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College Catalog 2013-2014 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Courses
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Music |
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MUSI 94 - Private Studio Instruction
(1 Credits)
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MUSI 95 - Private Studio Instruction
(1 Credits)
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MUSI 96 - Piano for Proficiency
(1 Credits)
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MUSI 97 - Piano for Proficiency
(1 Credits)
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MUSI 99 - Piano Proficiency Exam
(0 Credits)
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MUSI 110 - Music Appreciation
Focuses on listening to music and making sense of what we hear. Explores diverse musical styles and cultures with an emphasis on concert music of the western world, placing the music within cultural-historical frameworks. Spring semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 111 - World Music
This course surveys traditional, folk, and pop genres from major musical traditions in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. We approach music as both aesthetic and social processes, and explore the relationship between music making and other domains of human experience. Students will develop basic skills in critical listening, analysis, and writing about music. Course readings and audiovisual examples are designed primarily for non-music majors or minors. There is no prerequisite; previous knowledge of musical instrument or notation is not required. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 112 - Basic Musicianship
Basic elements of music including scales, intervals, basic music reading and writing skills, ear training and some keyboard. The course is especially designed for the general student and will operate at a slower pace than Theory I. Spring semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 113 - Theory I
In this course we explore theoretical concepts of diatonic music, including counterpoint, harmonic progression, and voice leading, always seeking answers to questions about how diatonic music works. Students will develop the ability to discuss and write about music in a sophisticated way. We will accomplish these tasks through written exercises, analysis, composition, and ear training. Specific topics covered include pitch, meter, intervals, scales, keys, triads, seventh chords, diatonic modes, figured bass, lead-sheet (chord) symbols, Roman numeral identification, part writing, cadences, basic harmonic function, sequence, phrases and periods, melody harmonization, non-chord tones, and basic principles of orchestration. Aural activities include sight singing, identification of pitch patterns, identification of scales, rhythmic dictation, rhythm reading, melodic dictation, harmonic dictation, identification of sonorities, identification of cadences, and contextual listening. Three lectures and one lab per week. Fall semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 114 - Theory II
In this course we explore theoretical concepts of chromatic music, including harmony, voice leading, and form, always seeking answers to questions about how chromatic music works. Students will develop the ability to discuss and write about music in a sophisticated way. We will accomplish these tasks through written exercises, analysis, composition, and ear training. Specific topics covered include review of diatonic harmony and voice leading, secondary dominants, modulation to closely related keys, small forms (binary, ternary), mode mixture, chromatic mediants, modulation by common tone, Neapolitan sixth chords, augmented sixth chords, descending tetrachord bass line, enharmonic modulation, extended tertian chords, altered chords, and an introduction to sonata form. Aural activities include sight singing, identification of pitch patterns, melodic dictation, harmonic dictation, identification of sonorities, identification of intervals, harmonic substitution, modulating harmonic dictation, three-chord progressions, and contextual listening. Three lectures and one lab per week. Prerequisite(s): MUSI 113 or permission of the instructor Spring semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 131 - African Music
Study of music in various African traditions within a social and historical context. Interrelationships between music and society (function, context, structure, gender roles, political considerations). Instruments, life-cycle rites, genres, musical organizations, traditional musicians, contemporary popular music. Fall semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 153 - Electronic Music
Electronic music composition explores the art of creating experimental sound compositions using analog and digital technology. Although we will survey the historical development of electronic music, the emphasis of the classis on composition, including multi-media and experimental work. The class format includes listening, discussion, lab sessions and a final concert showcasing works created throughout the semester. Enrollment limited to 13 to allow each student sufficient lab time. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 180 - Music, Race, and Ethnicity
This course examines issues of race and ethnicity in the history and performance of music across world cultures. Students develop an awareness of how racial and ethnic processes are ingrained in the production and consumption of musical sound. Assignments include critical listening, reading, class discussion, and writing projects. No prerequisite. Previous knowledge of musical instrument or notation is not assumed. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 194 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 213 - Theory III, Form and Analysis
Analysis of musical forms and musical development techniques with emphasis on music of the common practice period; advanced harmonic ear training. Prerequisite(s): MUSI 114 or permission of the instructor Fall semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 264 - History of Jazz
