This course is an introduction to the field of education. Students study the historical, philosophical, and social foundations of education. Legal, political, economic, and governmental basis of education is studied. An overview of innovative theories and practices are presented. The organization of U.S. schools as elementary, middle level, and secondary is examined. Field hours may be required by the instructor.

Continuing from 100 level written communication courses, this course examines the formal elements of argument: claims, warrants, support, induction, deduction, logical fallacies, and classical argumentative structures. Through writing, this course allows students to explore relevant issues in their field of interest including but not limited to, education, mathematics, and natural and social sciences. Prerequisite: C or higher in 104, 105 or 195. WCII, IL

Capstone research and writing in a collective humanities setting. Students will enroll for one credit in the first semester and two credits in the second semester.

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 junior standing or higher. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet.

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.

A community service-based experience arranged interdepartmentally which focuses on the actual application of ethical frameworks in a job-related setting. Consent of instructor required. G3, G9

A study of the American national governing environment: the constitutional basis for our democratic evolution and the unique American political experience. Also, an investigation of the contemporary state of American government. SS Offered every Fall

The purpose of this class is to introduce students to the field of aesthetics, which is a branch of philosophy that deals with questions concerning the nature of art. We will explore such questions as: What is beauty and why are human beings interested in it What is the nature/purpose of art Is there an exemplary type of aesthetic experience What distinguishes a work of art from other cultural products, such as furniture or velvet Elvis paintings Can a works aesthetic value remain independent of its moral and political message. In what way is natural beauty different from artistic beauty Students will reflect on these and related issues through examining may of the most influential writes on aesthetics; for example: Plato, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Dewey, and Danto. The overall goal of the class is to introduce students to the depth and range of artistic activities, help student recognize the various ways in which art appeals to human beings, and show students the larger implications that questions about art and beauty can have for understanding human nature. PMI

This course explores the relationship between philosophy and film by examining the ways that philosophy helps us understand film as a unique artistic medium, as well as how film helps us grasp complicated philosophical problems with newfound clarity. The first few weeks of the course use philosophy to analyze the deeper aesthetic foundations and socio-political implications of film as an artistic medium that represents reality. The remainder of the course uses films like the Matrix, Inceptions, The Dark Knight, Memento, Minority Report, and Contact to unpack traditional philosophical problems, such as, the distinction between appearance and reality, the problem of free-will, the conflict between faith and reason, the problem of self-identity, and issues of moral choice and obligation. The overall goals of the class are to deepen students appreciation for film as a mode of intellectual inquiry, broaden the relevancy of philosophy as a way of thinking about the world and enhance critical and creative reasoning. PMI

This course examines the major themes and divisions in the development of philosophy from the late 19th century to the present. In exploring different positions on problems like the nature of language, the mind, and concerns over technology, the class shows students how many of the defining philosophical issues of the 20th century continue to influence, both directly and indirectly, how we understand and shape the world. PMI