Undergraduate Philosophy Courses
PH 100 Introduction to Philosophy
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes
The fundamentals of philosophy: its vocabulary, problems, and methods.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PH 101 Ancient Western Philosophy
An introduction to fundamental topics in Western philosophy through works by philosophers including Plato and Aristotle.
Typically offered at least every two years.
PH 102 History of Modern Western Philosophy, 1600-1800
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; Thought, Language and Culture
Engages central topics of Western philosophy through study of important modern philosophers, typically from Descartes through Kant.
Typically offered at least every two years.
PH 110 Critical Thinking
Critical thinking through informal logical analysis of argument styles, including identification of fallacious arguments.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PH 115 Logic 1
LASC—Quantitative Reasoning
A study of introductory symbolic (formal) logic course, covering sentential logic and the foundations of predicate logic.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PH 130 Ethics: Human Conduct and Values
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; Thought, Language and Culture
The nature of morality and value and their place in the world of human action.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PH 131 Medical Ethics
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; Thought, Language and Culture
An introductory-level examination of various ethical issues such as abortion, euthanasia, cloning and other genetics issues, access to healthcare, race and healthcare, and women’s health.
Typically offered at least every three years.
PH 132 Business Ethics
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; Thought, Language and Culture
An introduction to ethical theory and issues such as truth-in-advertising, product liability, affirmative action, employer and employee rights and duties, whistle blowing, and corporate responsibility.
Typically offered at least every two years.
PH 150 Women in Western Ideas
Investigates the concept of woman from ancient Greece to the present.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
PH 163 Philosophy on Television
An introduction to philosophy through philosophical writings on popular television shows.
Offered every three years. 3 credits.
PH 170 Ancient Chinese Philosophies in a Cultural Perspective
LASC—Global Perspectives; Thought, Language and Culture
Ancient Chinese philosophies of Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and neo-Confucianism in the context of contemporary developments in China; Communism, Capitalism, and Western influences considered.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PH 171 Buddhism: Theory and Meditative Experience
Examines the origins, texts, principles, and practices of Buddhist philosophy including the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path for individual practice.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PH 172 Asian Philosophies and Contemporary Perspectives
Studies the philosophies of India, China, Japan, and the vitality of ancient traditions in a time of cultural change: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Jainism, Hinduism and Islam.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PH 190 Special Topics in Philosophy
An introductory philosophy course on current or specialized topics
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PH 193 Special Topics in Philosophy for First-year Students
All "193" classes are approved for LASC but may vary by section. See current course listing for specific LASC area approval.
Introductory level course covering topics of special interest to first-year students. Offered only as a First-year Seminar.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PH 201 19th Century European Philosophy
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; Thought, Language and Culture
Engages the radical new philosophical ideas developed on the European Continent in the 19th Century, beginning with Hegel.
Typically offered at least every three years.
PH 202 Selected Topic in 20th – 21st Century Western Philosophy
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; Thought, Language and Culture
Addresses a specific topic in 20th – 21st Century Western Philosophy. The topic will be indicated in each PH 202 registration listing.
Typically offered at least every three years.
PH 215 Logic 2
LASC—Quantitative Reasoning
Prerequisite: PH 115
Intermediate symbolic (formal) logic including multi-placed predicates and identity.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PH 220 Philosophy of Mind
Prerequisite: EN 102
An investigation of the relationship between mental processes and physical states – and implications for such issues as personal identity and free will.
Typically offered at least every three years.
PH 221 Existentialism and Phenomenology
LASC—Thought, Language and Culture
Examines the Existentialist movement of the first half of the 20th Century.
Typically offered at least every three years.
PH 230 Religious Philosophies, East and West
An examination of the major religious systems, both oriental and occidental.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
PH 240 Political Theory
LASC—Thought, Language and Culture; United States and Its Role in the World
Investigates concepts including political power, equality, revolution, liberties, slavery, socialism and liberalism, patriarchal power, race and gender.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
PH 241 Genocide and Human Rights
LASC—Global Perspectives; United States and Its Role in the World
This course treats the ethical, political, and other dimensions of systematic mass violence through case studies and general theoretical analyses.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
PH 242 Race, Nation, Class, Gender, and Sexuality
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; United States and Its Role in the World
Examines these five important social categories that define the political, legal, economic, and cultural contexts in which we live.
Typically offered at least every three years.
PH 250 Global Feminism
LASC—Global Perspectives; Thought, Language and Culture
Investigates the theoretical underpinnings of women's movements for equal rights around the globe.
Offered every 2 years. 3 credits.
PH 251 Mass Violence Against Women
LASC—Global Perspectives; United States and Its Role in the World
A philosophy-based, interdisciplinary course examining historical and contemporary mass violence against women.
Typically offered at least every three years.
PH 260 Philosophy of Science
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; Thought, Language and Culture
Critically investigates such questions as: What distinguishes sciences from pseudo-sciences? When is a theory confirmed? What is a law of nature?
Typically offered at least every two years.
PH 261 Philosophy of Religion
Examination of the roles of faith and reason in beliefs concerning a deity and in such issues as the problem of evil.
Typically offered at least every two years.
PH 263 Film and Philosophy
LASC—Human Behavior and Social Processes; Thought, Language and Culture
An intermediate course on philosophy within and about film.
Typically offered at least every three years.
PH 264 Philosophy of Education
Examines philosophical approaches to education through readings of various authors such as Plato, Rousseau, Wollstonecraft, and Dewey.
Typically offered at least every three years.
PH 290 Advanced Special Topics in Philosophy
A treatment of current or special topics for students beyond the introductory level.
Offered every year. 3 credits.
PH 301 Individual Figure in the History of Western Philosophy
Prerequisite: EN 102
Studies a specific Western philosopher. The philosopher for a given semester will be indicated in the course registration listings.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
PH 302 Topics in American Philosophy
Prerequisite: EN 102
Treats a selected set of topics in the history of philosophy in the United States.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
PH 320 Topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology
Prerequisite: EN 102
Selected topics in theories of mind, language, and knowledge.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
PH 330 Philosophy, Human Potentiality and Consciousness
Prerequisite: One semester of philosophy
The application of philosophical knowledge to the problems of creative self-actualization and consciousness.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
PH 340 Selected Topics in Social and Political Philosophy
Prerequisite: EN 102
Explores a particular social and political issue, as indicated in the registration course listing, from a philosophical perspective.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
PH 360 Philosophy of History
LASC—Global Perspectives; United States and Its Role in the World
Prerequisite: One semester of philosophy
Explores the different philosophical approaches to the study and writing of history and the nature of historical change and development.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
PH 361 Philosophy of Art
Prerequisite: One semester of philosophy
An investigation of the nature of aesthetic experience.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
PH 390 Independent Study
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor
Special topics for advanced research and study under the guidance of a faculty member. Tutorials in areas of study not covered in other course offerings.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.
PH 391 Internship in Philosophy
Prerequisite: EN 102
Provides an opportunity for mid-level or advanced students to increase their philosophical knowledge and understanding.
Offered every 3 years. 3 credits.