Course Directory

Special Topic Criminal Justice

Political Science and Philosophy

Philosophy Goes to the Movies

This course will explore and evaluate various philosophical themes and problems through the use of popular films chosen for their philosophical content. No prerequisite. Annually.

Political Science and Philosophy

Logic I - Critical Thinking

Develops students' skills in analyzing arguments. Examines forms of faulty reasoning and evaluates criteria for the evaluation of arguments. No prerequisite. Annually.

Political Science and Philosophy

Philosophy & Pop Culture

Introduces students to traditional philosophical topics and problems by reflecting on popular culture and contemporary cultural products such as films, literature, and music. Annually

Political Science and Philosophy

Intro To Phil

Introduces students to philosophical topics spanning the history of philosophy. Includes the nature of reality, knowledge and morality. Students will gain a deeper appreciation of the Socratic maxim: an unexamined life is not worth living. No prerequisite. Annually.

Political Science and Philosophy

Ethics

Introduces students to theoretical ethics and the consequences these theories have both personally and for public policy. Examines controversial moral issues. No prerequisite. Annually.

Political Science and Philosophy

Religions Of The World

Examines the philosophies and practices of the religions of the world, emphasizing Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. No prerequisite. Annually

Political Science and Philosophy

Ancient Greek Phil

Thinkers of ancient Greece, with special attention to Plato and Aristotle. No prerequisite. Annually.

Political Science and Philosophy

Bioethics

An inquiry into traditional and contemporary ethical issues in medicine, one of the most popular topics in applied ethics. Medical research, practice and public policy are addressed. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing (minimum)

Political Science and Philosophy

Environmental Philosophy

An inquiry into the philosophical aspects of issues concerning the environment. Environmental theories, policies, and practices are addressed. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing (minimum). Every other year

Political Science and Philosophy

Freud And Philosophy

The task of this course is to study Freud's psychoanalytic theory and its influence on philosophy. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing (minimum). Offered annually

Political Science and Philosophy

Modern Philosophy

A survey of philosophy during the 17th and 18th century, with special focus on Continental Rationalism and British Empiricism. No prerequisite. Annually.

Political Science and Philosophy

Contemp Ethical Issues

This course will examine and critically evaluate contemporary ethical issues. Topics may include, but are not limited to, biomedical ethics, business ethics, ethics and education, and environmental ethics. No prerequisite. Annually.

Political Science and Philosophy

Logic II - Symbolic Logic

A course in formal logic. Consists of a detailed examination of the logical structure, semantics, and proof methods of both sentential and predicate logic, as well as the application of those logics to ordinary English sentences and arguments. No prerequisite. Annually.

Political Science and Philosophy

Philosophy And Literature

This course will examine and critically evaluate various philosophical themes and problems through the use of literature chosen for its philosophical content. No prerequisite. Annually.

Political Science and Philosophy

Logic III-Scientific Reasoning

This course is a critical thinking course focused specifically on scientific claims and theories and on the scientific method itself. Students will be taught how to recognize and reconstruct inductive arguments typically employed by scientists; e.g., inductive generalizations, arguments from analogy, hypothetico-deductive arguments, etc., and will be taught how to evaluate these arguments for logical merit. Common problems in reasoning effectively regarding scientific issues (e.g. ad hoc auxiliary hypothesis, rival theories, etc.) will be discussed as will be solutions to these problems.|

Political Science and Philosophy

Spec Top In Phil

As needed.

Political Science and Philosophy

Ethics and Criminal Justice

This course is a survey of ethical issues for practitioners within the criminal justice system. Topics include: ethics of decision-making, origins of the concept of justice, dilemmas of police officers as crime fighters and public servants, fighting corruption, ethics and investigative methods, ethics as it relates to punishment, institutional and community corrections.

Political Science and Philosophy

Philosophy of Art

The task of the course is to examine the nature and value of art and artistic activity. The course examines the main theories of what art is and what role art should play in our lives. Sophomore standing or permission of instructor.

Political Science and Philosophy

Theory Of Knowledge

Detailed examination of the concepts of knowledge and of justified belief. Considers and evaluates various theories regarding the nature of these concepts. Investigates the possible sources of knowledge and justified belief. Critically examines vario,us skeptical hypotheses. No prerequisite. Every other year.

Political Science and Philosophy

Philosophy And Feminism

Examines traditional and contemporary feminist theories and their consequences for social and political philosophy. Explores various aspects of gender and attitudes concerning the nature of human beings discussed. No prerequisite. Every third year.

Political Science and Philosophy

Existentialism

Existentialism understands the human being as the one for whom its own existence is in question. To be human is to ask, implicitly or explicitly, the question of what it means to be. Existentialism, therefore, accords the self-questioning individuala privileged position from which to draw out philosophical insights on (1) rationality, (2) language, (3) values, (4) time, (5) meaning of human existence, (6) inter-personal relations, and (7) God, among other themes. No prerequisite. Annually.

Political Science and Philosophy

Independent Study: Philosophy

Concentrated exploration of an area of philosophy not covered by existing courses and under the direction of department faculty member. Prior to enrolling, students are required to submit a written proposal outlining their plan of study. Enrollment limited to juniors and seniors with consent of the instructor. Maximum number of credits in PHIL 400 is limited to nine.

