Hello,
I am a second year computer science student at a Tennessee community college looking for a college or university that offers, academically, the programs that I am interested in working towards. Specifically, I would like to major in a Bachelor of Science in computer science program and minor in the philosophy of science.
To give some background information, I have a 3.53 weighted gpa and a 3.57 average in the computer science courses that I have completed. Additionally, I earned an A in the ethics course that I took. As a transfer student to my current community college, my unweighted gpa is weaker because of health reasons in that it would be about a 2.75 or so granted I graduate with all A’s in the remaining 6 courses. However, I want to emphasize that I have no interest in making an image of myself as that of a sob story for admission. I am willing and capable of learning and I think that my current grades and determination to continue studying show that to some extent.
Besides that, I recently joined the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter at my college, so I am hoping that I can participate in society events before graduating, next August.
Based on the aforementioned information, are there any colleges in Tennessee or Virginia that offer this major-minor selection that would be the best fit, so to speak, for me?
Thank you ahead of time.
Wouldn’t the list of colleges be expanded by just having philosophy of science courses offered, rather than having a formal minor in philosophy of science?
I am guessing that such a list would expand with that alteration in criteria.
While reading the major-minor catalog of the University of Tennessee - Knoxville, I noticed that they offer a philosophy of science program and a philosophy minor to admitted students. Perhaps I could customize my minor into something that basically would be a philosophy of science major, granted I am apply and am accepted to a college such as UT Knoxville. That is something for me to inquire about with admissions representatives.
I wouldn’t get too caught up in worrying about the specifics of your minor. The difference between a minor in Philosophy and one in Philosophy of Science is only going to be noticed by other philosophy students… I suspect you’re already interested in epistemology and logic - hell, why not double major? 2 years out of college, you won’t even put your minor on your resume. However, being able to speak about the tenants of the scientific method and reference the works of Quine, Popper, Russell, etc… well - that just makes you sound like you know what you’re talking about. One great thing about philosophy courses is that they’re seldom sequential in nature so you can fit them around another schedule more easily as the order you take them in doesn’t matter as much (at least not as much as Math or CS classes)…
A double major program with computer science and the philosophy of science is an exciting idea.
It is something to think about in preparation for program selection. However, I have only studied a single philosophy course in college. Also, the academic program at the community college which I am enrolled in, currently, is restricted to promote transfers to 4-year colleges in TN and out of state.
I am enrolled in a Massive Open Online Course course on justice, but it is not for credit.
I would be willing to and I think that I am capable of learning both CS and the philosophy of science as major programs, intellectually.
Are there any colleges other that UTK that offer those majors together in TN or VA?
If you do want to double major, then a philosophy department that has the desired philosophy of science courses should be fine for that major, even if it is not formally titled as a philosophy of science (as opposed to philosophy) major.
Are you saying that the distinction in writing does not make a difference to people?
Specifically, I am referring to the difference between philosophy of science and philosophy beyond other philosophers. I ask because I find that surprising, though I suppose that would be like considering all programmers computer scientists, so it makes sense because of experience with similar situations after introspection if that is what you are saying.
In terms of employment, no type of philosophy major has too many major-specific jobs (like CS does these days), though some employers will see those with philosophy majors or minors as being good at thinking both logically and humanistically. It is rather unlikely that they will make a distinction between a major or minor titled “philosophy” (but where you took philosophy of science courses) and “philosophy of science”.