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

    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
    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

    Spring 2022 Logic Courses

    01
    4.00

    Samuel Mitchell

    MWF 08:55AM-09:45AM

    Mount Holyoke College
    116556
    smitchel@mtholyoke.edu
    This course develops a symbolic system that can be used as the basis for inference in all fields. It will provide syntax and semantics for the language of this system and investigate its adequacy. It provides the basis for all further work in logic or in the philosophical foundations of mathematics. Much of the course has a mathematical flavor, but no knowledge of mathematics is necessary.
    Instructor Permission: Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.

    01
    4.00

    TU TH 4:10 PM - 5:25 PM

    Smith College
    PHI-101-01-202203
    The course provides an introduction to deductive and inductive logic. It introduces classical Aristotelian and modern truth-functional logic; explains the relationship between truth-functional logic, information science and probability; and it introduces basic features of statistical and causal reasoning in the sciences. This course is designed for students who are uncomfortable with symbolic systems. It is not a follow-up to PHI 102. Students who have taken PHI 102 cannot receive credit for taking PHI 101 subsequently. Students who have taken PHI 101 can subsequently receive credit for taking PHI 102. Enrollment limited to 24.
    Instructor Permission: Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.

    01
    3.00

    Kevin Klement

    TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM

    UMass Amherst
    33629

    Integ. Learning Center S240

    klement@philos.umass.edu
    An introduction to symbolic logic, including sentential and predicate logic. Its purpose is to familiarize you with certain formal methods for representing and evaluating arguments and reasoning. These methods can be used not only for philosophy, but for any subject matter. The focus is on translating English statements into symbolic notation, and evaluating arguments for validity using formal proof techniques. (Gen. Ed. R2)
    Instructor Permission: Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.

    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