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Anna Malavisi, Co-Chair (Philosophy) malavisia@wcsu.edu White Hall 021b, Midtown campus (203) 837-3271 (203) 837-8905 (fax)
Çiğdem Üsekes, Co-Chair (Interdisciplinary Studies) usekesc@wcsu.edu White Hall 021C, Midtown campus 203-837-3294 (203) 837-8905 (fax)
Carol O’Connor, Department Secretary oconnorc@wcsu.edu Warner Hall 304, Midtown campus (203) 837-8470 (203) 837-8905 (fax)
Faculty
Adjunct Faculty
Overview
Philosophy courses explore the fundamental questions of human existence, which are: What is the ultimate nature of reality? What is the ultimate nature of truth and knowledge? What is the ultimate nature of moral and aesthetic value? All philosophy courses emphasize close and careful reading, precise and persuasive writing, and creative and collaborative problem solving.
Humanistic studies courses are interdisciplinary courses. Every Humanistic Studies course focuses on a topic that is naturally interdisciplinary, and it explores this topic from the perspective of at least 3 different disciplines. Humanistic Studies courses emphasize creative and critical thinking in addressing the complex questions and challenges of an interconnected world.
Mission
The mission of the philosophy and humanistic studies department is to:
Learning Outcomes
Students who take courses in philosophy will develop:
Students who take courses in humanistic studies will develop:
Degrees in Philosophy
B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies
B.A. Contract Major in Philosophy
Minors Humanistic Studies Intellectual History Logic Philosophy Science and Society Sustainability Theoretical and Applied Ethics
BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
Description: This major allows students to combine two different fields to best suit their interests and career plans. With two courses designed to help students integrate their learning combined with concentrations in two different fields, students design their learning experiences around specific academic and career goals. Please contact the Department of Philosophy and Humanistic Studies to initiate a major in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Degree Requirements All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
Required Courses in the Major: 42 SH.
General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad2324/academic-programs-degrees/
Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.
Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours. Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Interdisciplinary Studies Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
*All Bachelor of Arts degrees at WCSU require that students complete a language at or above the elementary II level. Students who have completed three years of a foreign language at a minimum of C average in high school have met this requirement. However, they must still complete at least one Intercultural Competency course.
** Upper level courses usually have pre-requisites. Be sure to check this as you plan your concentrations.
BA Contract Major in Philosophy
Students who major in philosophy at WCSU design their own program of study in the form of a contract major. A contract major in philosophy gives students the opportunity to customize their major and graduate with a degree that is uniquely their own.
Please contact the Department of Philosophy and Humanistic Studies to initiate a contract major in philosophy.
Minors
Please consult your advisor for all program requirements.
Minor in Humanistic Studies (18 SH)
Required Course (3 SH): HUM 151 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
Fifteen credits (15 SH) in Approved HUM electives. (15 SH) At least nine credits (9 SH) at the 200-level or above. All current HUM courses can be applied toward the minor.
Minor in Intellectual History (18 SH)
A minor in intellectual history requires 18 credits: 9 credits of History and 9 credits of Philosophy selected from the following courses. (New courses may be added to those listed below so please contact the Department for an up to date list.)
History Courses (select 9 SH):
Philosophy Courses (select 9 SH):
Minor in Logic (15 SH)
A minor in logic requires 15 credits, including: PHI 209 Informal Logic and PHI 211 Formal Logic, at least one more class in informal logic from the list below, at least one more class in formal logic from the list below, and at least one other class in either formal or informal logic from the list below. (New courses may be added to those listed below so please contact the Department for an up to date list.)
Required Courses (6 SH): PHI 209 Informal Logic PHI 211 Symbolic Logic
Select one Formal Logic Course (3 SH) MAT 141 Foundational Discrete OR MAT/CS 165 Introductory Discrete Mathematics (only one of these 2 classes can be applied to the minor) MAT 207 Proofs MAT 242 Foundations of Geometry MAT 342 Topics in Geometry MAT 359 Introduction to Theory of Computation CS 215 Computer Architecture CS 285 Artificial Intelligence CS 355 Programming Languages
Select One Informal Logic Course ( 3 SH) COM 200 Language and Communication COM 263 Persuasion and Propaganda COM 264 Argumentation and Debate COM 268 Public Communication COM 276 Debate Workshop COM 408 Strategies of Persuasion WRT 103W Composition II: Research and Writing WRT/JLA 321W Legal Writing WRT 335W Fact-Based Opinion Writing WRT 371W Writing the Weird: Conspiracy Theories
Select one (1) more course in either Formal Logic course list OR Informal Logic course list above (3 SH).
Minor in Philosophy (18 SH)
A minor in philosophy requires 18 PHI credits, including at least 9 credits at the 200-level or above, at least one course in logic, at least one course in the history of philosophy, and at least one course in ethics. Courses in logic, history of philosophy and ethics must be chosen from the list below; all current PHI courses can be applied toward the remaining 9 elective credits. (New courses may be added to those listed below so please contact the Department for an up to date list.)
Select One Logic Course ( 3 SH) PHI 209 Informal Logic PHI 211 Formal Logic
Select One History of Philosophy Course (3 SH) PHI 231 Ancient Philosophy PHI 232 Medieval Philosophy PHI 233 Modern Philosophy PHI 234 19th and 20th Century Philosophy
Select One Ethics Courses (3 SH) PHI 120 Introduction to Ethical Theory PHI 106 Philosophy of Happiness PHI 205 Engaged Philosophy: Peace and Justice Issues PHI 221 Ethical Issues in Business PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Healthcare PHI 225 Ethics and the Animals PHI 226 Environmental Philosophy PHI 227 Ethics in Computing PHI 229 Philosophy of Law & Legal Theory PHI 245 Philosophy of Death and Dying PHI 262 Philosophy of Love & Friendship PHI 320 Social and Political Philosophy PHI 334 Existentialism PHI 421 Developmental & Humanitarian Ethics
Three (3) approved Philosophy courses (9 SH)
Minor in Science and Society
The Minor in Science and Society requires 17-18 credits, including HUM 292 Science and Society (3 credits) and the remaining 14-15 elective credits to be selected from the two groups specified below. No more than 9 credits may be taken within the student’s major, and no more than 9 credits may be taken within the same discipline. Students must maintain a 2.0 minimum GPA in the minor.
Required Course (3 SH): HUM 292 Science and Society
Group I Electives: (Choose 8-9 credits from the following courses. Choose either two 4-credit courses or three 3-credit courses.) BIO 100 Concepts of Biology BIO 107/202 Scientific Inquiry in the Field BIO 150 Science of Climate Change CHE 102 Everyday Chemistry I CHE/HUM 293 The Science and Culture of the Atomic Bomb CS 102 3D Modeling and Printing CS 103 Computer Animation and Scripting CS 110 Website Production CS 135 Problem Solving with Computers CS 140 Introduction to Programming CS 172 Intermediate Java Programming MAT 110 Great Ideas in Mathematics MAT 113 Introduction to the History of Mathematics MAT 127 Introduction to Cryptology MAT 363 History of Mathematics PSY 230 Introduction to Brain and Behavior PSY 251 Psychology of Cognition PSY 352 Cognitive Neuroscience
Group II Electives: (Choose six (6) credits from the following courses.) HUM 213 Artificial Intelligence: Minds and Machines HUM 222 Sustainability: Economics, Ecology, Ethics HUM 290 Science and Technology in Film HUM 391 Big Data and Society PSY 260 Health Psychology PSY 270 Psychology of Sustainability PSY 309 Social Psychology and the Law PSY 347 Developmental Psychology and Social Policy
Minor in Sustainability (18 SH) A minor in sustainability requires 18 credits, including HUM 222 Sustainability: Economics, Ecology, Ethics (3), and 15 more credits derived from the following elective courses. (New courses may be added to those listed below so please contact the Department for an up to date list.) No more than 9 credits in this minor may be taken within a student’s major.
