I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 1/27/11)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change 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
III. Language
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * VIII: Ethics & Human Values
x
separate forms
IV: Expressive Arts
IX: American & European
if requesting
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab  w/out lab 
education
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program Philosophy
Course #
PHL 110E
Course Title
Prerequisite
Intro to Ethics
N/A
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
3
Date
2/21/12
Instructor
Albert Borgmann
Phone / Email
Program Chair Paul Muench
2/21/12
Dean
Chris Comer (CAS)
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Renew x
Change
Remove
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Description of change
IV. Description and purpose of new 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:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
N/A
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. Courses focus on one or more of the specific The intent of the course is to teach the
traditions of ethical thought (either Western or
standard versions of contemporary ethics and
non-Western), on basic ethical topics such as
so to equip students with ethical literacy—
justice or the good life as seen through the lens the ability to recognize the origin and
of one or more traditions of ethical thought, or
context of ethical arguments and the ability
on a professional practice within a particular
to convey one’s ethical convictions with
tradition of ethical thought.
clarity and circumspection. The focus of the
course is on the pursuit of happiness.
2. Courses provide a rigorous analysis of the
Students will learn how the great traditions
basic concepts and forms of reasoning which
(Kantianism, Utilitarianism, Aristotelian
define the traditions, the ethical topics, or the
Virtue Theory) and contemporary social
professional practices that are being studied.
theory understand happiness.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
Upon completion of an Ethics and Human
The courses teach students ethical literacy
Values course, students will be able to:
and enables them to
1. correctly apply the basic concepts and forms
(1) explicate the norms and values that in
of reasoning from the tradition or professional
fact govern their behavior,
practice they studied to ethical issues that arise
(2) clarify these norms and make them
within those traditions or practices;
consist with one another,
2. analyze and critically evaluate the basic
(3) set their norms and values in the context
concepts and forms of reasoning from the
of the standard theories of ethics so they can
tradition or professional practice they studied.
understand their own norms more deeply
and circumspectly or change their norms to
make them support their aspirations more
effectively.
As a result, students acquire a twofold
competence:
(1) The cognitive competence of
recognizing a moral position or argument
for what it is along with the standard
strengths and weaknesses of such a position
or argument.
(2) The expressive competence of being able
to talk about their own moral convictions in
a calm, confident, and circumspect way.
VII. 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
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
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.
Borgmann
Autumn 2011
PHL 110
INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
The Pursuit of Happiness
I. Intent of the Course
The intent of the course is to teach the standard versions of contemporary ethics and so to equip students
with ethical literacy—the ability to recognize the origin and context of ethical arguments and the
ability to convey one’s ethical convictions with clarity and circumspection. The focus of the course is on the pursuit
of happiness. Students will learn how the great traditions and contemporary social theory understand happiness.
II. Readings
We will read the texts in the following order and spend about three and a half weeks each on Kant, Mill,
Aristotle, and Welch and the preceding Seligman selections.
Seligman, Authentic Happiness, chs. 1-4.
Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, sections 1 and 2.
Seligman, chs. 5-7.
Mill, Utilitarianism, all of it.
Seligman, chs. 8-10.
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, books 1-5 and 10.
Seligman, chs. 11-14.
Welch, Fools Crow, all of it.
III. Requirements
The tests will be graded according to the stepped traditional grading system: A, A-, B+, B, B-, etc.
There will be weekly 20 minute tests, usually on Thursdays. The first test will be on Thursday, September
15. Each test will consist of (a) three questions that will test your command of the course content and are to be
answered with brief statements of about 30 words total for each question; (b) a question that asks you to identify the
philosophical point of a passage taken from the readings. It is to be answered in about 30 words; and (c) an essay
question to be answered in 150 to 200 words. The three answers to the questions in part (a) will jointly receive a
letter grade. The answer to (b) will be graded P (passing) or U (unsatisfactory). The answer to (c) will be graded P,
U, or E (excellent). A P will raise the grade for (a) by one step (e.g., B to B+); U will lower it by one step (e.g., B to
B-); E will raise it by two steps (e.g., B to A-). The tests will be returned on the following Tuesday, and you are
expected to receive the test that day and to keep your tests to track your progress in the course and to prepare for the
final.
On the day of the final, Tuesday, December 13 at 10:10 a.m., there will be a final test of twelve course
content questions, nine drawn from previous tests, three on the material of the preceding week. The final test will
have the weight of three ordinary tests. To pass the course, you have to pass the final.
You can make up one missed test without an excuse. Otherwise you can make up a missed test only (a) for
medical reasons if you provide a statement from your physician or the Health Service, (b) if you are away on
University business, (c) if there is a real hardship. Otherwise you will receive an F for a missed test. You can take
over one test (not a make-up, however) by December 1. The higher grade of the two tests (regular and take-over)
will count.
IV. Office Hours
Borgmann: TWR, 11:00-11:30 and by appointment in LA 149.
Phone and messages: 243-2792. e-mail: Albert.Borgmann@umontana.edu
Please let us know if you have a disability so that we can make accommodations.