Core Course Review Documentation
Foundational Component Area: LANGUAGE, PHILOSOPHY & CULTURE
Component Area Option?
No
Proposed Course: Philosophy 1033: Primary Concerns of Philosophy
Credit Hours: 3.0
Proposed by: Nathan Jun
Date: 12 November 2012
Please document how the proposed course meets each of the following requirements. (You
may provide a written explanation or copy and paste the appropriate information from the
syllabus.)
CONTENT: Courses in this category focus on how ideas, values, beliefs, and other aspects
of culture express and affect human experience.
This course provides a historical and theoretical introduction to the study of philosophy.
Broadly speaking, philosophy may be described as the systematic analysis of problems
which are fundamental, ultimate, and very general—for example, the nature of reality,
knowledge, truth, self, God, freedom, value, beauty, etc. Perennial philosophical questions
include “What is being?”, “Does God exist?”, “What is truth?”, “Are we free?” and “How
ought we to live?” As it is impossible to provide an exhaustive, highly detailed survey of
philosophy in a fifteen-week course, we will limit ourselves to a general thematic overview
of key philosophical questions and problems. Particular attention will be paid to the
historical contexts in which philosophical problems and solutions arise.
SKILLS: Courses involve the exploration of ideas that foster aesthetic and intellectual
creation in order to understand the human condition across cultures.
The main objectives of Philosophy 1033 are as follows:
1. To help students learn, understand, and evaluate the basic issues of philosophy from
both a historical and theoretical perspective.
2. To help students gain familiarity with various pivotal thinkers and theories in the
history of philosophy.
3. To help students develop their skills in interpreting and critically analyzing
philosophical texts.
4. To help students develop their skills in identifying and evaluating arguments as well
as in formulating their own arguments through the effective and responsible use of
evidence.
5. To help students improve their ability to read and write clearly and critically.
Other objectives include:
6. To help students appreciate the relevance of philosophical discourse in public and
private life and to gain a greater understanding of their personal philosophical
commitments.
7. To inculcate students with a love of wisdom and a desire to live a philosophical life.
ASSESSMENT OF CORE OBJECTIVES: Assessments should be authentic, intentional and
direct. The following four Core Objectives must be addressed in each course approved to fulfill this
category requirement:
As stated above, the main objectives of Philosophy 1033 include helping students (a) learn,
understand, and evaluate basic issues in philosophy from both a historical and theoretical
perspective; (b) gain familiarity with various pivotal thinkers and theories in the history of
philosophy; (c) develop their skills in interpreting and critically analyzing philosophical texts; (d)
develop their skills in identifying and evaluating arguments; (e) formulating their own arguments
by making effective and responsible use of evidence; and (f) improve their ability to read and write
critically. Consequently, the final examination will be used to assess students’ performance in the
following skill areas:
Critical Thinking Skills - to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation
and synthesis of information
Learning Activities: Students will achieve objectives (a) through (f) through close reading of
philosophical texts and active participation in classroom discussion. Students will also write a 6
page take-home midterm examination.
Assessment of Critical Thinking Skills (see attached Final Examination Rubric): Each student will
take a 6 page take-home final examination in which s/he
 formulates a clear critical position with respect to the philosophical issue(s), problem(s), or
theor(ies) under analysis;
 recognizes, understands, and clearly explains differing perspectives and/or possible
objections to his/her own position;
 provides clear, compelling arguments on behalf of his or her position;
 uses textual evidence in correctly, effectively, and responsibly (e.g., by correctly using MLA
citation and providing a correctly formatted MLA ‘Works Cited’ page);
 approaches philosophical problems in a creative fashion.
Communication Skills - to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas
through written, oral, and visual communication
Learning Activities: Students will achieve objectives (a) through (e) through close reading of
philosophical texts and active participation in classroom discussion. Students will also write a 6
page take-home midterm examination.
Assessment of Communication Skills (see attached Final Examination Rubric): Each student will
take a 6 page take-home final examination which:
 offers a clear and correct explanation of the philosophical issue(s), problem(s), or theor(ies)
under analysis;
 is well-organized;
 builds upon the main idea/thesis statement;
 relates main ideas and arguments to one another logically;
 clearly explains main ideas and concepts;
 avoids “going off on tangents” or including otherwise irrelevant information;
 uses a clear and consistent writing style;
 avoids significant grammatical and mechanical errors.
Personal Responsibility - to include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to
ethical decision-making
Learning Activity: Students will achieve objective (e) by reviewing the MSU Honor Code; reviewing
the fundamentals of MLA citation style; and reviewing strategies for effective and responsible ways
to use sources in support of a philosophical argument. Students will also take a 6 page take-home
midterm examination.
Assessment of Personal Responsibility (see attached Final Examination Rubric): Each student will
take a 6 page take-home final examination in which s/he
 uses textual evidence correctly, responsibly, and effectively (e.g., by correctly using MLA
citation and providing a correctly formatted MLA ‘Works Cited’ page).
Social Responsibility - to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the
ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
Learning Activity: Objective (d) includes the ability to recognize and understand differing points of
view, which is in turn conducive to the development of social responsibility. Students will achieve
objective (d) through close reading of philosophical texts and active participation in classroom
discussion. Students will also write a 6 page take-home midterm examination.
Assessment of SocialResponsibility (see attached Final Examination Rubric): Each student will take
a 6 page take-home final examination in which s/he
 recognizes, understands, and clearly explain differing perspectives and/or possible
objections to his/her own position.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Provide any additional information supporting course
inclusion in the core (optional).
PLEASE ATTACH THE FOLLOWING
1. Syllabus
2. Assessment for Critical Thinking Skills
3. Assessment for Communication Skills
4. Assessment for Social Responsibility
5. Assessment for Personal Responsibility