This course is an introduction to the study of the philosophy of nature as articulated in terms of the relationship between humans and the environment in which they live. One key theme of course class is whether concerns of justice demand we expand our moral concepts and legal institutions to include other non-human animals and even aspects of the larger natural environment. Exploring this problem will introduce us to a variety of related concerns like environmental racism, the rationale of global capitalism and link between the objectification of nature and the objectification of women.

This course introduces students to basic aspects of how systems of artificial intelligence operate and the wide variety of challenges (and opportunities) that AI systems pose for human beings. The course will explore the role AI plays in understanding/modeling human thought, exploring the nature of consciousness, shaping social interaction, and organizing society.

Independent reading and/or research under the guidance of a philosophy faculty member. Refer to the academic policy section for independent study policy. Independent study contract is required. May be repeated for credit.

Courses on topics of interest to philosophy students offered on the basis of need, interest, or timeliness. Prerequisites as determined by the instructor. Restricted to students with freshman or sophomore standing. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet.

This course will explore the philosophical and ideological assumptions behind different theories and methods of education, paying close attention to how views of education have developed and changed over time. In addition to exploring fundamental questions surrounding the nature and purpose of education, the course will also examine the potential value of philosophy for K-12 education.

This course considers the origin, nature and value of philosophy as a discipline unique in its method of exposing the underlying values in the human experience. With specific regard to the history of the Western philosophical tradition, this course aims at the development of a broad and coherent world-view. Restricted to students with freshman and sophomore standing. PMI Offered spring even years.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the practice of responsible ethical reflection and judgment. Students will learn about the practice of moral analysis, examine many influential moral theories, such as, Virtue ethics, Deontological ethics, and Utilitarianism, and look at many contemporary moral debates in applied ethics, such as the issue of capital punishment, euthanasia, animal rights, and abortion. Restricted to students with freshman and sophomore standing. PMI Offered every semester.

Independent reading and/or research under the guidance of a history faculty member. Refer to the academic policy section for independent study policy. Independent study contract is required. May be repeated for credit.

Advanced non-classroom experiences in the field of history. Placements are off-campus, and may be full- or part-time, and with or without pay. Credit for experiences must be sought prior to occurance, and learning contracts must be submitted before the end of the first week of the semester. See the experiential learning: internship section of this catalog for more details. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher. Graded CR/NC.

Courses on topics of interest to history students offered on the basis of need, interest, or timeliness. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet.