I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 3/19/14)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change or
renew existing gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
II. Mathematics
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III. Language
VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * IX: American & European
X
if requesting
IV: Expressive Arts
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab  w/out lab 
education
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
group
* Require a Symbolic Systems Request Form.
designation)
Dept/Program Philosophy
Course #
PHL 101
Course Title
Prerequisite
Introduction to Philosophy
None
Credits
03
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Instructor
David Sherman
Phone / Email X2607/david.sherman@umontana.edu
Program Chair Matthew Strohl
Dean
Christopher Comer
III. Type of request
New X
One-time Only
Renew
Change
Remove
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Description of change
Add Group IX designation
IV. Description and purpose of the general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble.
The purpose of Introduction to Philosophy is to introduce to the student, by way of an approach
that is both historical and topical, a number of the most important topics within the discipline.
The course deals exclusively with European and American philosophy, and gives the student an
appreciation of both the genesis and the application of many of the most basic ideas that inform
the western experience. By probing the nature of reality, the grounds of religious experience
and of knowledge, the bases for our self-identities and for our ascription of freedom to human
beings, and the basic ethical frameworks that inform western norms, the student both develops
a greater facility with abstract concepts and becomes much more able to examine critically both
their own personal commitments, in particular, and the western experience, more generally.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group.
Introduction to Philosophy is broad both in
its themes and in its chronology. It covers
many of the most basic areas within western
philosophy, and it spans roughly 2500 years,
from the pre-Socratic naturalists of 600 B.C
to contemporary philosophers struggling
with more refined problems. Moreover, the
various topics that make up the course are an
introduction to various themes that are dealt
with more fully and complexly at the upper
level. Metaphysics, epistemology, religion,
and freedom and ethics, which constitute
five of the six areas that are dealt with, are
all routinely taught at the upper level.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals.
1.
Students should be able to demonstrate that
they understand both the genesis and the
development of the various issues and
problems that surround our accounts of
reality, religion, knowledge, self-identity,
freedom, and ethics in the western tradition.
2.
Students should be able to demonstrate how
the distinctively western experience begins
with the use of reason, and should be able to
critically evaluate the western emphases on
reason and on the individual
3.
VII. Assessment: How are the learning goals above measured? Please list at least one
assignment, activity or test question for each goal.
1. What are the opposed positions of Heraclitus and Parmenides on the relationship of language
and reality? How does Plato reconcile these positions, and how does his position enable us to
know, objectively, what a particular thing is?
2. Fully describe Aristotle’s account of personal responsibility. (Your answer should include
definitions of “voluntary action,” “involuntary action,” “mixed action,” “by ignorance,” and “in
ignorance.”)
3.
VIII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will
carry at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than
one pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
N/A
IX. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe learning outcomes related to the above criteria and learning goals.
See attached.
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.