PHIL

100

Introduction to Philosophy, LE

(3)

Introduction to some of the principal themes, works, figures, and topics in the Western philosophical tradition. Questions involving truth, value, human nature, knowledge, decision making, and rationality are examined.

PHIL

102

Critical Thinking, LE

(4)

Teaches the skills involved in clear thinking and intelligent reading applicable to all studies. Includes identification of fallacies in argumentation, a short treatment of deductive logic, and exercises in textual interpretation necessary for approaching the diverse genre of an educated person. An emphasis is placed on sound decision-making in life. This course is a prerequisite for all upper division philosophy courses.

PHIL

200FN

Humanities Foundation Course, LE

(4)

This course will introduce students to studies in the humanities. Through reading and discussing works of literature, philosophy, and history, students will investigate a theme. Investigation of this theme will introduce students to the history, methodologies, and practices of disciplines in the humanities. Themes have included human freedom, great issues in western civilization, the meaning of love, and human nature. Same as ENGL/HIST/ 200FN.

PHIL

201

History of Philosophy I

(3)

A treatment of ancient and medieval philosophy. Prerequisite: PHIL 102. Taught as a sequence in alternate years.

PHIL

202

History of Philosophy II

(3)

A treatment of modern and contemporary philosophy. Prerequisite: PHIL 102. Taught as a sequence in alternate years.

PHIL

206

Introduction to Ethics, LE

(3)

Moral philosophy from ancient to recent times. Problems involving value judgments, personal freedom and moral responsibility, and the application of philosophy to current issues in such areas as law, business, and biomedicine.

PHIL

300

Special Topics in Philosophy

(1-4)

Significant philosophical topics or themes are explored in certain sub-disciplines of philosophy. Examples of such courses are: The Ethics of Violence, Philosophy of Language, Advanced Topics in Logic, Existentialism and Phenomenology, Aesthetics, Philosophy of Literature. Prerequisite: PHIL 102. May be taken more than once for credit.

PHIL

302

Great Philosophers

(3)

A concentrated study of one or two related philosophers and the major themes of their important works. Prerequisite: PHIL 102.

PHIL

303

Formal Logic

(3)

Introduction to modern sentential and predicate logic. The nature of deductive and inductive argument, truth, validity and soundness, and the relationship between formal expression and natural language, with an emphasis on the application of formal logic to the analysis of arguments in ordinary language. Prerequisite: PHIL 102.

PHIL

307

Environmental Ethics

(3)

An examination of moral issues resulting from human use of the natural environment. Focuses on future responsibility as it results from action in the present, an examination of traditional secular and religious conceptions of morality which may have contributed to the "environmental crisis," and a consideration of alternative views such as zoocentrism, biocentrism, ecocentrism, ecofeminism, the "land ethic," and ecojustice. Prerequisite: PHIL 102.

PHIL

311

Philosophy of Religion

(3)

Philosophical issues in religion, including the nature of God, religious belief, the problem of evil, the prospect of immortality, and religious experience and its interpretation. Prerequisite: PHIL 102. Same as REL 311.

PHIL

390

Thesis Research Preseminar in Philosophy

(3)

A required seminar for senior philosophy majors, focusing on research, analysis, and writing techniques aimed at a particular topic or question in philosophy, in preparation for the production of a senior thesis in PHIL 490. Prerequisite: Philosophy major or consent of instructor.

PHIL

401

Directed Studies

(1-4)

A tutorial-based course used only for student-initiated proposals for intensive individual study of topics not otherwise offered in the Philosophy Program. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and school dean.

PHIL

440

Internship

(1-8)

Offers students the opportunity to integrate classroom knowledge with practical experience. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing (for transfer students, at least 15 hours completed at Westminster), minimum 2.5 GPA, completion of the Career Resource Center Internship Workshop, and consent of program director and Career Center Internship Coordinator.

PHIL

490

Research Seminar in Philosophy

(3)

A required seminar for Philosophy majors, continuing the work begun in PHIL 390. Prerequisite: PHIL 390.

REL

101

Religions of the World, LE

(3)

Survey of the origin, history, beliefs, and practices of the world's major religions.

REL

300

Special Topics in Religious Studies

(1-4)

Exploration of significant and relevant religious issues. Topics vary each semester. Recent topics include Theories of Religion and Women's Power and Spirituality. May be taken more than once for credit. Prerequisite: specific courses offered may have a prerequisite. Please see course schedule listings.

REL

311

Philosophy of Religion

(3)

Philosophical issues in religion, including the nature of God, religious belief, the problem of evil, the prospect of immortality, and religious experience and its interpretation. Prerequisite: PHIL 102. Same as PHIL 311.

REL

312

The Bible: Jewish and Christian Scriptural Traditions

(4)

A general course including an exploration of the Bible as a source of literary, philosophic, and religious themes. The historical sources of the Bible together with the breadth of its influence on Western civilization are examined.

REL

401

Directed Studies

(1-4)

A tutorial-based course used only for student-initiated proposals for intensive individual study of topics not otherwise offered in the Religion Program. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and school dean.

REL

440

Internship

(1-8)

Offers students the opportunity to integrate classroom knowledge with practical experience. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing (for transfer students, at least 15 hours completed at Westminster), minimum 2.5 GPA, completion of the Career Resource Center Internship Workshop, and consent of program director and Career Center Internship Coordinator.

REL

490

Research Seminar in Religious Studies

(3)

Required research seminar for Senior Religion minors, combining research on, and analysis of, a specific problem or topic in the critical study of Religion. The results of the student's research and analysis will be presented in the form of a senior thesis.