Course Descriptions

Philosophy (PHL)

PHL 101

Critical Thinking

(3 crs.) Identification, formulation and evaluation of both inductive and deductive patterns of reasoning. Consideration of topics such as probability, reasoning about causes, fallacies, foundations of argument, and the issues in logical theory. (Lec. 3/Online/Accelerated Online Program) (A3) (B3)

PHL 103

Introduction to Philosophy

(3 crs.) Pursues such basic questions as: What is a person? What is knowledge? Are we free? What is moral right and wrong? Does God exist? What is the meaning of death? (Lec. 3/Online) Not open to students with 9 or more credits in philosophy. (A3) (B1)

PHL 110G

Love and Sex

(3 crs.) This course considers the natures and ethics of love and sex by asking questions like: What is love? What counts as sex? What constitutes consent? What counts as infidelity? (Lec. 3) (A3) (C3) (GC)

PHL 110G

Love and Sex

(3 crs.) This course considers the natures and ethics of love and sex by asking questions like: What is love? What counts as sex? What constitutes consent? What counts as infidelity? (Lec. 3/Online) (A3) (C3) (GC)

PHL 110GH

Honors Section of PHL 110G: Love and Sex

(3 crs.) Honors Section of PHL 110G: Love and Sex: This course considers the natures and ethics of love and sex by asking questions like: What is love? What counts as sex? What constitutes consent? What counts as infidelity? (Lec. 3) (A3) (C3) (GC)

PHL 114

The Problem of Evil

(3 crs.) Introduction to philosophical inquiry through a major topic in the philosophy of religion. Questions such as moral evil, natural evil, fate, freedom, and meaning in human existence will be considered. (Lec. 3) (A3) (B1)

PHL 204

Theories of Human Nature

(3 crs.) An introduction to philosophical inquiry by critical examination of some major traditional and contemporary views of human nature as expressed in a variety of religious, literary, scientific, and philosophical writings. (Lec. 3) (A3) (B1)

PHL 205

Philosophical Topics

(3 crs.) An intensive study of one or more problems, issues or topics of classical or current interest in philosophy. Emphasis on the analysis and construction of arguments relevant to the topic(s). Small class format. (Lec. 3)

PHL 205

Philosophical Foundations

(3 crs.) An intensive study of foundational problems, issues, or topics of classical or current interest in philosophy. Emphasis on the analysis and construction of arguments relevant to the topic(s). Small class format. (Lec. 3)

PHL 212

Ethics

(3 crs.) Evaluation of major ethical theories. Application of moral reasoning to topics such as virtues and vices, human dignity, conscience, responsibility, moral dilemmas, and reasons to be moral. (Lec. 3) (A3) (C3)

PHL 212H

Honors Section of PHL 212: Ethics

(3 crs.) Honors Section of PHL 212: Ethics (Lec. 3) Pre: must have a 3.40 overall GPA. (A3) (C3)

PHL 215

Science and Inquiry

(3 crs.) The objective is to survey both the influence of philosophy on science and the influence of science on philosophy, all from a western historical perspective. (Lec. 3) (A1) (B1)

PHL 217

Social Philosophy

(3 crs.) A systematic introduction to the philosophical problems of contemporary social relations: models of community, sources of alienation, property and ownership, the meaning of work and technology, human rights and freedom. (Lec. 3/Online) (A3) (C2)

PHL 235

Modern Thought: Philosophy and Literature

(3 crs.) Introduction to recent thought in philosophy and literature. Emphasis on Kierkegaard, Marx, Nietzsche, Freud, Sartre, and complementary literary texts. (Lec. 3) (A3) (C2)

PHL 235H

Honors Section of PHL 235: Modern Thought: Philosophy and Literature

(3 crs.) Honors Section of PHL 235: Modern Thought: Philosophy and Literature. (Lec. 3) Pre: 3.40 overall GPA. (A3) (C2)

PHL 314

Ethical Problems in Society and Medicine

(3 crs.) Ethical analysis of topics such as war, capital punishment, sexual morality, suicide, animal rights, honesty and deception, world hunger, discrimination, abortion. (Lec. 3/Online) Pre: PHL 101 or 101H or 103 or 103H or one 200-level PHL course or permission of instructor.

PHL 316G

Engineering Ethics

(3 crs.) Cross-listed as (EGR), PHL 316G. A broad introduction to moral theory and its application to engineering, professionalism, and moral responsibility as an engineer. An understanding of engineering in a societal context. (Lec. 3) Pre: sophomore standing, PHL, ISE, or MCE major, or permission of instructor. (A3) (C1) (GC)

PHL 316GH

Honors Section of EGR 316G: Engineering Ethics

(3 crs.) Cross-listed as (EGR), PHL 316GH. Honors Section of EGR 316G: Engineering Ethics. (Lec. 3) Pre: must have a 3.40 overall GPA, sophomore standing, and PHL, ISE, or MCE major, or permission of instructor. (A3) (C1) (GC)

PHL 318

Power/Justice: Contemporary Critical Philosophies

(3 crs.) Study of contemporary critical philosophies in the traditions of Marxism, existentialism, postmodernism, and feminism, with emphasis on philosophers such as Habermas and Foucault. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHL 101 or 103 or one 200-level PHL course or permission of instructor.

PHL 321

Ancient Philosophy

(3 crs.) Survey of major thinkers and schools of thought in Ancient Greece, including selected pre-Socratics, Plato, and Aristotle. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHL 101 or 103 or one 200-level PHL course, or permission of the instructor.

PHL 322

Medieval Philosophy

(3 crs.) Survey of major thinkers and schools of thought in the Middle Ages, including Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, and Ockham. (Lec. 3)

PHL 323

Modern Philosophy: Descartes to Kant

(3 crs.) Survey of 17th- and 18th-century European philosophy. Includes, but is not limited to, empiricism, rationalism, and Kant's critical philosophy. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHL 101, or 103, or one 200-level PHL course, or permission of instructor.

PHL 324

Recent European Philosophy

(3 crs.) 19th- and 20th-century British and European continental developments. Discussion of movements such as idealism, utilitarianism, existentialism, and phenomenology and of philosophers such as Hegel, Kierkegaard, Mill, Husserl, Sartre, and Heidegger. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHL 101 or 103 or one 200-level PHL course or permission of instructor.

PHL 325

American Philosophy

(3 crs.) A study of American philosophy including such movements as puritanism, transcendentalism, pragmatism, naturalism, process-philosophy, realism, and philosophical analysis. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHL 01 or 103 or one 200-level PHL course or permission of instructor.

PHL 325H

Honors Section of PHL 325: American Philosophy

(3 crs.) Honors Section of PHL 325: American Philosophy. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHL 101 or 103 or one 200-level PHL course and 3.40 overall GPA.

PHL 328

The Philosophy of Religion

(3 crs.) A systematic and critical consideration of such topics as the existence and nature of God, the problem of evil, the relation of faith to reason, religious language, miracles, and immortality. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHL 101 or 103 or one 200-level PHL course or permission of instructor.

PHL 331

East Asian Thought

(3 crs.) A study of the important philosophical and religious systems of China, Korea, and Japan; emphasis on Chinese traditions. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHL 101 or 103 or one 200-level PHL course or RLS 131 or permission of instructor.

PHL 341

Introduction to Metaphysics

(3 crs.) Analyzes topics such as person, mind-body, human action, freedom and determinism, causation, time, space, essence and existence, universals, and types of beings. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHL 101 or 103 or one 200-level PHL course or permission of instructor.

PHL 342

Knowledge, Belief, and Truth

(3 crs.) Analysis of topics such as knowledge, belief, certainty, doubt, skepticism, faith, the ethics of belief, truth, error, perception, a priori knowledge, subjectivity and objectivity, and memory. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHL 101 or 103 or one 200-level PHL course or permission of instructor.

PHL 346

Existential Problems in Human Life

(3 crs.) Discussion of ultimate questions of human existence such as meaning in life, personal commitment, human relations, suffering, despair, hope, freedom, authenticity, self-deception, death, God, and immortality. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHL 101 or 103 or one 200-level PHL course or permission of instructor.

PHL 355

Philosophy of Art

(3 crs.) Systematic problems arising from reflection on the creation and perception of works of art. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHL 101 or 103 or one 200-level PHL course or permission of instructor.

PHL 366

Love and Nihilism: European Philosophy Now!

(3 crs.) This course introduces key topics in contemporary European philosophy, such as community and exclusion, politics and capitalism, love and nihilism, and the singular and the universal. (Lec. 3) (A3) (C2)

PHL 401

Special Problems

(3 crs.) Course may vary from year to year, allowing one or more advanced students to pursue problems of special interest with guidance of instructor in conferences. One or more written papers. (Independent Study) Pre: 3 credits in philosophy and permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

PHL 402

Special Problems

(3 crs.) Course may vary from year to year, allowing one or more advanced students to pursue problems of special interest with guidance of instructor in conferences. One or more written papers. (Independent Study) Pre: 3 credits in philosophy and permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

PHL 421G

Secularism and Islamism in the Modern World

(4 crs.) Cross-listed as (PSC) PHL 421G. Explore secularism and Islamism through interdisciplinary readings in philosophy, religion and political science. Examine the dynamics of interaction between adherents of both ideologies, both on a state and individual level. (Seminar) Pre: RLS/PSC 221 or PSC 322 or PSC 211 or PSC 310. (A2) (C3) (GC)