Required Course (3 SH): HUM 222 Sustainability: Economics, Ecology, Ethics
Five (5) courses from the approved lists below (15 SH):
Biology Courses BIO 200 Ecology (4) (prereq: C- or better in both BIO 103 & BIO 104) BIO 422 Conservation Ecology (4) (prereq: BIO 200, BIO 260 & one BIO 300-level course) BIO 375 Climate Ecology (3) (prereq: C- or better in BIO 200, BIO 260 and either MAT 115 or MAT 120)
Earth Science Course ES 103 Planet Earth (4)
Economics Courses ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics (3) ECO 213 Principles of Microeconomics (3) ECO 240 Environmental Economics (3) ECO 317 Economic Development and Growth (3) (prereq: ECO 211)
Environmental Studies Courses ENV 100 Environmental Resources (4) ENV/BIO 156 Biology of the Environment (3) ENV/MTR 162 Air Pollution Sources (4) ENV/SS 250 Society and the Environment (3)
Physics Courses PHY/ENV 136 Energy (4)
Geography Courses GEO 100 Principles of World Geography (3) GEO/ENV 150 Urban Environment as a human Ecological Problem (3) GEO 270 The Geography of the Environment and Development (3) (prereq: GEO 100)
Health Promotion & Exercise Courses HPX 100 Health Promotion and Maintenance (3) HPX 240 Introduction to Principles of Holistic and Integrative Health (3) HPX/HUM 246 Indigenous Spirituality & Environmental Activism (3) HPX/HUM 247 Approaches to Well Being in Indo-Tibetan Philosophy (3) HPX 353 Environmental and Global Health (3)
Humanistic Studies Courses HUM/HPX 246 Approaches to Well Being in Indo-Tibetan Philosophy (3) HUM/HPX 247 Indigenous Spirituality & Environmental Activism (3)
Management Courses (All students must take 9 credits outside the required classes of their major.) MGT 405 Small Business Entrepreneurship (prereq: ACC 202, FIN 310, MKT 301 and GPA 2.3 or higher.) MGT 410 Current Issues in Management (prereq: senior standing and GPA 2.3 or higher)
Marketing Courses MKT 305 Global Environment of Business (3) (prereq: GPA >2.3, Junior standing, MKT 200, MGT 250, FIN 310)
Meteorology Courses MTR 150 Meteorology (4) MTR 240 Climatology (4) (prereq: MTR 150)
Philosophy Courses PHI 225 Ethics and Animals (3) PHI 226 Environmental Philosophy (3) PHI 421 Developmental & Humanitarian Ethics (3)
Political Science Courses PS 315 Environmental Issues in International Relations (3)
Psychology Courses PSY 270 Psychology of Sustainability (3) (prereq: PSY 100)
Minor in Theoretical and Applied Ethics (18 SH)
A minor in theoretical and applied ethics requires 18 credits, including PHI 120 Introduction to Ethical Theory, and 5 more classes from the following list. (New courses may be added to those listed below so please contact the Department for an up to date list.)
Required Course (3 SH): PHI 120 Introduction to Ethical Theory
Anthropology Courses ANT/SOC 206 Culture and Law ANT/COM 208 Intercultural Communication
Communication Courses COM 219 Communication Ethics COM 247 Live News & Election Coverage
Humanistic Studies Courses HUM 110 Moral Issues in Modern Society
Justice and Law Administration Courses (only 2 JLA courses can apply toward the minor) JLA 201 Criminology JLA 205—Juvenile Delinquency JLA 336—White Collar Crime JLA 408 Human Rights
Philosophy Courses PHI 221 Ethical Issues in Business PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Healthcare PHI 225 Ethics and Animals PHI 226 Environmental Philosophy PHI 227 Ethics in Computing PHI 421 Developmental & Humanitarian Ethics
Political Science Courses PS 201 Political Theory PS 401 Global Conflict Resolution PS 402 Violent and Nonviolent Conflict Resolution
Psychology Courses PSY 309 Social Psychology & the Law PSY 346 Moral Development
Social Science Courses SS 401 Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution SS 402 Mediation: Theory and Practice
Course Restrictions
For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.
