Philosophy ProgramPhilosophy Program

2003-20082003-2008

Overview Overview

FACULTYFACULTY

o Carlos ColombettiCarlos Colombettio Anton ZoughbieAnton Zoughbieo Ed KaitzEd Kaitz

COURSESCOURSES

o Intro to PhilosophyIntro to Philosophyo Critical ThinkingCritical Thinkingo LogicLogico EthicsEthicso Political PhilosophyPolitical Philosophyo Asian PhilosophyAsian Philosophyo Philosophy of ReligionPhilosophy of Religiono World ReligionsWorld Religionso History of Philosophy (3)History of Philosophy (3)

Student Focused GoalsStudent Focused Goals

Ability to think critically and analytically.Ability to think critically and analytically. Apply methods of philosophy to core problems.Apply methods of philosophy to core problems. Relate core problems to their personal beliefs.Relate core problems to their personal beliefs. Knowledge of human intellectual heritage.Knowledge of human intellectual heritage. Express ideas in writing.Express ideas in writing. Successful transfer.Successful transfer. Become lifelong learners and responsible citizens.Become lifelong learners and responsible citizens.

"The aim of philosophy is to understand how "The aim of philosophy is to understand how things in the broadest possible sense of the things in the broadest possible sense of the term hang together in the broadest possible term hang together in the broadest possible sense of the term.“sense of the term.“

Wilfrid Sellars (1912-1989)Wilfrid Sellars (1912-1989)

Notable Aspects of ProgramNotable Aspects of Program

Variety of coursesVariety of courses Innovative and current contentInnovative and current content Subject matter linked to other Subject matter linked to other

disciplinesdisciplines Emphasis on critical thinking and Emphasis on critical thinking and

argument analysisargument analysis Philosophy ClubPhilosophy Club

Sample of ContentSample of ContentPhil 100: Introduction to PhilosophyPhil 100: Introduction to Philosophy

Basic issues and ideas in Basic issues and ideas in historical context.historical context.

The logic of philosophical The logic of philosophical arguments.arguments.

How they relate to the How they relate to the content of modern content of modern sciences (cosmology, sciences (cosmology, psychology, evolutionary psychology, evolutionary biology).biology).

Sample of ContentSample of ContentPhil 240H: Ethics - HonorsPhil 240H: Ethics - Honors

Sample of ContentSample of ContentPhil 320: Asian PhilosophyPhil 320: Asian Philosophy

Sample of ContentSample of ContentPhil 200Phil 200 Phil 103Phil 103

Symbolic LogicSymbolic Logic Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

Sample of Student Learning OutcomesSample of Student Learning Outcomes

PHIL 103: Critical ThinkingPHIL 103: Critical Thinking

At the end of the course, the student is able to At the end of the course, the student is able to compose a novel, interesting, and logically compose a novel, interesting, and logically correct argument that avoids fallacies. The correct argument that avoids fallacies. The student is also able to represent the logical student is also able to represent the logical structure of the argument, as well as express the structure of the argument, as well as express the argument as a short essay.argument as a short essay.

This SLO is assessed by a “capstone” This SLO is assessed by a “capstone” project.project.

Sample of Student Learning OutcomesSample of Student Learning Outcomes

PHIL 112: Philosophy of ReligionPHIL 112: Philosophy of Religion

Ability to evaluate claims and arguments in the Ability to evaluate claims and arguments in the philosophy of religion (concerning God, miracles, philosophy of religion (concerning God, miracles, Intelligent Design, etc.) using the rigorous Intelligent Design, etc.) using the rigorous deductive and inductive techniques of critical deductive and inductive techniques of critical thinking.thinking.

Sample of Student Learning OutcomesSample of Student Learning Outcomes

PHIL 200: Symbolic LogicPHIL 200: Symbolic Logic

Ability to construct proofs for valid arguments in Ability to construct proofs for valid arguments in propositional and predicate logic (or show that an propositional and predicate logic (or show that an argument is invalid) using a system of natural argument is invalid) using a system of natural deduction or other appropriate techniques (truth deduction or other appropriate techniques (truth tables, Venn diagrams, etc.)tables, Venn diagrams, etc.)

Sample of Student Learning OutcomesSample of Student Learning Outcomes

PHIL 280: Political PhilosophyPHIL 280: Political Philosophy

Ability to apply abstract political theory to Ability to apply abstract political theory to concrete issues—such as distributive justice, concrete issues—such as distributive justice, punitive justice, social inequality, civil liberties, punitive justice, social inequality, civil liberties, poverty, the use of military force, etc.—using the poverty, the use of military force, etc.—using the techniques of critical thinking.techniques of critical thinking.

Sample of Student Learning OutcomesSample of Student Learning Outcomes

PHIL 300: World ReligionsPHIL 300: World Religions

Ability to interpret the rituals, practices, art, and Ability to interpret the rituals, practices, art, and writing of a religious tradition—using the methods writing of a religious tradition—using the methods of scholarship and historical criticism—in order to of scholarship and historical criticism—in order to ascertain their function or meaning.ascertain their function or meaning.

EnrollmentEnrollment

Enrollment in Philosophy courses is strong and Enrollment in Philosophy courses is strong and stable, and has increased since last review.stable, and has increased since last review.

PHIL 100, 103, 240 draw highest numbers.PHIL 100, 103, 240 draw highest numbers. Low-enrolled courses are rotated.Low-enrolled courses are rotated. Enrollment data for ethnicity, but not for gender, Enrollment data for ethnicity, but not for gender,

match the college norms. match the college norms.

Data SummaryData Summary(previous 3 Fall semesters)(previous 3 Fall semesters)

2005 2006 2007

WSCH 888888 792792 979979

Load 522522 566566 612612

Retention 74%74% 79%79% 77%77%

Success 54%54% 61%61% 59%59%

Modification of the ProgramModification of the Program

All course outlines updated with SLOS. All course outlines updated with SLOS. PHIL 109 (Critical Thinking and Writing) has been PHIL 109 (Critical Thinking and Writing) has been

dropped.dropped. PHIL 200 (Logic) – changed advisory; modified PHIL 200 (Logic) – changed advisory; modified

content.content. PHIL 103 OL (long distance learning).PHIL 103 OL (long distance learning). PHIL 103 and 200: lab hours by arrangement.PHIL 103 and 200: lab hours by arrangement.

Future expansion and improvementsFuture expansion and improvements

Three new courses (to be introduced over the Three new courses (to be introduced over the next two years).next two years).

We will work out a new schedule for rotating We will work out a new schedule for rotating courses.courses.

We need to improve retention and success We need to improve retention and success (Action Plan below).(Action Plan below).

Make more use of instructional technology (DLP Make more use of instructional technology (DLP projectors for graphics and video clips)projectors for graphics and video clips)

No further expansion of curriculum for the near No further expansion of curriculum for the near future.future.

Action PlanAction Plan

Use the SLOAC process to assess student learning Use the SLOAC process to assess student learning outcomes (Appendix B).outcomes (Appendix B).

Make needed modifications based on assessment Make needed modifications based on assessment (to SLOS, assignments, methods of instruction, (to SLOS, assignments, methods of instruction, content, etc., as suggested by assessment data).content, etc., as suggested by assessment data).

Investigate effectiveness of advisories through Investigate effectiveness of advisories through the Research Office.the Research Office.

Offer more writing workshops through the Writing Offer more writing workshops through the Writing Lab.Lab.

Recruit student tutors for course courses (and Recruit student tutors for course courses (and encourage student utilization of Learning Center).encourage student utilization of Learning Center).

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles

Maintain academic Maintain academic standards that standards that reflect degree-level reflect degree-level and course-level and course-level SLOS.SLOS.

Provide conditions Provide conditions that facilitate the that facilitate the pursuit of pursuit of academic goals.academic goals.

THE ENDTHE END

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