Philosophy Program Student Learning Goals and Outcomes

Student Learning Goal 1: Students will become critical thinkers who evaluate information and arguments wisely and examine how assumptions and positions are shaped.

• Student Learning Outcome 1.1
• Students can distinguish arguments from non-arguments and identify the premises and conclusion of arguments.
• Student Learning Outcome 1.2
• Students can correctly use the standards of informal and formal logic to evaluate the strength of arguments, including identifying fallacies, explaining the faulty reasoning of fallacies, and evaluating sources and evidence.
• Student Learning Outcome 1.3
• Students can construct a cogent, well-supported original argument.

Student Learning Goal 2: Students will learn to communicate effectively.

• Student Learning Outcome 2.1          
• Students can write a well-organized, well-written philosophical paper in which the arguments and positions presented in the readings are accurately and concisely summarized, and an original argument or analysis is offered in a compelling way.

Student Learning Goal 3: Students will be able to analyze moral judgments and engage in moral discourse using reason.

• Student Learning Outcome 3.1
• Students can accurately explain the main concepts and theories of ethics (e.g., egoism, altruism, rights, duties, utilitarianism, Kantianism, virtue ethics).
• Student Learning Outcome 3.2
• Students can accurately apply the main concepts and theories of ethics to case studies and contemporary moral issues.
• Student Learning Outcome 3.3
• Students can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the applications of the main concepts and theories of ethics to case studies and contemporary moral issues.

Student Learning Goal 4: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the views of some historically important philosophers from a variety of traditions.

• Student Learning Outcome 4.1
• Students can accurately explain the views of important philosophers in the fields of ethics, social and political philosophy, metaphysics, and epistemology.        
• Student Learning Outcome 4.2
• Students can take critical positions on the views of these philosophers.
• Student Learning Outcome 4.3
• Students will come to understand philosophy as an ongoing, living conversation of the great questions that face humanity.