Undergraduate 2019-2020

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Philosophy

PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy

An examination of issues pertaining to knowledge, reality and morality. Issues examined might include the following: Can we know anything? Does God exist? Is morality merely personal opinion?
3

Course Attribute

LC3c-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 126 Introduction to Global Philosophies

An introduction to a number of formative philosophical traditions from different cultures, e.g., Africana, Aztec, Buddhist, Confucian, Daoist, Indian, Islamic, and other philosophies.
3

Course Attribute

LC3c-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 140 Basic Logic

An introduction to deductive and inductive reasoning. Students will develop their creative and critical thinking skills while learning to avoid common fallacies in the contexts of decision-making and problem-solving. (LAC, gtP)

3

PHIL 150 Moral Issues

An introduction to moral reasoning about issues such as drug use, capital punishment, world hunger, animal rights, internet privacy, discrimination and sexual morality.
3

Course Attribute

LC3c-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 200 Philosophical Figures

An introduction to the thought of one or two major classical or contemporary philosophers, e.g., Socrates and Plato, Zhuangzi, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Wittgenstein, Rawls, Nussbaum. Repeatable under different subtitles. (LAC, gtP)

3

PHIL 221 Basic Logic

An introduction to deductive and inductive reasoning. Students will develop their creative and critical thinking skills while learning to avoid common fallacies in the contexts of decision-making and problem-solving.
3

Course Attribute

LC3c-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 225 Philosophical Figures

An introduction to philosophy focused on the thought of one or two classical or contemporary figures, e.g. Kierkegaard & Socrates, Zhuangzi, Nietzsche, Ortega y Gassett, John Rawls & Martha Nussbaum.
3

Course Attribute

LC3c-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 231 Ancient Greek Philosophy

A study of the major figures in ancient Greek philosophy fromthe pre-Socratics to the end of the Hellenistic period.
3

PHIL 232 Medieval Western Philosophy

A study of the major figures in Western philosophy from Augustine to William of Ockham, including Christian, Muslim, and Jewish philosophers.
3

PHIL 233 Modern Western Philosophy

A study of the major figures in modern Western philosophy from Descartes through Kant.
3

PHIL 246 Early Chinese Philosophy

A study of the major texts and figures in pre-Han China from Kongzi to Han Feizi.
3

PHIL 250 Medical Ethics

An introduction to moral reasoning about issues that arise in a medical context, e.g., abortion, euthanasia, health care professional-patient relationships, research on human subjects, and health-care access.
3

Course Attribute

LC3c-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 260 History of Ancient Philosophy

A study of the major figures in the history of Western philosophy from the pre-Socratics to Plotinus.

3

PHIL 261 History of Modern Philosophy

A study of the major figures in Western philosophy from Descartes through Kant.

3

PHIL 270 Philosophy of Religion

An exploration of selected topics in the philosophy of religion, e.g., religious experience, faith and reason, the existence and nature of God, religion and science, and the problem of evil.
3

Course Attribute

LC3c-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 280 Philosophy of Science

An introduction to philosophy of science focused on questions about its nature, methods and goals, e.g., What distinguishes science from pseudo-science? What constitutes the ‘scientific method?' What is scientific objectivity?
3

Course Attribute

LC3c-Ways of Thinking and GT Ways of Thinking

PHIL 300 Topics in Philosophy

Offerings under this heading will focus on areas of philosophical interest not regularly covered at the 300 level (e.g., Philosophy of Mind).
3

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

PHIL 310 Topics in Ethics and Public Policy

Specific offerings will be on various areas of applied ethics or public policy, e.g., bioethics, environmental policy, or professional ethics.
3

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

PHIL 311 Environmental Ethics

Explore theories of environmental value; understand and evaluate the ethical implications of environmentalchoices and policies.
3

PHIL 340 Formal Logic I

A first course in mathematical logic. Topics include calculi and artificial languages, the logistic method, truth functions, propositional calculi, and a language adequate for first order logic.
3

PHIL 341 Formal Logic II

Topics include inference rules for first order logic, logical metatheory (including proofs of the soundness and completeness of a first order predicate calculus), identity and terms, and formalized theories.
3

Prerequisites

PHIL 340: with minimum grade of D-

PHIL 350 Ethical Theory

In-depth examination of selected topics in normative ethics and meta-ethics (e.g., the nature of moral values, the possibility of moral knowledge, the structure of moral reasoning).
3

PHIL 355 Social and Political Philosophy

In-depth examination of selected topics in social and political philosophy (e.g. the concept of political obligation, freedom and dissent, equality and justice, human rights).
3

PHIL 360 Feminist Theories

This course offers a survey of competing philosophical, political, and epistemological feminist frameworks for understanding gender inequality, examining how feminist theories both build on and critique Western philosophical traditions.
3

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: PHIL 360 and GNDR 350

PHIL 366 Philosophy of Law

Explores the philosophical problems generated by thinking about law (e.g., the nature of law, the relationship between law and morality, the normative justifications for criminal and tort law, etc.).
3

PHIL 370 Philosophy of Religion

In-depth examination of selected topics in philosophy of religion (e.g. the nature and justification of religious belief, freedom and sin, arguments for and against God's existence).

3

PHIL 372 Philosophy of Race

Explores metaphysical and epistemological questions that arise in contexts involving race. In what sense is race real? Is the race of a person epistemologically significant?
3

PHIL 385 Epistemology

In-depth examination of selected topics in theory of knowledge (e.g. the nature and limits of human knowledge, knowledge and belief, doubt and certainty, perception and intuition, faith and justification).
3

PHIL 390 Metaphysics

In-depth examination of selected topics in metaphysics (e.g. the nature of space and time, particulars and universals, the different senses of 'being,' substance, causality, identity and difference).
3

PHIL 422 Directed Study

Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours required per credit hour.)
1-3

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with no limitations

PHIL 492 Internship

Practical training in academic research or public philosophy. S/U graded. Minimum 37.5 clock hours per credit hour.
1-6

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with no limitations

PHIL 495 Advanced Seminar

Detailed investigation of a specific philosophical issue. Substantial independent research and at least one oral presentation required.
3

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

PHIL 497 Student Internship

Consent of instructor. Practical training in one or more areas of the profession. Only six credits counted for major and 3 for minor. S/U graded. Repeatable, no limitations.

1-3