This course surveys the rich history and development of jazz music and its associated culture. A thorough exploration of jazz’s principal artists and style periods will be undertaken, along with related studies of race and conflict, gender, geography, and African-American cultural values. A particular emphasis is placed on listening; students will become familiar by ear with a wide variety of jazz repertoire, artists, and styles. Offered yearly. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 294 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 314 - Theory IV, Contemporary Theory and Literature
Survey of contemporary music and modern compositional techniques with emphasis on analytical skills. Prerequisite(s): MUSI 213 or permission of the instructor Spring semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 342 - Medieval to Mozart
This course traces the development of Western art music from its beginnings in the monophonic chant of early Christianity, through the development of polyphonic genres in the Renaissance (mass, motet, madrigal), to the emergence of opera in Italy around 1600 and the stylistic revolution that we now call the Baroque (including musical life in the extravagant court of Louis XIV in France and Johann Sebastian Bach’s masterful synthesis of Baroque styles), to the sophisticated, multi-movement sonata structures of late 18th century Viennese classicism. Its central concerns are: (1) to understand the place of music in social and cultural life, (2) to gain an appreciation of the musical style and rhetoric that characterizes each of the periods we study, and (3) to develop students’ abilities in communicating, in writing and the spoken word, what they have learned about this music and the culture in which it was produced. Course activities will take several forms, including lectures, musical analyses, and performances. Lectures will introduce key terms and concepts and will address broader concerns of cultural life (including composer biographies). In-class analysis and performance will lead to a more detailed understanding of key works. Examinations will test students’ retention of course listening and lecture/discussion/reading material. Essays will give students the opportunity to delve deeper into critical and musical analysis, and to sharpen their prose, specifically with respect to writing about music. The course assumes no historical knowledge of the periods in question. However, basic skills in the analysis of music are necessary.
Offered every fall semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 343 - Western Music of the 19th Century
This course provides a survey of Western art music from the early works of Ludwig van Beethoven, composed in the mid-1790s, to the symphonic works of the generation of modernist composers born around 1860 (Gustav Mahler, Jean Sibelius, Giacomo Puccini, Richard Strauss). One principal aim of the course is to expose students to a large quantity of multi-national Western music in a variety of genres and styles, thus leading students to a deeper understanding of the development of musical style in the nineteenth century. In addition to the musical works themselves, and no less importantly, the course stresses the contexts surrounding the musical texts. Lectures address the political, cultural, and intellectual history that directed the path of musical style in this period. Students are therefore expected to become familiar not only with specific works and the stylistic footprints of many composers, but also with the significant cultural-historical events and trends that informed composition during this period–the pan-European revolutions of 1848, the aesthetic ideology of autonomous music, the public music culture of the European bourgeoisie, the relationship between musical reception and various strains of European nationalism, and so on. Classroom activities include lectures, directed listening of pieces on the listening list (and sometimes, for comparison, other works), some formal and stylistic analysis, and discussion. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor. Offered every spring semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 350 - American Pop, Rockabilly, and Soul, 1954-64 Cross-Listed as AMST 350
This course provides an in-depth look at one crucial period in American popular-music history, addressing in particular the roles that racial categories played in the production, dissemination, and reception of music in three dominant streams within the culture of American popular music. Topics for close study will include: Sam Philips’s practices of recording of black and white musicians for Sun Studios in Memphis during the 1950s; the early “crossover” hits of such recording arts as Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley; the doo wop repertory and theories of whiteness; issues of race, gender, and sexuality in the music of the “girl groups”; and a comparison of white-owned Stax Records and black-owned Motown in the early-mid 1960s. The course will move from a broad overview of the era at the beginning of the semester, through a discussion of conceptual, critical, and methodological issues, and into more detailed case studies of various recording artists, institutions, and repertories. The course aims to examine ways in which social and historical constructions of race operated on many levels, from the national industry (e.g., the Billboard charts), to regional and local scenes (e.g., the studio and “space/place” theory), to performative, technological, and aesthetic realms that intersect directly with issues of subjectivity and identity. This course is intended for upper-level majors and minors in Music and American Studies. It is designated as a seminar and not a lecture course; students will be responsible for leading class on a regular basis, coming prepared with handouts and sets of questions/topics for discussion. Generally offered alternate years. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 361 - Composition
Instruction in composition starting with exercises in motific and harmonic manipulation of materials, and leading to directed composition for available performers. Meetings will be as a group and as individuals. Composers will have at least two works performed on scheduled evening concerts. Prerequisite(s): MUSI 213 or permission of the instructor Fall semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 370 - Conducting
