seminar in Aesthetics

Advanced topics in the philosophy of the arts. Contemporary views on such problems as the nature of art and the role of criticism.

PHIL 550: Advanced Topics in Formal Logic

Consistency and completeness of the predicate calculus; truth and validity; rudiments of modal logic. Prerequisite: PHIL 450.

PHIL 551: Seminar in the Philosophy of Logic

Advanced topics in logic and/or philosophy of logic.

PHIL 560: Seminar in Metaphysics

Advanced topics in metaphysics.

PHIL 562: Philosophy of Mind

Contemporary approaches to a variety of questions about the nature of mental states and our knowledge of them.

PHIL 565: Philosophy of Language

Philosophical issues in the empirical study of language concerning the relationship between linguistic meaning and the use of sentences to assert and convey information.

PHIL 570: Seminar in Epistemology

Advanced topics in epistemology.

PHIL 585: Seminar in Philosophy of Science

Advanced topics in the philosophy of science.

PHIL 589: Writing for Publications in Philosophy

Intensive writing seminar in which students read cutting-edge philosophy and take supervised steps towards crafting critical essays for publication. Prerequisites: Philosophy 500, Philosophy 505 (or equivalent), and permission of instructor(s).

PHIL 590: Directed Research

Research leading to the master’s degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

PHIL 594: Master’s Thesis

Credit on acceptance of thesis. Graded IP/CR/NC. 594abz. (2-2-0 Units)

PHIL 599: Special Topics

Major trends of current thought; specific topics to be announced.

PHIL 790: Research

Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

PHIL 794: Doctoral Dissertation

Credit on acceptance of dissertation. Graded IP/CR/NC. 794abcdz (2-2-2-2-0)