St. Cloud State University
General Education Goal Area 6
Humanities & Fine Arts
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
1.
Proposal Number:
Prepared by: Carolyn Hartz
Phone: 308-5160
Email: cghartz@stcloudstate.edu
2.
Requesting Unit: Philosophy
3.
Department, Course Number, Title: Philosophy 212, Moral Problems and Theories
4.
New Course
5.
Will this course be flagged as a diversity course?
Already Designated as Diversity
6.
Will this course also satisfy another General Education Goal Area?
If “Yes” specify which goal area.
Area 9
7.
Course bulletin description, including credits and semesters to be offered:
Ethical theories and their application to moral problems such as abortion, euthanasia and animal rights. 3
Existing Course
No
Diversity Proposal Accompanying This Form
No
Yes
cr. F, S
8.
Indicate the clientele for whom this course is designed. Is the course for general education only, or
does it fulfill general education and other program needs for this or another department? Obtain
signatures from any affected departments.
General education, Philosophy major and minor.
9.
Indicate any changes that must be made in offerings or resources in your department or other
departments by offering this course.
None.
10.
For new courses or courses not yet approved for General Education, indicate any other SCSU departments
or units offering instruction that relates to the content of the proposed course.
11.
Courses designated as General Education are included in the assessment plan for the Goal Area(s)
for which they are approved. Courses for which assessment is not included in the annual GE
assessment report for two years will be removed from the General Education Program.
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The Requesting Unit understands and recognizes the above conditions.
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12.
Provide a concise explanation of how the following goal is a “significant focus” of the proposed course.
Goal Area 6: Humanities & Fine Arts
Expand appreciation and critical understanding of changing modes of human expression and systems of
thought in the arts and humanities, and develop abilities in the creation and performance of meaning.
Phil.. 212 focuses on different ethical theories and systems of thought and how these have informed
human reactions to moral problems. They are required to evaluate critically views and arguments in these areas in
discussion and in written work.
13. In order for a course to be designated as fulfilling Goal Area 6, it must address at least 5 of the 7 student learning
outcomes (SLOs) below. Check the SLOs below that are focused on in the proposed general education course.
1. Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
2. Describe and appreciate works in the arts and humanities as expressions of individual and collective values
within an intellectual, cultural, historical and social context.
3. Interpret and respond critically to works from various cultures in the arts and humanities.
4. Explore intellectually the ideas expressed in works in the arts and humanities.
5. Engage in creative processes or interpretive performance.
6. Articulate an informed personal response to works in the arts and humanities.
7. Analyze the diverse means of communication in the arts and humanities.
14.
Discuss how each Student Learning Outcome checked above is achieved in this course. (Note: Although
descriptions of typical assignments or types of assignments may be part of this discussion, it is not
appropriate to submit copies of actual assignments.)
1. Students are required to read and understand works encompassing a wide range both of
ethical analyses of a single moral issue, and of moral issues themselves that demand consideration of
different moral concepts.
2. In their written work and in class discussion students are required to examine how such values as
rights, freedom, justice and morality inform the moral texts they're reading. These texts, both
theoretically oriented and applied to particular moral issues, derive from particular intellectual and
cultural traditions; for example, an argument on the abortion issue will develop differently when
stemming from the deontological tradition from one that stems from a consequentialist tradition.
3. In papers and in class discussion students are required to analyze and evaluate various views,
arguments, and perspectives in philosophical works from various moral and intellectual traditions.
These traditions span various cultures from 18th century continental Europe to 19th and 20th century
Britain and America, to very contemporary perspectives.
4. In their written work and in class discussion students engage the ideas about morality presented in
the texts by drawing out and evaluating implications of these ideas, considering reasons for and against
views presented in the texts, devising alternative viewpoints, etc.
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6. In their written work and discussion students are required to take their own positions on the moral
ideas, views and arguments studied and develop them in a way that is informed by the philosophical
analyses utilized in the course.
15.
List or attach the Course Outline (adequately described and including percentage of time to be allocated
to each topic). Curriculum Committees may request additional information. Topics larger than 20% need
to be broken down further. Indicate in your course outline where the Student Learning Outcomes
checked above are being met.
Moral Theories: 50%
Consequentialism: 15% (SLO 2, 5)
Deontology: 15% (SLO 2, 5)
Relativism: 10% (SLO 2, 3, 5)
Other (virtue ethics, natural law theory): 10% (SLO 2, 5)
Moral Problems: 50%
Examples:
Abortion: 10% (SLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
Animal rights: 10% (SLO 4, 5, 6)
Euthanasia: 10% (SLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
Gay marriage: 10% (SLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
Drug legalization: 10% (SLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
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St. Cloud State University
General Education Transmittal Form
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date:
Effective Date:
Proposal Number
Department: Philosophy
Course or Course(s): Phil. 212 Moral Problems and Theories
Carla A. H. Johnson
Department or Unit Chair Signature
February 10, 2010
Date
Department forward to Academic Affairs for publication and electronically to Chair of General Education Committee, Chair
of College Curriculum Committee, College Dean
Recommendation of General Education Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of University Curriculum Committee:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
Chairperson
Committee
Signature
Date
Recommendation of Faculty Association:
Approve
Remarks:
Disapprove
FA Senate
Signature
Date
Action of Academic Vice President:
Approve
Disapprove
Signature
Entered in Curriculum Data File
12/11/2009
Remarks:
Date