Philosophy (PHL)
PHL 210 Introduction to Philosophy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: Survey of the origins and development of philosophical thought focusing on texts selected from the classical, medieval, modern and contemporary periods.
CORE 42: MOTR PHIL 100; Introduction to Philosophy (attribute MO58)
PHL 219 Reasoning and Argumentation Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: Introduction to the skills necessary to construct and evaluate deductive and inductive arguments for use in a variety of disciplines, professions and everyday life. Topics include identifying valid forms of arguments, formal and informal methods of evaluation and the use of these skills when reading and writing.
CORE 42: MOTR PHIL 101; Introduction to Logic (attribute MO58)
PHL 220 Symbolic Logic Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Introduction to a symbolic language for representing the structure of valid arguments. Introduces formal rules for demonstrating the validity of arguments. Covers natural deduction for sentential and predicate calculus. Prerequisite(s): ACT math score of 20 or higher or the equivalent.
CORE 42: MOTR PHIL 101; Introduction to Logic (attribute MO58)
PHL 230 Ethics Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: An introduction to ethical theory focusing on the major traditions of Western philosophical ethics and their practical application to contemporary moral issues.
CORE 42: MOTR PHIL 102; Introduction to Ethics (attribute MO58)
PHL 231 Healthcare Ethics Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: An introduction to ethical theory focusing on the major traditions of Western philosophical ethics and their practical application to contemporary moral issues in healthcare.
CORE 42: MOTR PHL 102; Introduction to Ethics (attribute MO58)
PHL 232 Business Ethics Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
Course Description: An introduction to ethical theory focusing on the major traditions of Western philosophical ethics and their practical application to contemporary moral issues in business.
CORE 42: MOTR PHIL 102P; Introduction to Ethics- Business and Professional (attribute MO58)
PHL 257 Theory and Criticism of Visual Culture Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall.
Course Description: A practical, experience-based multi-disciplinary introduction to contemporary and classic approaches to art theory and criticism. Same as ART 257. Prerequisite(s): ART 100 or ART 205 or CIN 100 or ENG 210 or ENG 220 or HUM 203 or HUM 204 or HUM 205 or MUS 101 or THR 113.
PHL 260 Philosophical Research Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: An introduction to the methods of philosophical research, including the analysis and interpretation of primary texts, the use of secondary sources, and formal models of oral and written presentation; the course will focus on the study of a canonical text or topic. May be repeated with departmental approval for a total of 6 credits if course content varies significantly. Prerequisite(s): Any previous course in philosophy.
PHL 301 Ancient Philosophy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Survey of ancient philosophy from the pre-Socratics to Hellenistic thought with particular emphasis placed upon philosophies of Plato and Aristotle. Prerequisite(s): Any previous course in philosophy, religion, or humanities.
PHL 302 Medieval Philosophy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Survey of the major figures and problems that developed within medieval philosophy with emphasis upon Augustine, Anselm, Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus and William of Ockham. Prerequisite(s): Any previous course in philosophy, religion, or humanities.
PHL 304 Modern Philosophy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Survey of major figures and movements in modern philosophy selected from the early modern period through the end of the eighteenth century. Prerequisite(s): Any previous course in philosophy, religion, or humanities.
PHL 305 Topics in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Philosophy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Survey of a selected movement or trend in nineteenth and twentieth century philosophy such as German idealism, American pragmatism, phenomenology and existentialism, and the analytic tradition. May be repeated with departmental approval for a total of 6 credit hours if course content varies significantly. Prerequisite(s): Any previous course in philosophy, religion, or humanities.
PHL 308 History and Philosophy of the Natural Sciences Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Spring.
Course Description: A study of the history of the natural sciences with an emphasis on the philosophical analysis of these events. Same as CHE 308 and BIO 308. Prerequisite(s): Completion of General Studies Mathematics and Natural Sciences requirements.
PHL 310 Political Theory Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Political theories of classical thinkers, Plato and Aristotle; of church fathers, Augustine and Aquinas; and of modern theorists, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Mill; Marxism and Fascism. Same as PSC 310. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101 or any previous course in philosophy or humanities.
PHL 312 Contemporary Political Philosophy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Political theories since the mid-twentieth century to the present including movements such as libertarianism, neo-conservatism, neo-liberalism, communitarianism, feminism, and environmentalism. Same as PSC 312. Prerequisite(s): PSC 101 or any previous course in philosophy or humanities.
PHL 316 Philosophy of Law Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: This course will survey several of the central schools of thought in the philosophy of Anglo-American jurisprudence. To do this, we will consider five major questions: What is law? What, if any, connection is there between law and ethics? When should law be used to restrict the liberty of individuals? To what extent should democratic states permit civil disobedience? What justifies inflicting punishment on those who violate the law? Same as LAT 316. Prerequisite(s): Any previous philosophy course.
PHL 325 Ethics of Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: A study of alternative theories of environmental ethics, the implications of these theories for natural resource and wildlife policy, and their application to some contemporary natural resource and wildlife management issues. Prerequisite(s): Any previous course in philosophy, religion, or humanities.
PHL 330 Topics in Ethical Theory Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Survey of major theoretical alternatives in western philosophical ethics with reference to contemporary trends in ethical theory. Prerequisite(s): Any previous course in philosophy, religion, or humanities.
PHL 335 Aesthetics and the Arts Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Survey of modern theories of aesthetic experience and the arts with reference to classical and contemporary views. Course content is equivalent to ART 335. Prerequisite(s): A grade of B or higher in HUM 203 or HUM 204 or HUM 205 or PHL 210; or ART 257 or PHL 257.
PHL 350 Philosophy of Religion Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Study of classical and contemporary philosophical inquiry into the nature of religion and questions about God and ultimate reality. Same as REL 350. Prerequisite(s): Any previous course in philosophy, religion, or humanities.
PHL 353 Philosophy of Biology Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Fall (odd-numbered years).
Course Description: An introduction to current issues in the philosophy of biology such as the nature of biological organization, classification, and living systems and some of the problems that have arisen in the attempt to understand these complex systems. Same as BIO 353. Prerequisite(s): BIO 101 or BIO 105 or BIO 106.
PHL 360 Selected Topics in Philosophy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Specialized course work focusing on individual figures, movements, recent trends or topics in philosophy. May be repeated with departmental approval for a total of 6 credit hours if course content varies significantly. Prerequisite(s): Any previous course in philosophy, religion, or humanities.
PHL 365 Selected Topics in Peace and Conflict Studies Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Specialized course work in interpersonal and/or international conflict studies. May be repeated as content varies for a maximum of 9 credits.
PHL 370 Selected Topics in Comparative Philosophy Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Specialized course work in non-Western philosophy. May be repeated as content varies for a maximum of 6 credit hours. Same as REL 370. Prerequisite(s): Any previous course in philosophy, religion, or humanities.
PHL 435 Foundations of Professional Ethics Credits: 3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: A study of ethical issues that arise in various professions. The course surveys ethical theories and their application to contemporary issues in professions as well as moral aspects of decision making. Each version of the course focuses on ethical issues in a different profession. These include but are not limited to ethics in leadership, healthcare, business, engineering, criminal justice and legal professions, and natural resource ethics. Prerequisite(s): Any previous course in philosophy.
PHL 450 Independent Research/Project Credits: 1-3
Typically Offered: Departmental Discretion.
Course Description: Investigation of a research problem, project, or topic on an individual conference basis. Consent of departmental chairperson is required. Students are normally expected to discuss proposed work with PHL faculty two semesters before registration is anticipated. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours. Prerequisite(s): Departmental approval.