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 112, Philosophical Explorations
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.
Existing Course
No
Diversity Proposal Accompanying This Form
No
Yes
7.
Course bulletin description, including credits and semesters to be offered:
Basic issues in philosophy; theory of knowledge, human nature, morality, political systems,
religious thought, the meaning of life, etc. Individual sections may focus on particular topics. 3 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.
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.
As a general course in philosophy, Phil. 112 requires students to engage with fundamental
issues of human experience ranging from the moral, religious, political, knowledge, or metaphysical
dimensions. 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. Although the works studied in the course are philosophical texts, students are required to
read texts encompassing a diverse range of perspectives and interests and styles, from ethical issues
to questions about God’s existence to the nature of scientific knowledge to what kind of government is
optimal.
2. In their written work and in class discussion students are required to examine how such values as
truth, freedom, knowledge, justice and rationality inform these philosophical texts. For example,
different conceptions of knowledge develop in different intellectual contexts: the empiricist intellectual
tradition sees knowledge as dependent on sense experience and most fully developed in practical
contexts, while the rationalist tradition sees it as founded on insights of pure reason and at its height
when attaining certainty.
3. In papers and in class discussion students are required to analyze and evaluate various views,
arguments, and perspectives in philosophical works. These works may come from ancient Greece,
contemporary America, 18th century continental Europe, or a variety of other places and times.
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4. In their written work and in class discussion students engage the ideas 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.
6. In their written work and discussion students are required to take their own positions on the works
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.
What philosophy is about: 10% (SLO 1)
Reasoning and writing in philosophy: 10% (SLO 6)
Topics specific to the section: 80%
Examples:
Metaphysics:
Human nature: 20% (SLO 2, 3, 4, 6)
Existence and nature of God: 20% (SLO 2, 3, 4, 6)
Existence and nature of the material world: 20% (SLO 3, 4, 6)
Free will: 20% (SLO 2, 3, 4, 6)
Epistemology:
The nature of knowledge: 20% (SLO 3, 4, 6)
Objects of knowledge: 20% (SLO 3, 4, 6)
Kinds of knowledge (e.g., religious, scientific): 20% (SLO 2, 3, 4, 6)
Certainty: 20% (SLO 2, 3, 4, 6)
Ethics:
Relativism/subjectivism: 20% (SLO 2, 3, 4, 6)
The nature of human good: 20% (SLO 2, 3, 4, 6)
Rights: 20% (SLO 2, 3, 4, 6)
Moral issues: 20% (SLO 2, 3, 4, 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. 112 Philosophical Explorations
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
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Remarks:
Date