Emphasizes basic techniques, including beat patterns, baton techniques, score preparation and rehearsal techniques. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 394 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 405 - Ethnomusicology Cross-Listed as ANTH 405
This course introduces students to the field of ethnomusicology through its philosophical foundation, theoretical models, and disciplinary practices. Topics include comparative approach, structuralist/functionalist models, cultural relativism, organology, bi-musicality, reflexivity, post/modernism, among other recent research directions. Assignments are designed to develop skills in musical fieldwork, transcription and analysis, as well as preparing and presenting scholarly findings in ethnographic disciplines. This course is aimed primarily for students of music and/or anthropology. There is no prerequisite, hower basic knowledge or experience in world music and performance is desirable. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 425 - Seminar in Composers/Genres
Intended for upper-level majors and minors in Music, this course provides the opportunity for in-depth study of the works of a single composer, or of several works within a given genre or historical era. Topics will change regularly; recent offerings have included Beethoven, Verdi, and Shostakovich. In addition to close analysis of significant works, course readings from the from the musicological and culture-critical literature will also introduce students to both classic and current scholarship in these topics. Skills in musical analysis are essential for this course. This course may be taken twice and counted both times toward the Music major or minor if the topic is different. Prerequisite(s): MUSI 114 (Theory II). MUSI 213 (Theory III: Form and Analysis) also highly recommended. Permission of instructor. Offered alternate years. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 488 - Senior Project
Intensive guided preparation for the presentation of a project involving recital performance, composition and/or music research. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor (1 - 4 Credits)
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MUSI 494 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 601 - Tutorial
Tutorials are available for advanced study. Typical areas include counterpoint, composition, advanced choral or instrumental conducting, orchestration, and research. See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Every semester. (1 Credits)
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MUSI 602 - Tutorial
Tutorials are available for advanced study. Typical areas include counterpoint, composition, advanced choral or instrumental conducting, orchestration, and research. See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Every semester. (2 Credits)
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MUSI 603 - Tutorial
Tutorials are available for advanced study. Typical areas include counterpoint, composition, advanced choral or instrumental conducting, orchestration, and research. See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Every semester. (3 Credits)
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MUSI 604 - Tutorial
Tutorials are available for advanced study. Typical areas include counterpoint, composition, advanced choral or instrumental conducting, orchestration, and research. See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Every semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 611 - Independent Project
See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Every semester. (1 Credits)
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MUSI 612 - Independent Project
See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Every semester. (2 Credits)
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MUSI 613 - Independent Project
See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Every semester. (3 Credits)
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MUSI 614 - Independent Project
See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Every semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 621 - Internship
See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (1 Credits)
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MUSI 622 - Internship
See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (2 Credits)
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MUSI 623 - Internship
See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (3 Credits)
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MUSI 624 - Internship
See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. Every semester. (4 Credits)
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MUSI 631 - Preceptorship
See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (1 Credits)
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MUSI 632 - Preceptorship
See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (2 Credits)
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MUSI 633 - Preceptorship
See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (3 Credits)
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MUSI 634 - Preceptorship
See the Independent Study section of this catalog. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (4 Credits)
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Neuroscience Studies |
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NEUR 180 - Brain, Mind, and Behavior Cross-Listed as
A multidisciplinary investigation of behavior and the nervous system. Particular emphasis is placed on human processes of perception, cognition, learning, memory, and language. This course serves as the introductory course for the neuroscience studies major. Fall semester. (4 Credits)
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NEUR 240 - Principles of Learning and Behavior Cross-Listed as PSYC 240
This course provides an in-depth introduction to the principles and methods used in the study of how behavior changes as a function of experience. The emphasis will be on classical and operant conditioning principles and procedures, which have become the standard research technologies used in biomedical, psychopharmacological, and other animal laboratory research areas. The laboratory component is designed to give students experience with behavioral technology and data collection and analysis. Group A course. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 (4 Credits)
