Philosophy Course Outcomes

PHIL 1010: Introduction to Philosophy

This course is a systematic and historical study of the origin and general nature of philosophy by means of an analysis of major philosophies and fundamental philosophical problems.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students successfully completing any section of PHIL 1010 will be able to:

1. Explain the historical and individual origins of philosophical thinking;
2. Reflectively apply rational philosophical attitudes and standards to themselves and their historical environment;
3. Identify and explain basic philosophical problems;
4. Evaluate one's own intellectual positions using relevant, informed, and credible evidence;
5. Practice autonomous critical reasoning in relation to uncritically acquired belief systems and reasoning practices; and
6. Articulate the meaning of basic philosophical concepts.

PHIL 2020: Philosophy of Religion

This course examines major philosophers and problems in the philosophy of religion, such as the nature of religion, the concept and existence of God, the problem of evil, and philosophical atheism. Students are challenged to conceptually comprehend and critically evaluate philosophical positions and arguments about religion.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students successfully completing any section of PHIL 2020 will be able to:

1. Define the basic nature of religion;
2. Elaborate on concepts and theoretical frameworks in the philosophy of religion;
3. Critically evaluate a variety of problems and arguments in the philosophy of religion;
4. Reflectively articulate a personal philosophy of religion; and
5. Apply concepts and arguments in the philosophy of religion to the contemporary world.

PHIL 2030: Ethics

This course examines major philosophers and problems in philosophical ethics, such as the theoretical justification of moral theories, critically evaluating systematic orientations and arguments, applying diverse theoretical orientations to practical problems, and developing ethical self-understanding and self-evaluation.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students successfully completing any section of PHIL 2030 will be able to:

1. Articulate fundamental theoretical orientations in philosophical ethics;
2. Explain and evaluate arguments in philosophical ethics;
3. Analyze basic concepts in philosophical ethics;
4. Identify and evaluate their own moral reasoning on the basis of philosophical theories and standards;
5. Describe the complexity of practical moral problems in the context of contemporary history and culture; and
6. Critically examine different moral viewpoints and positions rationally and constructively.

PHIL 2040: Logic

This course introduces students to the basic principles of critical thinking by examining the general nature of logic, truth-value and propositions, deductive and inductive arguments, and logical fallacies. The relevance of logical reasoning to various life contexts is emphasized, including contemporary society and culture.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students successfully completing any section of PHIL 2040 will be able to:

1. Understand and apply logical standards to various practical reasoning contexts (everyday, educational, professional, civic, private);
2. Evaluate assertions and positions based on relevant evidence;
3. Recognize the semantic dimensions and avoidable imprecision of various types of language use;
4. Analyze and diagram the logical structure of rudimentary arguments;
5. Describe and detect logical fallacies in themselves and others; and
6. Mitigate illogical attitudes by cultivating local attitudes.