Philosophy Outcomes
Program Level Outcomes for Philosophy
Theory: Students will be able to identify and analyze the major currents of thought in philosophy.
Practical use of Philosophy: Students will be able to apply philosophical perspectives to contemporary issues.
Critical Thinking: Students will be able to analyze, synthesize and evaluate ideas and apply analytical
skills to solve problems.
Research: Students will be able to engage in literary research and interpret and evaluate research
studies.
Civic Engagement: Students will be able to recognize and respect the beliefs, opinions and values
of other individuals and cultures. Moreover, students will demonstrate an awareness
of personal, social, civic, and environmental responsibility.
Student Learning Outcomes for Philosophy
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) are a means to determine what students know, think, feel or do as a result
of a given learning experience. In this process, the outcomes are written by the department
or unit members. Outcomes assessment, including at the course, program, and institutional
levels, allows departments to discover if the students are, in fact, learning what
they are expected to learn. The use of assessment results stimulates discussion and
directs activities that can improve instructional delivery, curricula, programs, and/or
services.
PHIL 3/H Introduction to Logic
SLO 1: Students will be acquainted with the various forms of definitions and learn
to construct proper definitions.
SLO 2: Students will distinguish arguments from non-arguments.
SLO 3: Students will apply deductive and inductive reasoning methods to morals, politics,
science, literature, and everyday life scenarios.
SLO 4: Students will translate arguments into symbolic form to test their validity.
SLO 5: Students will analyze informal fallacies.
SLO 6: Students will distinguish and evaluate inductive and deductive arguments using criteria of evaluation such as valid/invalid, strong/weak, etc.
PHIL 4 Introduction to Symbolic Logic
SLO 1: Students will be acquainted with the various forms of definitions and learn
to construct proper definitions.
SLO 2: Students will distinguish arguments from non-arguments.
SLO 3: Students will apply deductive and inductive reasoning methods to morals, politics,
science, literature, and everyday life scenarios.
SLO 4: Students will translate arguments into symbolic form to test their validity.
SLO 5: Students will analyze informal fallacies.
SLO 6: Students will distinguish and evaluate inductive and deductive arguments using criteria of evaluation such as valid/invalid, strong/weak, etc.
PHIL 5/H Introduction to Philosophy
SLO 1: Students will be able to analyze the major philosophical schools of thought, primarily in the Western tradition,
although including some Eastern thought as well.
SLO 2: Student will be able to analyze the ideas of the major philosophers.
SLO 3: Students will be able to apply philosophical knowledge from the major philosophers
and schools of thought to real-world problems and contemporary issues.
SLO 4: Students will learn to read, analyze, and reflect on primary philosophical texts to
formulate their own understanding.
SLO 5: Students will be able to develop a logical philosophical argument.
SLO 6: Students will be able to critically evaluate philosophical theories in written
essay.
PHIL 8 Critical Thinking
SLO 1: Students will be able to distinguish inductive and deductive arguments.
SLO 2: Students will be able to identify the premises/reasons for supporting the conclusion
within an argument.
SLO 3: Students will be able to evaluate arguments (Strong/Weak, Valid/Invalid).
SLO 4: Students will learn to analyze informal fallacies.
SLO 5: Students will be able to apply problem-solving skills to their personal belief
systems and social issues.
PHIL 9/H Critical Thinking and Writing
SLO 1: Students will be able to distinguish inductive and deductive arguments.
SLO 2: Students will be able to identify the premises/reasons for supporting the conclusion
within an argument.
SLO 3: Students will be able to evaluate arguments (Strong/Weak, Valid/Invalid).
SLO 4: Students will learn to analyze informal fallacies.
SLO 5: Students will be able to develop a thesis statement that advances a clear argument.
SLO 6: Students will demonstrate proficiency (precision, clarity, organization) in
argumentative writing (with a min. of 6,000 words for the semester), where positions
are defended and ideas are explored.
PHIL 12/H Introduction to Ethics
SLO 1: Student will be able to analyze the ideas of the major moral philosophers.
SLO 2: Students will be able to analyze major philosophical schools of thought, including
Virtue Ethics, Deontological, and Utilitarianism.
SLO 3: Students will be able to apply moral reasoning to contemporary ethical issues
and moral problems.
SLO 4: Students will be able to analyze primary texts in ethics.
PHIL 15/H Major World Religions
SLO 1: Students will be able to identify the practice, belief and history of the major world
religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism,
Christianity and Islam.
SLO 2: Students will be able to compare and contrast a variety of religious themes.
SLO 3: Students will be able to analyze primary religious text.
SLO 4: Students will understand the impact of religion in the world at large.
PHIL 16 Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion
SLO 1: Evaluate religious concepts and arguments using the methods and tools of philosophy
of religion.
SLO 2: Compare and contrast the idea of God in classical theism with other views of
the Sacred, including Western
and Eastern philosophical positions.
and Eastern philosophical positions.
SLO 3: Analyze arguments for the existence of God, including the ontological, cosmological,
teleological, and moral
arguments, and analyze arguments that challenge them, such as the problem of evil.
arguments, and analyze arguments that challenge them, such as the problem of evil.
SLO 4: Analyze the different kinds of religious experience, including mystical experiences,
and whether or not they
justify religious belief.
justify religious belief.
SLO 5: Analyze issues related to pluralism of religious belief, such as exclusivism
vs. inclusivism.
SLO 6: Evaluate the relationship between science and religion, reason and faith, and
religion and morality.
SLO 7: Evaluate arguments for an afterlife and for miracles and understand philosophical
challenges to them.
PHIL 20A/H Introduction to Ancient Philosophy: Pre-Socratic to Medieval Period
SLO 1: Students will be able to analyze the major philosophers from ancient times to the
end of the Medieval period.
SLO 2: Students will be able to analyze philosophical systems of thought from ancient
times to the end of the Medieval period.
SLO 3: Students will be able to synthesize philosophical perspectives in relation
to their own lived experience in which they apply this obtained knowledge, skills,
and virtue to their own lives.
SLO 4: Students will be able to write philosophical essays, which reveal improved
skill in the presentation and evaluation of arguments, where the students clearly
and effectively present their own philosophical position.
20B/H Introduction to Modern Philosophy: Renaissance to Present
SLO 1: Students will be able to analyze the major philosophers from the Renaissance to the
contemporary period.
SLO 2: Students will be able to analyze philosophical systems of thought from the
Renaissance to the contemporary period.
SLO 3: Students will be able to synthesize philosophical perspectives in relation
to their own lived experience in which they apply this obtained knowledge, skills,
and virtue to their own lives.
SLO 4: Students will be able to write philosophical essays, which reveal improved
skill in the presentation and evaluation of arguments, where the students clearly
and effectively present their own philosophical position.
PHIL 99 Special Projects
SLO 1: Students will develop conceptual competence, demonstrate vigor of logical inquiry, and produce clarity of expression.
PHIL 312 Introduction to Biomedical Ethics
SLO 1: Compare and contrast the ethical positions relating to abortion, euthanasia,
stem cell research,
cloning, and human enhancement.
cloning, and human enhancement.
SLO 2: Critically evaluate the history of bioethics and the implications of past and
current research, including human
and animal research.
and animal research.
SLO 3: Analyze major ethical theories that relate to bioethics.
SLO 4: Analyze primary philosophical text that relates to bioethics.
SLO 5: Research, develop, and apply ethical arguments to contemporary bioethical issues.