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NEUR 244 - Cognitive Neuroscience Cross-Listed as
Cognitive neuroscience is a relatively recent discipline that combines cognitive science and cognitive psychology with biology and neuroscience to investigate how the brain enables the myriad of complex functions we know as the mind. This course will explore basic concepts and contemporary topics in the field, focusing in particular on the methods used in cognitive neuroscience research. Through lecture and lab sessions, students will learn to read and interpret primary source material, design and implement cognitive neuroscience studies, and present research in verbal and written forms. Overall, students will gain an appreciation for the amazing intricacy of the brain-mind relationship, as well as a sense of how this relationship may be understood eventually using cognitive neuroscience techniques. Group A course. Prerequisite(s): NEUR 180 or Fall semester. (4 Credits)
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NEUR 246 - Exploring Sensation/Perception Cross-Listed as PSYC 246
An examination of the processes of sensation and perception. While the course features a strong emphasis on neurophysiology of sensation, classical approaches to the study of perception will also figure prominently. Particular emphasis will be placed on vision and somatosensation, including pain processes. Lecture and weekly 3.5 hour investigatory laboratory. Prerequisite(s): .PSYC 100 or PSYC 180 or and permission of instructor Offered occasionally. (4 Credits)
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NEUR 248 - Behavioral Neuroscience Cross-Listed as PSYC 248
An examination of the role of the nervous system in the control of behavior. While the course features a systems approach to the investigation of sensory and perceptual mechanisms, molecular, cellular and cognitive components of the nervous system will also be discussed in the context of course topics. Particular emphasis is given to the nature of learning, memory, and motor processes, motivation, emotion, homeostasis, cognition, and human neuropsychology. The laboratory will be used for a variety of instructor-demonstrative and student participatory research and laboratory activities. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 180 or BIOL 163 or BIOL 367 or or permission of instructor Spring semester. (4 Credits)
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NEUR 300 - Directed Research
Students are involved and guided in conducting research within specific content areas approved by the supervising faculty. Research may be conducted individually or in small groups depending on the content area. Research groups meet regularly for presentation of background material, discussions of common readings, and reports on project status. Directed research is typically taken in the junior year and is open only to declared majors. Students will be assigned to sections by the supervising faculty. Prerequisite(s): NEUR 180 or and permission of instructor Spring semester. (4 Credits)
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NEUR 362 - Philosophy of Mind Cross-Listed as PHIL 262
Materialism, rather than solving the problem of mind, consciousness and intentionality, has spawned numerous philosophical perplexities. This course will examine a variety of philosophical problems associated with contemporary models of the mind (mind/body dualism; mind/brain identity theories; behaviorism; functionalism and artificial intelligence; eliminative naturalism and folk psychology; biological naturalism). The course will also look at contemporary philosophical accounts of personhood and personal identity, particularly narrative accounts of the self. Readings will typically include David Chalmers, Daniel Dennett, Owen Flanagan, Derek Parfit, Marya Schechtman, John Searle, Galen Strawson, and Kathleen Wilkes. (4 Credits)
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NEUR 385 - Mind Reading: Understanding Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Cross-Listed as
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive technique used to provide indirect measures of neural activity in healthy (and unhealthy) humans. Although the technique has been readily available to researchers for only about 20 years, its popularity and use has grown tremendously in the last 10, and we now see it influencing aspects of culture and society not traditionally based in biomedical research (i.e., law, politics, economics). This course will cover the mechanics of fMRI, evaluate its strengths and weaknesses, and explore recent applications that have received wide and sometimes controversial media coverage. By the end of the course, students will understand essential components of the fMRI technique and be informed consumers of primary and secondary source reports involving brain imaging. Prerequisite(s): or or and and either or Spring semester. (4 Credits)
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NEUR 389 - Inside the Animal Mind Cross-Listed as PSYC 389
Ever wondered what your dog is thinking or why your cat behaves a certain way? In this course students will be introduced to the questions and concepts in the study of animal cognition and the neurobiological basis for cognition. We will take a peek into the animal mind and show that many topics in animal cognition can be studied in an objective and scientific manner. The format of the seminar will include student led discussion of recent topics in the study of animal cognition. Topics may include: animal sensory abilities, abstract representations (e.g., numbers and time) cause and effect detection, memory and emotion systems and their neurobiological basis, insight and reasoning, theory of mind, and communication. Book chapters and journal articles will be employed to illustrate these concepts. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 and PSYC 201 ; or PSYC 180 and permission of instructor. (4 Credits)
