Upcoming Offerings

Fall 2026

Undergraduate Course Descriptions

ASIAN PHILOSOPHIES   

PHIL 1502                                                         MWF 10:10–11:00 am                                               Dr. Pearce

Introduces students to a variety of ancient Asian philosophical traditions. The first three quarters of the class will cover Chinese philosophy during the Warring States period, specifically Confucianism, Mohism, and Daoism. We will then examine an initially separate tradition within Indian philosophy: Buddhism.

CITIZENS AND THEIR CITIES     

PHIL 1502                                                         T/Th 4:00–5:15pm                                               Dr. Convertito

In this course we will examine the notions of “city” and of “citizen” from different geographic, cultural, and historical contexts as an introduction to the practices and uses of philosophical thinking.

HUMAN NATURE   

PHIL 1502                                                        MWF 9:05–9:55am                                                 Dr. Monque Lopez

We will explore different ideas about human nature, from ideas about human uniqueness and the human essence to categories like race, gender, sexuality, and disability.

EXISTENTIAL ISSUES IN NARRATIVE ETHICS         

PHIL 1512                                                        online asynchronous                                              Prof. Raymer

We will read a mix of fiction and nonfiction to explore whether concepts like “wellness,” “happiness,” and “choice,” instead of improving individual lives and social relations, are contributing to new forms of alienation.

CRITICAL THINKING IN PHILOSOPHY                                                            

PHIL 2100                                                        MWF 12:20–1:10pm                                                Dr. Talsma

Fundamental skills of clear thinking that help students reason better.

DEDUCTIVE LOGIC                                              

PHIL 2105                                                       various times                                                 various instructors

Principles of deductive logic, both classical and symbolic.

HEALTHCARE ETHICS                           

PHIL 2220                                                       MWF 10:10–11:00am                                            Prof. Raymer

An examination of major ethical dilemmas within medical science and biology.

ADAM SMITH – CAPITALISM AND THE MORAL SENTIMENTS                                 

PHIL 3009                                                        T 10:00am–12:45pm                                                Dr. Boisvert

This course will focus on the two great works of Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and The Wealth of Nations (1776). These works appear to conflict, the former advocating a theory of sympathetic and other-focused morality, the latter offering a self-focused economic and political theory. H/G

FEMINIST HEALTHCARE ETHICS                               

PHIL 3039                                                 various times (online)                                               Dr. Bradley-Volz

Feminist Healthcare Ethics examines various healthcare topics through a bio/ethical feminist lens. E/A

METAPHYSICS                                                      

PHIL 3059-001                                                 MWF 1:25–2:15pm                                                         Dr. Talsma

An introduction to the main themes in Western analytic metaphysics. Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that focuses on the nature of reality—how the world really is on a fundamental level. K/L

THE PERILS OF SOCIAL MEDIA                                    

PHIL 3059-002                                                 Th 10:00am–12:45pm                                             Dr. Ganapini

This course looks at the risks of social media, with a focus on disinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories. We will explore how people form beliefs, why false information spreads so easily, and how social media platforms shape what we see and who we trust online. K/L

HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF COMPUTING                                                         

PHIL 3079                                                       T/Th 5:30–6:45pm                                                   Dr. Williams

Students will gain the tools to explore and understand the developments of computing technology in multiple societies and relating to many lines of philosophical and social scientific inquiry. I/S

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY                                                         

PHIL 3212                                                       MW 2:30–3:45 pm                                                     Dr. Pearce

This course will explore a variety of themes and topics in American philosophy from the 1840s to the 1920s, focusing on the tensions and intersections between pragmatism and African American philosophy. H/G

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS                                                         

PHIL 3222                                                       M 4:00–6:45 pm                                             Dr. Monque Lopez

Critical reflection on the relationship between humans and the rest of nature through a survey of philosophical perspectives on the environment. Topics may include food ethics, resource extraction, environmental injustice, and creative thinking toward sustainability. E/A

DATA ETHICS                                            

PHIL 3224                                                       T/Th 4:00–5:15pm                                                   Dr. Williams

Study of ethical issues posed by the rise of big data and algorithmic systems. Topics may include surveillance, discrimination, methods of algorithmic governance, disability / access, AI, and critical theories of data. E/A

FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY                                          

PHIL 3261                                                       T/Th 2;30–3;45 pm                                Dr. Landerreche Cardillo

Overview of feminist critiques of the philosophical canon, contemporary feminist work on philosophical topics, and philosophical work on topics such as gender, sexuality, and intersectionality. I/S

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION                      

PHIL 3274                                                       T/Th 1:00–2:15pm                                                   Dr. Sanders

This course explores classic approaches to the philosophy of education and the contemporary moral problems faced by schools, including the effects of race, class, and gender on school culture. I/S

SEXUAL VIOLENCE ON FILM                                                    

PHIL 4039                                                       M 5:30–8:15pm                                                         Dr. Brintnall

We will engage a number of films that place representations of sexual violence at their narrative heart to think carefully about the nature, experience, motivations, and aftermath of sexual violence, as well as its relation to race, gender, class, sexual identity, trauma, and social organization generally. E/A

THE POLITICS OF THE BODY                                                    

PHIL 4079                                                       T 4:00–5:15pm (online)                                             Dr. Ramsey

This course examines how biological, historical, and cultural interpretations of race and gender have influenced and characterized the politicization of the human body. I/S