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: Matthew Goodwin
Phone: 308-5326
Email: mjgoodwin@stcloudstate.edu
2.
Requesting Unit: Philosophy
3.
Department, Course Number, Title: Philosophy 213, Environmental Ethics
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 10
7.
Course bulletin description, including credits and semesters to be offered:
Critically evaluate the ethical dimensions of environmental and natural resource issues. Identify moral
values in alternative solutions and encourage reasoned defense of proposed actions. 3 Cr. F, 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.
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.
Students in PHIL 213 learn arguments from historically influential philosophical and religious traditions
regarding the relationship of human beings and culture with nature and the natural environment. Concepts of
rights, responsibilities, and consequences will be explored and applied to specific contemporary
environmental questions such as animal rights, pollution, sustainability, and resource management.
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.
- Through readings, lectures, and discussions, students learn various ethical theories regarding rights and
responsiblities, including consequentialism and deontology, and demonstrate their command of these through
papers and/or tests.
3. Describe how interpretations of ethics or citizenship may vary by nationality, ethnicity, race, color, religion,
gender, ability and disability, or sexual orientation.
- Students learn alternative views regarding what is human nature compared with what is natural, how these are
related, and how different groups and cultures interpret these relations, including whether it is right to consume
animals, wear fur, or threaten natural habitats.
4. Apply concepts such as democracy, rights, morality, justice, virtue, liberty and obligation to personal
professional, and public issues.
- Students explore issues involving land rights and responsibilities, obligations to future generations, and
responsibilities regarding pollution and resource management.
5. Analyze and evaluate alternative theoretical approaches or formulate solutions to ethical or civic issues.
- Students evaluate various moral theories with contemporary issues such as water pollution and resource
management.
6. Develop and exercise personal agency or ethical judgment in the public domain.
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- Students develop meaningful ideas on issues by applying traditional moral theories to current environmental
challenges (pollution, climate change, alternative energy sources, destruction of natural habitats, and species
extinction).
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 (40%):
10% - Consequentialist (SLO 2, 4)
10% - Deontology (SLO 2, 4)
10% - Religious traditions (SLO 2, 3, 4, 5)
10% - Alternative perspectives (feminism, Native American, rural, urban) (SLO 2, 3, 4, 5)
Applied Environmental Issues (60%):
10% - Animal rights, species extinction (SLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
10% - Land rights, resource management (SLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
10% - Obligations to future generations (SLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
10% - Pollution (SLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
10% - Population (SLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
10% - Climate change (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. 213 Environmental Ethics
February 10, 2010
Carla A. H. Johnson
Department or Unit Chair Signature
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