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NEUR 484 - Intro Artificial Intelligence Cross-Listed as
An introduction to the basic principles and techniques of artificial intelligence. Topics will include specific AI techniques, a range of application areas, and connections between AI and other areas of study (i.e., philosophy, psychology). Techniques may include heuristic search, automated reasoning, machine learning, deliberative planning and behavior-based agent control. Application areas include robotics, games, knowledge representation, logic, perception, and natural language processing. Prerequisite(s): or or and or or permission of instructor Alternate fall semesters. (4 Credits)
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NEUR 488 - Senior Seminar
This two-semester seminar provides an integrative view of neuroscience through study and discussion of current works arising from major sub-areas of the field. The seminar will generally follow a three-week cycle throughout the year. In the first week, students will read and discuss papers by an outside researcher from a discipline related to the program. In the second week, students will attend a talk given by that researcher. In the third week, students will critically discuss the research presented and consider how that work relates to work in other areas of neuroscience as well as their particular area of emphasis. Students will be expected to present to the group the research they themselves did in the research experience component of the major. Open to seniors; students must register for the course in both the fall and spring semesters. Course offered on S/NC grading only. (2 Credits)
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NEUR 601 - Tutorial
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. (1 Credits)
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NEUR 602 - Tutorial
Research methodology tutorial: Tutorial in research methodology; a minimum number of hours will be required in laboratory each week. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor required. (2 Credits)
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NEUR 603 - Tutorial
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. (3 Credits)
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NEUR 604 - Tutorial
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Every semester. (4 Credits)
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NEUR 611 - Independent Project
This course provides an opportunity to pursue independent research or study on a topic in the field of neuroscience. This may be done with a faculty member at Macalester or at another college or university under direct supervision. Students must have the appropriate academic and coursework background before an independent study will be approved. Every semester. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. (1 Credits)
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NEUR 612 - Independent Project
This course provides an opportunity to pursue independent research or study on a topic in the field of neuroscience. This may be done with a faculty member at Macalester or at another college or university under direct supervision. Students must have the appropriate academic and coursework background before an independent study will be approved. Every semester. (2 Credits)
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NEUR 613 - Independent Project
This course provides an opportunity to pursue independent research or study on a topic in the field of neuroscience. This may be done with a faculty member at Macalester or at another college or university under direct supervision. Students must have the appropriate academic and coursework background before an independent study will be approved. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Every semester. (3 Credits)
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NEUR 614 - Independent Project
This course provides an opportunity to pursue independent research or study on a topic in the field of neuroscience. This may be done with a faculty member at Macalester or at another college or university under direct supervision. Students must have the appropriate academic and coursework background before an independent study will be approved. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Every semester. (4 Credits)
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NEUR 621 - Internship
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. (1 Credits)
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NEUR 622 - Internship
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. (2 Credits)
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NEUR 623 - Internship
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. (3 Credits)
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NEUR 624 - Internship
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Internship Office. (4 Credits)
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NEUR 632 - Preceptorship
This preceptorship offers an opportunity for advanced students to become more involved in neuroscience courses by assisting faculty with teaching, particularly in laboratory settings. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (2 Credits)
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NEUR 634 - Preceptorship
This preceptorship offers an opportunity for advanced students to become more involved in neuroscience courses by assisting faculty with teaching, particularly in laboratory settings. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Work with Academic Programs. Every semester. (4 Credits)
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Philosophy |
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PHIL 115 - Introduction to Philosophy
An introduction to philosophy through topics found in classical philosophical writings, such as the nature of truth and knowledge, mind and body, freedom and determinism, right and wrong, and the existence of God. Course content varies from instructor to instructor. Specific course descriptions will be available in the department prior to registration. Every semester. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 119 - Critical Thinking
