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Stuart Dalton, Chair daltons@wcsu.edu White Hall 021a, Midtown campus (203) 837-3282 (203) 837-8905 (fax)
Carol O’Connor, Department Secretary oconnorc@wcsu.edu Warner Hall 304, Midtown campus (203) 837-8470 (203) 837-8905 (fax)
J. Clark X. Hodza S. Ironbiter G. Lebanidze J. Lott G. Mangiameli C. Paone D. Richmond D. Shafer
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:
This major allows students to combine two different fields to best suit their interests and career plans. The gateway class to the major is HUM 151 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies. This class provides the basic tools for interdisciplinary study. Students then complete at least 18 credits in 2 different disciplines or concentrations. At least 1 of the concentrations must be from the Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences, and at least 6 credits in each concentration must be at the 300 or 400 level. Admission to the major requires a written rationale for the two concentrations selected. After completing all the classes in the 2 concentrations students take the capstone class for the major: HUM 451 Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies. In this class students complete a final interdisciplinary project that brings together their 2 concentrations. Please contact the Department of Philosophy and Humanistic Studies to initiate a major in Interdisciplinary Studies.
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.
Learning Outcomes
Students who take courses in philosophy will develop:
Students who take courses in humanistic studies will develop:
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.)
Current Logic Courses PHI 209 Informal Logic PHI 211 Formal Logic
Current History of Philosophy Courses PHI 231 Ancient Philosophy PHI 232 Medieval Philosophy PHI 233 Modern Philosophy PHI 234 19th and 20th Century Philosophy
Current Ethics Courses PHI 120 Introduction to Ethical Theory PHI 106 Philosophy of Happiness PHI 221 Ethical Issues in Business PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Health Care PHI 225 Ethics and the Animals 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
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.)
Formal Logic Courses 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
Informal Logic Courses 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
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.)
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/SOC 201 Criminology JLA/SOC 205—Juvenile Delinquency JLA/SOC 336—White Collar Crime JLA 408 Human Rights
Philosophy Courses PHI 221 Ethical Issues in Business PHI 223 Ethical Issues in Health Care PHI 225 Ethics and the Animals PHI 227 Ethics in Computing
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
Minor in Humanistic Studies (18 SH)
This minor requires 18 HUM credits, including HUM 151 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies, and at least 9 credits 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
Philosophy Courses
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.
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 2xx Indigenous Spirituality & Environmental Activism (3)
HPX/HUM 2xx Approaches to Well Being in Indo-Tibetan Philosophy (3)
HPX 353 Environmental and Global Health (3)
Humanistic Studies Courses
HUM 101 Our Relation to Nature (3)
HUM 212 Technology and Humanity (3)
HUM/HPX 246 Approaches to Well Being in Indo-Tibetan Philosophy (3)
HUM/HPX 247 Indigenous Spirituality & Environmental Activism (3)
HUM 421 Development & Humanitarian Ethics (3) (prereq: any one of the following courses: PHI, NUR, SW, ANT, SOC)
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)
PHI 225 Ethics and Animals (3)
PHI 226 Environmental Philosophy (3)
Political Science Courses
PS 315 Environmental Issues in International Relations (3)
Psychology Courses
PSY 270 Psychology of Sustainability (3) (prereq: PSY 100) Course Restrictions
For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.