Political Science and Philosophy

Philosophy Of Mind

Detailed investigation into the fundamental nature of mental phenomena. Discusses various theories of mind, e.g., dualism, philosophical behaviorism, philosophical functionalism, etc. Examines issues involving mental content, mental causation, and consciousness. Prerequisite: PHIL 111 or 211 or permission of instructor. Every other year.

Political Science and Philosophy

Intro To Political Sci

A comprehensive introduction to the political world, examining the mutlidimensional force shaping the contemporary scene. In addition to coverage of the classical topics such as political theory, idealogies, political regimes, bureaucracy, comparative and international politics, the course examines the impacts of the contemporary factors such as globalization and political economy, the demand for universal human rights, terrorism, and environmental politics. Each semester.

Political Science and Philosophy

American Government

Study of the general principles of the American system of constitutional government emphasizing the organization and functions of the national government--legislative, executive, and judicial. Examines the rights and duties of citizenship, the electorate, political parties, civil rights, and the growing regulatory function of government. Each semester.

Political Science and Philosophy

Politics And Film

Explores the relationship between movies, political attitudes, and the real world of American politics and government. Examines Hollywood's depiction of the presidency, campaigns and candidates, the mass media, political culture, and the struggle for civil rights and social justice. Introduces students to seminal political films and relevant readings that help place the movies and their messages in the context of important political events. Prerequisite: PS 210 or 211 or permission of the instru,ctor. Every year.

Political Science and Philosophy

Crime, Politic & Public Policy

Course treats the ways in which government treats crime as a public policy matter, with a predominant focus on legislative and executive branch activity. Topics may vary somewhat from year to year. Examples of policies to be examined and evaluatedinclude: reducing the incidence of crime, the politics of imprisonment, punitive and restorative justice, decriminalization, drugs and crime, death penalty, gun control, hate crimes, ""zero tolerance"" approaches, pornography, corporate crime, organized crime, and terrorism. The constitutional and legal framework of policies will also be considered.|

Political Science and Philosophy

Comparative Politics

Considers the central issues of comparative political inquiry, with an emphasis on advanced industrial nations and Latin America. On demand.

Political Science and Philosophy

Politics And Religion

Investigates the ways in which politics and religion interrelate, using theoretical and behavioral approaches. Examines issues in both domestic and international politics. Prerequisite: PS 210 or 211 or permission of instructor. Every other year.

Political Science and Philosophy

Special Topics

Offered occasionally.

Political Science and Philosophy

State Local Government

Detailed study of how our state and local governments function. Emphasizes Pennsylvania government. Requires independent study through outside projects. Every other year.

Political Science and Philosophy

Internat Politics

Presents a framework for analyzing the behavior of states, the basic factors which motivate and affect international policies, and the techniques of resolving international conflicts. Every other year.

Political Science and Philosophy

Const Law Of U S

A study of the development of the Constitution through the interpretations of the Supreme Court. Includes a study of the separation of governmental powers, political and judicial processes, federalism as a legal device, and the relationship of liberty and authority to the individual living under government. Prerequisite: PS 211. Spring, annually.

Political Science and Philosophy

Media, Elec & Party Politics

A survey course emphasizing the electorate, pressure groups, and public opinion, nature and history of political parties, party organization, methods of nominations, and elections. Examines the place of political parties and elections as instrumentsof democracy and their place in the framework of Pennsylvania's government. Fall, alternating years.

Political Science and Philosophy

Congress & Legis Process

Examines the legislative process in American representative government with primary concern given to the structure, operation, and development of the U.S. Congress.

Political Science and Philosophy

The American Presidency

Examines the history, practice, and political ideas related to the institution of the American presidency. Emphasizes the presidency's place within the constitutional system of separated powers and how that institution has evolved into the office wesee today. Alternate Fall Semesters.

Political Science and Philosophy

Criminal Procedure

A study of the law as it relates to arrest, search, and seizure with emphasis on present controlling legal decisions and historical development, philosophy, and public policy issues underlying these decisions. Prerequisite: PS 211, CRJT 110 or permission of instructor. Annually

Political Science and Philosophy

Cons Law-Civil Rghts/Lib

A study of the development of the Constitution of the United States through an examination of the decisions of the Supreme Court in the area of civil rights and liberties. Introduces some legal terminology and the case method. Prerequisite: PS 211. S,"pring, odd-numbered years.

Political Science and Philosophy

Anc-Med Pol Thgt

Explores the development of political theory from Plato to Machiavelli. Every year.

Political Science and Philosophy

Political Ideologies

Explores the development of political thinking in the modern period, emphasizing the development of ideologies. Particular attention given to liberalism, conservatism, Marxist and non-Marxist socialism, fascism, libertarianism, environmentalism, andcontemporary liberation ideologies. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing

Political Science and Philosophy

Public Policy And Admin

Introduces public administration emphasizing its function in the American political process. Applied public administration theory and practice to enduring and contemporary public policy challenges and achievements. Every other year.

Political Science and Philosophy

Amer Political Thought

Examines major political thinkers and ideas which have shaped the American political tradition. Emphasizes the competing ideas of government which were influential at the time of the American founding. Considers contemporary competing paradigms in Am,erican political thought.

Political Science and Philosophy

Empirical Political Analysis

Introduces students to the fundamental concepts and research methods used in political science. Provides students with an understanding of how and why political scientists conduct political research. Because the use of statistical/ empirical analysis," is an important part of the research process, students will be introduced to statistical applications used in political science. Prerequisites: MATH 221 or 222, CIS 110 and 217, or consent of instructor. Every other year.

Political Science and Philosophy