This course introduces and explores the main principles and methods of Critical Thinking: distinguishing between good and bad arguments; identifying common fallacies; developing strong and persuasive arguments; the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning; constructing logical proofs; the nature of scientific, moral, and legal reasoning; evaluating polls and statistical hypotheses; understanding probability; deciding how to act under uncertainty. Students will apply these principles and methods to numerous academic and ‘everyday’ contexts, including journals, the print press, blogs, political rhetoric, advertising and documentaries. We will regularly reflect upon more broadly philosophical matters related to Critical Thinking - such as the nature of truth and objectivity and the distinction between science and pseudo-science - and examine a number of intriguing philosophical paradoxes. Students will improve their skills in writing clear and compelling argumentative papers and critically analyzing the writings of others. Course work includes reading, class discussion, regular homework assignments, quizzes, and short argumentative essays. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites. Every year. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 120 - Introduction to Symbolic Logic
An introduction to formal methods for evaluating deductive arguments. Topics include formal fallacies, decision procedures, translation of arguments to argument forms, and natural deduction proofs in propositional and predicate logic. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites. Every year. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 125 - Ethics
An introductory philosophy course that concentrates on concepts and issues, such as the nature of value, duty, right and wrong, the good life, human rights, social justice, and applications to selected problems of personal and social behavior. Topics may include liberty and its limitations, civil disobedience, abortion, affirmative action, capital punishment, terrorism and the morality of war, animal rights and environmental ethics. Every semester. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 194 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 227 - Bioethics
Bioethics deals with a variety of ethical issues arising in the context of medical care and biomedical research. These issues include informed consent, euthanasia, reproductive rights, confidentiality, and the distribution of health care resources. The course uses ethical theory to shed light on issues in medicine, and issues in medicine to illuminate ethical theory. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 125 or permission of instructor. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 229 - Environmental Ethics Cross-Listed as ENVI 229
Emerging in the 1970s, the field of environmental ethics began by sparking a rich line of philosophical inquiry largely focused on the moral status of the natural world and the non-human entities within it. What reasons do we have to give moral consideration to the environment? And what do we mean when we say we have a moral duty toward the environment? Do we have moral duties to individuals within a species, or to species themselves, or to ecosystems, or to…? This course will invite you to reflect on key philosophical works that engage these and related questions. You will also have the opportunity to think about significant emerging topics in environmental ethics. Depending on the semester, these may include the debate over the ethics of wilderness preservation; the challenges of expanding environmental ethics to address issues of global climate change and resource sustainability; environmental rights; and environmental justice. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 230 - Ancient/Medieval Philosophies
A study of major philosophers of ancient Greece, Rome and the medieval period, including the Pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, the Stoics, Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas. Every year. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 231 - Modern Philosophy
A study of the 17th and 18th century philosophers, including the Empiricists, Rationalists, and Kant. The course considers issues regarding skepticism, justification, freedom of the will, personal identity, perception and the existence of God. Every year. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 235 - Existentialist Metaphysics
“All living is one’s own living, feeling oneself live, knowing oneself to be existing, where knowing does not imply intellectual knowledge or any special wisdom but is that surprising presence which one’s life has for every one of us” (Jose Ortega y Gasset). For those thinkers whose work is associated with the philosophical tradition of existentialism, the understanding of human existence represents a singular gateway to the understanding of being, the general object of the study of metaphysics. But just what does it mean to exist? In this course, we will reflectively consider responses to this and other questions that play a key role within existentialist metaphysics. Typically, readings will be drawn from works by philosophers such as Martin Heidegger, Karl Jaspers, Jean-Paul Sartre, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and Jose Ortega y Gassett. While there is no prerequisite for this course, some familiarity with the history of European philosophy would be helpful. Offered alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 236 - Indian Philosophies Cross-Listed as ASIA 236
An introductory study of some of the great philosophers and philosophical problems of the Indian philosophical tradition focusing on Buddhist and Hindu philosophical debate from the time of the Buddha to around 1000 CE. Topics will include the role of philosophy in the Indian intellectual and religious tradition; Indian logic; the relationship between philosophy and practice (yoga, meditation); what counts as knowledge (pramana theory); ultimate truth versus conventional truth; Buddhist/Hindu debate on the nature of persons, rebirth and karma; competing theories of reality (momentariness, emptiness, non-dualism, realism) and methodologies of cross-cultural philosophy. Students will learn the basic Sanskrit terminology of Indian philosophy and will work with primary source material in translation. Every year. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 238 - Philosophy of Religion Cross-Listed as
