Current Courses

FALL 2026 Undergraduate Courses

Asian Philosophies

PHIL 1502 A01-A08 MWF various times 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 001 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 N01-N08 MWF various times 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 001 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.

Death and Dying: Moral and Medical Perspectives

PHIL 1512 Z01-Z07 MWF various times Dr. Toby Schonfeld

This course invites students to critically examine what it means to be dead and to be dying through both classical philosophical texts and contemporary scholarship. We will explore how medical and technological advances have shaped modern cultural attitudes toward death, dying, and the end of life. Special emphasis will be placed on applied ethical questions, including the moral and legal complexities surrounding euthanasia, physician‑assisted suicide, and decisions about withdrawing or withholding treatment. While the course focuses on practical moral reasoning, it begins with broader philosophical investigations into the nature of death, personal identity, and what it means for a life to end.

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 001-008 various times various instructors

Principles of deductive logic, both classical and symbolic.

Healthcare Ethics

PHIL 2220 001-002 Hybrid 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 online asynchronous 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. Bergamaschi 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

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