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: Paul Neiman
Phone: 4147936362
Email: pgneiman@stcloudstate.edu
2.
Requesting Unit: Philosophy
3.
Department, Course Number, Title: Philosophy 222 Existentialism
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:
PHIL 222. Existentialism
Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Sartre on the human subject. Existential phenomenology, knowledge,
truth, freedom, personal relations, authenticity and value. Prereq.: One of 111-194. 3 Cr. F, S, ALT.
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.
This course is intended for general education students. It also fulfills an elective requirement in the
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.
No changes are needed.
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.
Not applicable.
11.
Courses designated as General Education are included in the assessment plan for the Goal Area(s)
12/11/2009
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.
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.
The content covered in this course explores many issues related to human expression, meaning, and
existence, including personal identity, free will, the nature of the human subject, and the meaning of existence.
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 texts encompassing a diverse range of perspectives and styles. Students
may, for example, read plays by Jean-Paul Sartre, novels by Albert Camus, and philosophical papers by Soren
Kierkegaard or Friedrich Nietzsche.
#2: Students will examine the values, or lack of values, of various existential philosophers covering many
different topics, including the nature of the person, the existence and meaning of free will, the existence and
meaning of God, and existential phenomenology. The works in which these values are expressed derive mainly
from 19th through mid-twentieth century Europe and reflect intellectual developments in a post-Enlightenment
context.
#3: In papers, tests, and/or class discussions, students will be required to interpret and critically evaluate the views
and arguments of philosophers from a variety of perspectives and cultures. For example, students might study the
divergent perspectives on God from philosophers in post-WWII France and mid-19th century Denmark.
#4: In papers, tests, and/or class discussions, students engage with philosophical views and concepts such as the
existence and meaning of God, the nature of human freedom, phenomenology, and the nature of value. They
draw out and evaluate the implications of these views and concepts, examine their presuppositions, and
understand their connections.
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#6: In papers, tests, and/or class discussions, students will be required to develop and explain their own point of
view on existentialist issues noted above. They defend their views using the principles of philosophical analysis
developed 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.
20% Development of Student Views: Students will develop their own well-supported beliefs on a variety
of existentialist issues. SLO# 4, 6
80% Existentialist Issues:(20% Free Will: students will study philosophical perspectives on the existence and
meaning of free will from philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre or Albert Camus; 20% Existential
phenomenology: students will study philosophical perspectives on existential phenomenology, this might include
Jean-Paul Sartre or Martin Heideggar; 20% existence and meaning of God and faith: students will examine views
of God and faith from philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche; 20%
Personal relationships and authenticity: students will study various philosophical perspectives from philosophers
such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heideggar and others.) SLO# 1, 2, 3, 4
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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. 222 Existentialism
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