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Bulletins

PHL - Philosophy

PHL 100 Introduction to Philosophy

Study of the basic issues and methods of philosophy. Depending on instructor, it may have either a problem or a historical orientation. May be offered as Writing Intensive. (University Program Group I-A: Human Events and Ideas)

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 102 The Meaning of Life

Exploring religious and nonreligious ways that humans from diverse societies find value or meaning in human life and propose to live it well. May be offered as Writing Intensive. Identical to REL 102. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. (University Program Group I-A: Humanities: Human Events and Ideas)

Credits
3(3-0)

Cross Listed Courses

REL 102

PHL 105 Critical Thinking in Everyday Life

Designed to help the student think clearly, evaluate arguments, and develop a sensitivity to language. Emphasis is on the development of skills rather than theories.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 118 Moral Problems

Study of basic moral problems and proposed solutions to problems associated with violence, oppression, prejudice, and sex. May be offered as Writing Intensive. (University Program Group I-A: Human Events and Ideas)

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 128 Philosophical Perspectives on Poverty & Economic Injustice

A philosophical examination of poverty and economic inequality; addresses questions of the moral justification of inequality, economic injustice, and poverty as a form of oppression. (University Program Group IV-A: Studies in Discrimination)

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 140 Introduction to Symbolic Logic

A study of modern formal logic, with emphasis on the development of general procedures for deciding whether any argument is correct. (University Program Group II- B: Quantitative and Mathematical Sciences)

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 141QR Introduction to Logical Problem Solving

An introduction to logic, with a focus on its applications. Quantitative Reasoning. (University Program Group II-B: Quantitative and Mathematical Sciences)

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 145QR Chances, Choices, and Everyday Reasoning

A study of modern inductive reasoning, with emphasis on causal reasoning, probabilities, and decision theory as they relate to daily life. Quantitative Reasoning. (University Program Group II-B: Quantitative and Mathematical Sciences)

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 158 Introduction to Environmental Ethics and Justice

A study of environmental ethics and justice, with emphasis on the contribution of environmental problems to the oppression of marginalized groups. May be offered as Writing Intensive. (University Program Group IVA Studies in Discrimination)

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 200 Ancient Wisdom: Reason, Virtue and the Human Good

Focus on Ancient Greek Philosophy emphasizing Socrates, Plato and Aristotle’s views on human nature, the nature of the virtues, and their relationship to human flourishing. Recommended: Any PHL course.

Credits
3(3-0)

PHL 205 American Philosophy

Historical study of the development and distinctive themes of American philosophy from colonial times to the present. Emphasis on Pierce, William James, and John Dewey.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 218 Ethical Theories

Surveys philosophical theories about right and wrong, the good life, and the nature and justification of morality. May be offered as Writing Intensive. (University Program Group I-A: Human Events and Ideas)

Credits
3(3-0)

PHL 230 Philosophy of Religion

The philosophical study of the meaning and justification of religious claims, including those about the nature and existence of God and human immortality. May be offered as Writing Intensive. (University Program Group I-A: Human Events and Ideas)

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 286 Philosophy in Literature

Philosophical themes in selected literary works from ancient, medieval, modern, or contemporary sources.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 295 Career Pathways Exploration

Introduces foundational skills for identifying potential internships and careers, conducting internship or job searches, and successfully functioning in a professional setting. Identical to ANT 295, REL 295. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses.

Credits
1(1-0)

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Cross Listed Courses

ANT 295, REL 295

PHL 297 Special Topics in Philosophy

Study of areas in philosophy not included in courses currently listed in catalog.

Credits
1-12(Spec)

PHL 302 History of Philosophy: Modern Period

Major philosophers during the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment, such as Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Reid, Kant, Hobbes, Malebranche, Spinoza and Leibniz. Recommended: PHL 200; 56 credit hours.

Credits
3(3-0)

PHL 315 Philosophical Psychopathology

Exploration of philosophical issues raised by various mental disorders.  May be offered as Writing Intensive.  Prerequisite:  One course in PHL.  Recommended:  One course in PSY.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: One course in PHL.

Corequisites

None.

PHL 318 Business Ethics

Application of ethical principles to such business issues as fair competition, employee obligations, and business’s responsibilities to stockholders, customers, employees, community, and society.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 320 Theory of Knowledge

The study of skepticism, the justification of beliefs, and theories of knowledge. May be offered as Writing Intensive. Prerequisites: PHL 100 or 140.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

PHL 100 or PHL 140

Corequisites

None.

PHL 325 Philosophy of Mind

An attempt to explain the nature of the mind, by examining philosophical works on the mind-body problem and by surveying empirical results. Recommended: Any PHL course. (University Program Group I-A: Human Events and Ideas)

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 328 Animal Ethics

Study of ethical issues, both theoretical and applied, related to human interactions with animals. Recommended: One course in PHL.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

PHL 335 Philosophy of Psychology

An introduction to central areas of concern in the philosophy of psychology and/or the philosophy of psychiatry. May be offered as Writing Intensive. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy. Recommended: One course in psychology.

