St. Cloud State University
General Education Goal Area 9
Civic Engagement and Ethics
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: Phil. 212, Moral Problems and Theories
4.
New Course
5.
Will this course be flagged as a diversity course?
Already Designated as Diversity
Existing Course
No
Diversity Proposal Accompanying This Form
6.
Will this course also satisfy another General Education Goal Area?
No
Yes
If “Yes” specify which goal area.
Area 6
7.
Course bulletin description, including credits and semesters to be offered:
Ethical theories and their application to moral problems such as abortion, euthanasia and animal
rights. 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, 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.
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.
None.
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.
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 9: Civic Engagement and Ethics
Understand and evaluate ethical or civic issues and theories, and participate in active citizenship or ethical
judgment.
The main topics of Phil. 212 are the major ethical theories and concepts (such as utilitarianism,
deontology, rights, justice, virtue). Students are required to understand these theories and
concepts and apply them to a wide range of issues such as abortion and animal rights.
13. In order for a course to be designated as fulfilling Goal Area 9, it must address at least 5 of the 6 student learning
outcomes (SLOs) below. Check the SLOs below that are focused on in the proposed general education course.
1. Explain the connections among education, citizenship, and participation in a democratic society.
2. Explain major ethical or political theories.
3. Describe how interpretations of ethics or citizenship may vary by nationality, ethnicity, race, color, religion,
gender, ability and disability, or sexual orientation.
4. Apply concepts such as democracy, rights, morality, justice, virtue, liberty and obligation to personal,
professional, and public issues.
5. Analyze and evaluate alternative theoretical approaches or formulate solutions to ethical or civic issues.
6. Develop and exercise personal agency or ethical judgment in the public domain.
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.)
2. Explain major ethical or political theories.
In papers and/or on tests, students are required to explain major ethical theories of the Western
tradition such as consequentialism, deontology, relativism, virtue ethics, and natural law.
3. Describe how interpretations of ethics or citizenship may vary by nationality, ethnicity, race, color,
religion, gender, ability and disability, or sexual orientation.
Students investigate such issues as when war is morally justified from the perspective of different
religious traditions, or how abortion laws can affect the moral rights of women, or feminist conceptions
of ethics, etc.
4. Apply concepts such as democracy, rights, morality, justice, virtue, liberty and obligation to personal,
professional, and public issues.
Students examine views on such issues as abortion, euthanasia, animal rights, war and homosexuality
and how these views stem from various understandings of the nature of rights, freedom, virtue, etc. For
example, whether animals can have rights depends in part on whether rights can be held without
concomitant reciprocal responsibilities.
5. Analyze and evaluate alternative theoretical approaches or formulate solutions to ethical or civic
issues.
In their written work and in class discussion students apply consequentialist (e.g., utilitarian) and
deontological approaches (among others) to issues such as abortion, euthanasia, animal rights, war
and homosexuality and examine their implications and coherence.
6. Develop and exercise personal agency or ethical judgment in the public domain.
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In written work and in discussion students develop their own views on issues such as those above and
support their views with argument informed by their understanding of ethical concepts and theories.
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.
Moral Theories: 50%
Consequentialism: 15% (SLO 2, 5)
Deontology: 15% (SLO 2, 5)
Relativism: 10% (SLO 2, 3, 5)
Other (virtue ethics, natural law theory): 10% (SLO 2, 5
Moral Problems: 50%
Examples:
Abortion: 10% (SLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
Animal rights: 10% (SLO 4, 5, 6)
Euthanasia: 10% (SLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
Gay marriage: 10% (SLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
Drug legalization: 10% (SLO 3, 4, 5, 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. 212 Moral Problems and Theories
Carla A. H. Johnson
Department or Unit Chair Signature
February 10, 1020
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