PHL 421G

Secularism and Islamism in the Modern World

(4 crs.) Cross-listed as (PSC) PHL 421G. Explore secularism and Islamism through interdisciplinary readings in philosophy, religion and political science. Examine the dynamics of interaction between adherents of both ideologies, both on a state and individual level. (Seminar) Pre: RLS/PSC 221 or PSC 322 or PSC 211 or PSC 310. (A2) (C3) (GC)

PHL 451

Symbolic Logic

(3 crs.) Cross-listed with (PHL), CSC 451. Selected topics in modern symbolic logic including calculus of propositions, predicate calculus, and modal logics. Philosophical and mathematical aspects of the subject. (Lec. 3) Pre: Any one of PHL 101, CSC 340, CSC/MTH 447, or MTH 180, or permission of instructor.

PHL 452G

Philosophy Of Science

(3 crs.) Analysis of the nature and structure of scientific thought. Consideration of issues such as structure and types of scientific explanation, verification and falsification, and unity of the sciences. (Seminar) Pre: PHL 101, 215, or 451, one 300-level PHL course, and 6 credits of natural science; or permission of instructor. Not for graduate credit. (A1) (C2) (GC)

PHL 452G

Philosophy Of Science

(3 crs.) Analysis of the nature and structure of scientific thought. Consideration of issues such as structure and types of scientific explanation, verification and falsification, and unity of the sciences. (Seminar) Pre: PHL 101, 215, or 451, one 300-level PHL course, and 6 credits of natural science; or permission of instructor. Not for graduate credit. (D1) (C2) (GC)

PHL 477

Field Experience in Philosophy

(3-6 crs.) Supervised experiential learning with relevant agency, organization, or institution. Activities and expectations determined between site supervisor and student and approved by faculty advisor prior to registration. If taken for 3 credits, may be repeated once with permission of the instructor and chair, but not for department major/minor credit. (Practicum) Pre: Junior or senior standing or permission of the chair. Not for graduate credit. S/U only.

PHL 490

Senior Seminar In Philosophy

(3 crs.) In-depth study of the major works of a significant Western philosopher or of a major philosophical topic. (Seminar) Pre: senior standing in philosophy or permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

PHL 499

Senior Thesis

(3 crs.) Independent research. Student works in close conjunction with a faculty member on a mutually agreeable topic. Written thesis required. (Independent Study) Pre: senior standing and permission of instructor. Not for graduate credit.

PHL 553

Philosophy of Science Communication

(3 crs.) Exploration of issue in scientific communication from a philosophical perspective, using case studies and class discussion to evaluate the roles objectivity, values, standpoint, and ideology have on scientific production and consumption. (Seminar)

 

Religious Studies (RLS)

RLS 111

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

(3 crs.) Comparative study of the teachings, the histories, and the practices of the three religions of Abraham; emphasis on their teachings. (Lec. 3) (A3) (C2)

RLS 125

Biblical Thought

(3 crs.) Selected portions of the Old and New Testaments with emphasis on their positive contribution to the philosophy of the Jewish and Christian religions. (Lec. 3) (A3)

RLS 131

Introduction to Asian Philosophies and Religions

(3 crs.) Introductory study of the main philosophical and religious ideas in Asia, with emphasis on Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. (Lec. 3) (A3)

RLS 221

Islam and Its Civilization

(4 crs.) Cross-listed as (RLS), PSC 221. Provides the students with the basic foundation to understand Islam (as a religion and a civilization). The course explains Islamic beliefs and ethics, then shows how those ethics shaped Muslim societies socially and politically. (Lec. 4) (A3) (C2)

RLS 221H

Honors Section of RLS/PSC 221: Islam and Its Civilization

(4 crs.) Honors Section of RLS/PSC 221: Islam and Its Civilization: Cross-listed as (RLS), PSC 221H. Provides the students with the basic foundation to understand Islam (as a religion and a civilization). The course explains Islamic beliefs and ethics, then shows how those ethics shaped Muslim societies socially and politically. (Lec. 4) Pre: Must have a 3.4 or higher GPA overall to enroll.(A3) (C2)

RLS 226

The Development of Christian Thought

(3 crs.) Non-sectarian study of the teachings and historical development of various Christian groups, including Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, the major Protestant denominations, and liberal Christianity. (Lec. 3) (A3) (B4)

RLS 295

Religion in African American Thought & Culture

(3 crs.) Cross-listed as (AAF) RLS 295. Religion in African American Thought & Culture is an exploration of the role religion has played in African American cultural formation. (Lec. 3)