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
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.
Courses
Fall 2023 Logic Courses
| Subject | Course # | Sect # | Course Title | Instructor(s) | Institution | Meeting Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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