Credits
3(3-0)

PHL 338 Medical Ethics

Philosophical exploration of ethical issues in health care, such as the client-professional relationship, medical resource distribution, research ethics, organ allocation, end-of-life issues. Recommended: PHL 118 or PHL 218.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 340 Advanced Symbolic Logic

First order quantificational theory is presented as a paradigm of formal theories. In terms of this, some metatheoretic notions are introduced. Prerequisite: PHL 140 or PHL 141QR.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

PHL 140 or PHL 141QR

Corequisites

None.

PHL 345 The Civil Rights Movement

Examines the civil rights movement through documentary film and other sources, focusing on mass movement from 1940s to 1980s. Identical to PSC 325, REL 345, SOC 345. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. Prerequisites: Any one of the following: HST 110, HST 111, HST 112, IGR 145, PSC 100, PSC 105, PSC 125, REL 140, SOC 100. (University Program Group IV-C: Studies in Racism and Diversity in the United States)

Credits
3(3-0)

Cross Listed Courses

REL 345/SOC 345/PSC 325

PHL 348 Decision Theory

Introduction to central topics of decision theory, including decisions under certainty, ignorance and risk, the nature of utility, basic probability, and the fundamentals of game theory. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy.

Credits
3(3-0)

PHL 358 Environmental Ethics

The philosophical study of ethical issues related to the natural environment and nonhuman life.  May be offered as Writing Intensive. Recommended: PHL 118, PHL 158, ENV 350.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

PHL 390 Philosophy of Science

Study of problems that arise in a critical examination of science: explanation, theory, confirmation, law, measurement, scientific change. Prerequisite: one course in PHL. Recommended: PHL 140 or PHL 141QR.

Credits
3(3-0)

PHL 395 Career Pathways Internship

Full- or part-time, on-the-job work experience in industry, government, or non-profit professional setting. CR/NC only. Identical to ANT 395, REL 395. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. Prerequisites: 30 credit hours completed; ENG 201 with a C or better; 6 credit hours completed in courses offered in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (excluding ENG 101 and ENG 201). Recommended: PHL 295 or ANT 295 or REL 295.

Credits
1-12(Spec)

Prerequisites

30 credit hours completed; ENG 201 with a C or better; 6 credit hours completed in courses offered in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (excluding ENG 101 and ENG 201).

Corequisites

None.

Cross Listed Courses

ANT 395, REL 395

PHL 397 Special Topics in Philosophy

Study of areas of philosophy not included in courses currently listed in catalog. May be offered as Writing Intensive. Recommended: One course in PHL.

Credits
1-12(Spec)

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

PHL 404 Twentieth Century Philosophy

A study of some of the important philosophical trends since 1900. May be offered as Writing Intensive. Prerequisite: PHL 100 or PHL 140.

Credits
3(3-0)

PHL 405 Major Philosophers

An in-depth study of a major philosopher, or two closely related philosophers. May be offered as Writing Intensive. Prerequisite: One course in philosophy.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

One course in philosophy.

Corequisites

None.

PHL 410 Philosophy of Law

Consideration of such questions as: What is a legal system, a law, a legal right? What is the relation among law, morality, and custom?

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHL 418 Advanced Moral Philosophy

An advanced study of contemporary moral theory, meta-ethics, and the methodology of constructing and evaluating ethical theories. May be offered as Writing Intensive. Prerequisite: PHL 218. Recommended: One course in PHL.

Credits
3(3-0)

PHL 422 Political and Social Philosophy

Explore fundamental questions of social life. What is power? How do we organize a society justly? What principles should we use to evaluate social/political institutions? May be offered as Writing Intensive. Recommended: One course in PHL.

Credits
3(3-0)

PHL 425 Free Will

Advanced study of the nature of free will and philosophical theories about free will and moral responsibility. May be offered as Writing Intensive. Prerequisites: PHL 100 and one additional course in PHL. Recommended: Junior Standing.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

PHL 100 and one additional course in PHL.

Corequisites

None.

PHL 426 Feminist Theory

Examination of theories that describe and criticize the social, cultural and political status of women and offer alternatives to the status quo. Identical to WGS 426 and PSC 426. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. Recommended: WGS 100 or one course in philosophy or one of the following: PSC 275, PSC 326, PSC 371.

Credits
3(3-0)

Cross Listed Courses

WGS 426, PSC 426

PHL 490WI Senior Seminar in Philosophy

A senior seminar for philosophy majors. Writing Intensive. Prerequisites: Philosophy Majors with senior status or junior status with permission of the instructor; at least 21 hours in Philosophy.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

Philosophy Majors with senior status or junior status with permission of the instructor; at least 21 hours in Philosophy

Corequisites

None.

PHL 497 Special Topics in Philosophy

Study of areas in philosophy not included in courses currently listed in catalog. May be offered as Writing Intensive. Prerequisite: 3 credit hours in philosophy.

Credits
1-12(Spec)

Prerequisites

3 credit hours in philosophy

Corequisites

None.

PHL 498 Independent Research

Independent study of selected philosophical topic(s) or work(s). Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

Credits
1-6(Spec)

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Corequisites

None.

PHL 518 Professional Ethics

An examination of the theories and methods used in ethical decision-making with application to common issues in law, journalism, technology, research, education, and the health professions. Prerequisite: 60 hours of course credit; or graduate standing.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

60 hours of course credit; or graduate standing.

Corequisites

None.