Philosophical analysis of problems in religion and theology such as arguments for the existence of God and the nature of religious knowledge. The Philosophy of Religion seeks an understanding of religion by raising philosophical questions about its underlying assumptions and implications. When we believe something it is because we think it is true and because we think we have good evidence to support our belief. In the case of religious beliefs, however, we are immediately faced with questions concerning the nature of such beliefs. What claims do they make? What would count as good evidence for a religious belief? What is the nature of religious truth? In this course we will examine the nature of religious beliefs and the ways in which philosophers in different traditions have justified or argued against such beliefs. Perhaps in response to the increasing challenge to religion from the natural sciences, twentieth century philosophers have questioned the traditional philosophical approach to religion. Some philosophers, Wittgenstein for example, question traditional interpretations of religious language and re-examine the relationship between faith and reason. Can religious life be practiced without a theology or with skepticism or agnosticism regarding theological questions? Other topics covered in the course include the attempt to introduce intelligent design into public schools as part of the science curriculum; religious pluralism; the belief in life after death; and feminist critiques of religious language. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 250 - Philosophy of Human Rights
Although human rights play an obviously important international role, philosophers have found human rights puzzling and difficult to justify. What does it mean to say a person has a moral right or a human right? What is the relationship between human rights stated in international covenants and human rights that are said to be morally binding? Aside from questions about the nature of human rights, the course will consider possible justifications for human rights, both legal and moral, as well as arguments that ther are no human rights. The course will take up the issue of whether it is possible to adopt human rights while respecting the diversity of human cultures, religions, and moral views. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 251 - Human Rights and Healthcare
Human rights and healthcare are intimately connected. Human rights are used both to protect human subjects in biomedical research and to support claims for adequate healthcare. The use of human rights to protect human research subjects raises issues of informed consent, privacy, and individual autonomy. The use of human rights to secure healthcare resources raises issues about what level of healthcare ought to be supported and what constitutes a just distribution of healthcare resources. The course also explores recent work on the way in which human rights and public health combine in the quest to secure overall wellbeing. In general the course views public health through the framework of human rights. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 252 - Philosophy of Law
An analysis of fundamental legal concepts and the problems of justifying various legal practices. Topics may include the relationship between law and morality, the distinction between the criminal and civil law, theories of constitutional and statutory interpretation, and the appropriate role of the judiciary. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 125 (or permission of instructor) Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 254 - Ethics and the Internet Cross-Listed as COMP 154
This course looks at ethical questions connected with the internet as we know it today: an online environment where content is generated and shared through user activities such as blogging, media sharing, social neetworking, tagging, tweeting, virtual world gaming, wiki developing, and the like. We will start by considering debates over freedom of speech, privacy, surveillance, and intellectual property: issues that pre-exist the development of the Internet, but which because of it have taken on new dimensions. From here we will go on to take up some ethical questions arising from four different domains of activity on the social web: gaming, social networking, blog/wiki developing, and “hacktivism.” In the third part of the course, we will consider broad questions connected to the integration of the Internet with devices other than the personal computer and mobile phone and which open the prospect of a world of integrated networked systems. What are some of the impacts of such integration on our everyday ethical relations with others and on the overall quality of our lives? How does being networked affect the meaning of being human? Offered alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 262 - Philosophy of Mind Cross-Listed as NEUR 362
Materialism, rather than solving the problem of mind, consciousness and intentionality, has spawned numerous philosophical perplexities. This course will examine a variety of philosophical problems associated with contemporary models of the mind (mind/body dualism; mind/brain identity theories; behaviorism; functionalism and artificial intelligence; eliminative naturalism and folk psychology; biological naturalism). The course will also look at contemporary philosophical accounts of personhood and personal identity, particularly narrative accounts of the self. Readings will typically include David Chalmers, Daniel Dennett, Owen Flanagan, Derek Parfit, Marya Schechtman, John Searle, Galen Strawson, and Kathleen Wilkes. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 283 - Darwin/Nietzsche/Freud Cross-Listed as GERM 327
