Proposal to change one 6-credit course to two 3-credit courses
Overview and Rationale
PHIL 4205 Seminar in Problems of Philosophy (currently 6 credits) easily lends itself to modification into two 3-credit courses. This is a “special topics” course where the content changes from year to year. Existing calendar descriptions will remain unchanged, apart from a minor, non-substantive change to the title to render it consistent with our other 3credit fourth year Seminars. The preferred nomenclature for such a course is simply “Seminar in Philosophy.”
Two 3-credit courses will permit more flexibility and variation for students without having implications for the
Philosophy major and degree requirements, other than the renumbering of the courses. This is a standard format for similar courses across the province.
Comparative data is neither relevant nor possible here. It is impossible to know the subject matter of fourth year
Philosophy Seminars or Special Topics courses at other universities since, like our own, these are “shell” courses with varying content.
Statement of Need
This is not a new course to Nipissing but only a belated modification of a 6-credit course to the preferred 3-credit format. Philosophy majors will still be required to obtain 6 credits in Philosophy Seminars at the 4th year level.
Statement of Resources
PHIL 4215 has been offered by full-time faculty in every year because it is required for students to graduate with a major in Philosophy. This will continue to be the case with the two 3-credit courses.
Motion 1: To approve the addition of PHIL 4206 and 4207, Seminar in Philosophy, to the Philosophy curriculum.
Motion 2: To approve the non-substantive change to course title from “Seminar in Problems of Philosophy” to
“Seminar in Philosophy.”
Motion 3: To approve the deletion of PHIL 4205, Seminar in Problems of Philosophy, from the Philosophy curriculum.
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A) Descriptive Data: TO ADD TWO 3-CREDIT FOURTH YEAR COURSES
Course code: PHIL 4206 AND PHIL 4207
Course title:
Short title:
(maximum 29 characters)
If this course belongs to a major that has course groupings, please indicate which group the course belongs with:
Seminar in Philosophy
Course Prerequisites:
PHIL 2305, PHIL 3335
Course Co-requisites:
Antirequisite:
Total Hours:
(Lecture / Lab / Seminar)
Breakdown of Hours
(e.g. Two hours of lecture and one hour of laboratory work per week for one term.)
36 hours each term
3 hours/week
Course Credits:
Course Description:
(as it will appear in the academic calendar)
3 credits each
Philosophy has traditionally concerned itself with problems arising from a consideration of such typically human phenomena as religion, science, the arts, fine arts, politics, and government in all its forms. This course identifies in any given year some such problems and discusses them in depth. Students are advised that a more detailed outline of subject matter is provided on a year to year basis by the discipline.
Program Implications:
None, apart from improved choice and flexibility in replacing this course with two 3credit courses.
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Learning Expectations/
Outputs
(6-8, visible, measurable, in active verbs)
N.B. Learning expectations are the same for all fourth year seminars.
 Develop and pursue a coherent original plan of research, including utilization of major research sources and careful review of available scholarship on philosophical topics;
 Demonstrate developed knowledge of some subfield or specific issue within philosophy;
 Construct and defend an original argument with respect to an issue of concern to philosophy, historical or contemporary;
 Demonstrate and awareness of the limits of knowledge and areas of ambiguity or uncertainty in the field of study in question;
 Demonstrate a developed understanding of the implications of arguments considered in the course for other areas of study, both within and outside philosophy; and
 Produce written course work which strong reflects the premium placed in philosophy on clarity of expression and structure, soundness or argument, charity of interpretation, and the sympathetic consideration of objections.
Cross-listing or crosscoding
(please indicate if this course is approved for either cross-listing or crosscoding, and to which discipline)
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B) Comparative Data: Please list course numbers and titles. Course descriptions are not necessary.
University Equivalent Course(s) and Titles
Brock
Carleton
Guelph
Lakehead
Laurentian
McMaster
Ottawa
Queen’s
RMC
Ryerson
Toronto
Trent
Waterloo
Western
Wilfrid Laurier
Windsor
York
Other:
C) Statement of Need: Please see first page of proposal rationale.
Non-Equivalent but 50% or more overlap
D) Statement of Resource Requirements: Please see first page of proposal rationale.
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FACULTY OF ARTS & SCIENCE
DEPARTMENTAL APPROVAL FORM
(to be used to substantiate the approval of any department/discipline/program affected by proposed curriculum changes)
DEPARTMENT/DISCIPLINE NAME (print)
CHECKLIST FOR CURRICULUM SUBMISSIONS
Signature
ITEM
1.
Approval Form. Use form provided to indicate the approval of all departments/disciplines whose programs are affected by this proposal.
2.
Overview of the proposal including a rationale
3.
A MOTION for each item to be approved which clearly sets out what is to be approved.
4.
DESCRIPTIVE DATA form for each course addition.
5.
COMPARATIVE DATA form for each course addition.
6.
Statement of Need
7.
Statement of Resource Requirements
CHECK
____________
____________
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