Logic Certificate Program

“How critical is logic? I will tell you: In every corner of the known universe, you will find either the presence of logical arguments or, more significantly, the absence.”

— V. K. Samadar

Logic is a part of every discipline. There is reasoning in every field of inquiry. There are rules behind every work of art, behind every natural language. There is inference in every intelligence, human and inhuman. Every issue of law and public policy bends to the power of logic.

The study of logic itself is thus of the greatest importance. The Logic Certificate Program brings together aspects of logic from different regions of the curriculum: philosophy, mathematics, computer science and linguistics. The program is designed to acquaint students with the uses of logic and initiate them in the profound mysteries and discoveries of modern logic.

On This Page

    Faculty

    Michael Ching, Mathematics and Statistics

    Alexander George, Philosophy

     

    Lee Spector, Cognitive Science, Computer Science

    G. Lee Bowie, Philosophy (Emeritus)
    Samuel Mitchell, Philosophy

    Jay Garfield, Philosophy
    Theresa Helke, Philosophy
    Albert Mosley, Philosophy (Emeritus)
    Melissa Yates, Philosophy

    Phillip Bricker, Philosophy
    Gary Hardegree, Philosophy
    Neil Immerman, Computer Science
    Kevin Klement, Philosophy
    Angelika Kratzer, Linguistics
    Barbara Partee, Linguistics and Philosophy (Emerita)
    Alejandro Pérez Carballo, Philosophy

    Certificate Requirements

    The basic requirement for the logic certificate is six courses from the list of Five College logic courses.

    For more details, please review the Five College Logic Certificate Program Completion Form (below).

    No more than four courses can be counted toward the certificate from any single discipline (philosophy, linguistics, mathematics, computer science).

    At least two courses must be taken at an advanced level (500 or above at UMass, 300 or above at Smith, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke or Amherst).

    At least one course should expose students to the basic metatheory of first-order logic including incompleteness. Courses satisfying this requirement include:

    Smith: Philosophy 220
    Amherst: Math 385, Computer Science 121, 351
    UMass Amherst: Philosophy 513, 514
    Mount Holyoke: Philosophy 327

    Students must receive grades of at least "B" in each course counting toward the certificate.

    Logic Certificate Completion Form

    Courses

    Note that if you don't see classes from all campuses currently listed, they will appear as the campuses release their course schedules for the semester. The five campuses release their schedules on different dates. Visit this page for specific dates.

    Fall 2023 Logic Courses

    Subject Course # Sect # Course Title Instructor(s) Institution Meeting Times
    PHIL 213 01 Logic Alexander George Amherst College TU | 9:00 AM - 10:20 AM
    PHIL 213 01F Logic Alexander George Amherst College W/F | 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM
    PHIL 213 02F Logic Alexander George Amherst College W/F | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
    PHIL 213 03F Logic Alexander George Amherst College W/F | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
    PHIL 170 01 Logical Thought Nina Emery Mount Holyoke College TTH 01:45PM-03:00PM
    PHIL 328 01 Non-Classical Logic Samuel Mitchell Mount Holyoke College MW 10:00AM-11:15AM
    PHI 102 01 Valid & Invalid Reasoning Jay Lazar Garfield Smith College M F 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
    PHI 102 D01 Valid & Invalid Reasoning Jay Lazar Garfield Smith College W 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
    PHI 102 D02 Valid & Invalid Reasoning Jay Lazar Garfield Smith College W 8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
    Course Lists From Previous Semesters

    Regularly Offered Logic Courses

    Introductory symbolic logic courses:
    Smith: Logic 100, Philosophy 202
    Amherst: Philosophy 213
    UMass Amherst: Philosophy 110

    Critical thinking courses:
    Mount Holyoke: Philosophy 210

    Introductory symbolic logic for mathematics students:
    Amherst: Mathematics 385
    UMass Amherst: Philosophy 513, 514
    Mount Holyoke: Philosophy 225

    Incompleteness:
    Smith: Philosophy 220
    Amherst: Mathematics 385
    UMass Amherst: Philosophy 513, 514
    Mount Holyoke: Philosophy 327

    Various topics in logic and philosophy:
    Smith: Philosophy 203
    Amherst: Philosophy 350
    UMass Amherst: Philosophy 310, 511, 512, 594, 710
    Hampshire: Computer Science 210
    Mount Holyoke: Philosophy 328 

    Various topics in computer science: 
    Smith: Computer Science 250, 270, 290, 294
    Amherst: Computer Science 161, 241, 401
    UMass Amherst: Computer Science 250, 401, 513, 601
    Hampshire: Computer Science 175, 263
    Mount Holyoke: Computer Science 311

    Various topics in mathematics: 
    Smith: Mathematics 217
    Amherst: Mathematics 380

    Various topics in linguistics: 
    Smith: Computer Science 294
    UMass Amherst: Linguistics 510, 610, 620, 720
    Hampshire: Computer Science 166, 210

    Contact Us

    Five College Staff Liaison:

    Ray Rennard, Director of Academic Programs