We all have values; but what are they based on? Perhaps no two thinkers have asked this question as persistently and approached it with such intrepid originality as Friedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud. Writing in an age when religious belief had lost credence as a foundation for ethics, Nietzsche and Freud confronted the groundlessness of value systems while recognizing the impossibility of living without them. Both were reacting to Darwin’s discovery of natural selection, which dispelled nature’s divine aura and inaugurated what Nietzsche would call the “death of God.” The course explores the challenges to value judgments in the wake of Darwin and attempted solutions to them, centering on the four domains of ethics, subjectivity, aesthetics, and cultural value. Readings will include excerpts from Darwin’s The Origin of Species; Nietzsche’s The Genealogy of Morals, The Gay Science, and the texts posthumously published as The Will to Power; Freud’s Totem and Taboo, Civilization and Its Discontents, and Beyond the Pleasure Principle; as well as other works. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 294 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 360 - Philosophy of Science
Are quarks “real”? Does science lead to objective knowledge? Is there really a scientific method? How do we distinguish between creation “science” and evolution; or astrology and astronomy? These questions are asked in philosophy of science, which studies the fundamental processes, principles, and presuppositions of the natural sciences. The social and historical contexts of the sciences are also considered. Topics include: science vs. pseudoscience, scientific explanation, scientific revolutions, the philosophy of space and time, the theory of evolution, theories of confirmation, objectivity in science, and realism vs. relativism. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 120 , PHIL 115 , or permission of the instructor. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 364 - Philosophy of Language Cross-Listed as
What is language and what is it for? What makes a series of sounds into a meaningful sentence? What makes a sentence true? Why is language always changing? This course will introduce students to ways in which twentieth century philosophers have attempted to provide answers to such questions. Since the philosophy of language has been so crucial to contemporary philosophy, this course also serves as an introduction to philosophical thought from the beginning of twentieth century to the present. Topics will range from more technical problems (theories of meaning, reference and truth; synonymy and analyticity; universals and natural kinds; private languages) to broader issues examining the relationship between language and culture (language games; radical interpretation; social change). Readings typically include writings by Ludwig Wittgenstein, W.V. Quine, John Searle, Donald Davidson, Richard Rorty, Michel Foucault, and bell hooks. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 231 , or permission of instructor. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 365 - Philosophy of Mathematics Cross-Listed as
Why does 2 + 2 equal four? Can a diagram prove a mathematical truth? Is mathematics a social construction or do mathematical facts exist independently of our knowing them? Philosophy of mathematics considers these sorts of questions in an effort to understand the logical and philosophical foundations of mathematics. Topics include mathematical truth, mathematical reality, and mathematical justifications (knowledge). Typically we focus on the history of mathematics of the past 200 years, highlighting the way philosophical debates arise in mathematics itself and shape its future. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 120 , MATH 136 , or permission of the instructor. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 367 - 20th Century Continental Philosophy
Close reading, reflection, and analysis of a work or works associated with a major figure or movement within the tradition of twentieth-century Continental philosophy. Prerequisite(s): one course in the history of philosophy or permission of instructor. Offered alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 369 - Advanced Symbolic Logic Cross-Listed as
A second course in symbolic logic which extends the methods of logic. A main purpose of this course is to study logic itself-to prove things about the system of logic learned in the introductory course. This course is thus largely logic about logic. Topics include second order logic and basic set theory; soundness, consistency and completeness of first order logic; incompleteness of arithmetic; Turing computability; modal logic; and intuitionistic logic. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 120 , MATH 136 , or permission of instructor. Alternate years. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 394 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 488 - Seminar: Topics
A study of some movement, philosopher or problem in the tradition of Western philosophy. Primarily for juniors or seniors majoring, or doing significant work, in philosophy. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor. Offered on an occasional basis. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 489 - Senior Seminar
A capstone experience in philosophy for senior majors and others with sufficient background. Recent topics have included: realism vs. anti-realism, pragmatism, normativity, and Wittengenstein. The topics are usually addressed from various points of view and may involve several members of the department in some of the instruction. One aim of the course is for participants to get an overview of their major field by examining the fruitfulness of various ways of doing philosophy. It is also an opportunity for seniors to present for discussion their senior papers, written for this or for some other course. Prerequisite(s): Philosophy major and senior status, or permission of instructor. Every fall. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 494 - Topics Course
Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing. (4 Credits)
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PHIL 601 - Tutorial
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. (1 Credits)
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PHIL 602 - Tutorial
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. (2 Credits)
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PHIL 603 - Tutorial
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. (3 Credits)
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