Learning Goals

        Philosophical training is intrinsically valuable but also exposes GE students who take philosophy courses to a discipline which fosters skill at developing and sustaining an argument, i.e., a reasoned attempt to justify an opinion; which looks for alternatives to the obvious or widely-accepted view; which examines deep issues that divide opinion by seeking  underlying principles and by distinguishing what is significant from what is not. Philosophy students are expected to express their ideas and arguments in written form, and are expected to improve their analytical writing skills. Philosophical discussions in the classroom are intended to foster listening and speaking skills and to provide practice at exploring, defending, and criticizing ideas and opinions with others. Students are expected to become familiar with some of the major figures and schools of thought in the philosophical tradition, and to develop an appetite for further study and learning.
        Students completing a B.A. in Philosophy should achieve the following content outcomes:

1. Knowledge of some of the main figures, movements and periods in the history of western philosophy and some knowledge of figures and issues in non-western philosophy;
2. Knowledge of twentieth century methods of philosophical inquiry;
3. Knowledge of some of the main issues in contemporary philosophy.

Students completing a B.A. in Philosophy should achieve the following competencies:

1. Ability to recognize, express and analyze arguments in philosophical texts;
2. Ability to read and interpret philosophical texts;
3. Ability to summarize and explain difficult ideas and concepts;
4. Ability to write philosophical essays that have coherent theses and reasonable supporting arguments;
5. Ability to understand reality from different perspectives and thus to understand that different people will define issues in different ways;

Moreover, the Philosophy program should develop in students a sense of the value and limits of philosophy, a reflective attitude and sensitivity to the subtleties and complexities of moral, political and aesthetic judgments and  a life-long commitment to learning and inquiry.

Assessment

These outcomes are measured in a variety of ways. In courses through exams, discussion sessions and essays. The department has also tested some goals through extensive testing of students across section of critical reasoning classes and by means of surveys of students.