The course introduces students to rival theories of human nature: instinct, genetic, behaviorist, interactionist; demonstrates how these theories influence social, political and educational policy; and teaches students how to critically evaluate rival theories. Offered as needed.

This is a course in applied philosophy. The philosophical perspectives of important thinkers are used to examine issues that dramatically affect the direction and quality of our lives. Offered as needed.

This course examines the ways in which ethical philosophies affect our day-today choices and decisions. Various theories of ethics and morality are analyzed; students apply concepts to case studies, simulations, and real-world situations. Students analyze their personal values, articulate a personal moral code, examine the role of ethics in today’s professions, and define and defend right and wrong behavior. Course concepts include normative and applied ethics, the history of moral philosophy, and major figures and theories. Offered as needed.

This course examines the ways in which ethical philosophies affect our day-today choices and decisions. Various theories of ethics and morality are analyzed; students apply concepts to case studies, simulations, and real-world situations. Students analyze their personal values, articulate a personal moral code, examine the role of ethics in today’s professions, and define and defend right and wrong behavior. Course concepts include normative and applied ethics, the history of moral philosophy, and major figures and theories. Prerequisites and/or Special Considerations: none. Offered as needed

This course introduces the student to informal and formal reasoning and the principles of scientific reasoning. Offered as needed.

This course offers a fundamental study of the techniques of formal reasoning. After an introduction to basic argument identification and analysis procedure, students will develop formal tools for analyzing and evaluating arguments in the categorical and propositional systems of logic, paying special attention to the relationship between natural language and its expression in categorical and propositional notation. Selected problems in the history and philosophy of logic shall also be considered. Offered as needed.

Topics to be specified each semester course offered.

The course examines rival theories of making ethical choices, clarifies what theories of human nature and self they presuppose and directly tests their workability by requiring students to use them to resolve conflicts of values, personal and interpersonal. Offered as needed.

This course highlights the vital role of moral philosophy in exploring deep ethical questions in criminal justice. What is the right thing to do? And what are the elements of good character? In the spirit of applied philosophy, the course will engage these types of questions while also introducing significant connections to important criminal justice issues. Topics include logic and critical thinking concepts that are central to the philosophical method as well as ethical theories that can ground the composition and evaluation of a wide range of ethical arguments. Offered as needed.

This course surveys philosophical questions, theories, and arguments about truth and justice. It also explores applications of these ideas in contemporary everyday examples. Three central questions focus the course: What is truth? What is justice? What is the relationship between truth and justice? It will focus on European and American philosophical traditions, incorporating the Classical tradition of Plato and more recent thinkers like Martin Heidegger and Michel Foucault. Offered as needed.

What is a city? An American city? This course explores such questions through readings, discussions, field trips, and site visits. Using local examples, the ways in which American cities develop will be critically examined. The course will also advance what Charles Landry calls "urban literacy," deepening students’ understanding of cities and their place in American society. Offered as needed.

Topic to be specified each semester course offered.

The political and social philosophies of important thinkers’ representative of distinct schools of thought are developed and used to examine important political, social, and legal issues. Offered as needed.

Topic to be specified each semester course offered.