Current/Upcoming Course Offerings

Upper Division Courses Spring 2026

PHIL 306 Business Ethics (3).

A critical examination of representative moral issues that arise in the context of business. Focuses on topics such as the nature of professionalism, the social responsibility of business, regulation, employee rights and obligations, sexual harassment, economic justice, environmental impact, the limits of property rights, and conflicting international mores and practices. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 105 with a grade of C or better.

•  GEN ED Buckets 6 and 7
• Counts towards Applied Ethics for Ethics Concentration

PHIL 325. Formal Logic (3).

Studies systems of formal logic including sentential and predicate logic. Emphasizes the uses of these systems in the analysis of arguments. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 125.

PHIL 327.  Bioethics (3).

Examines ethical issues related to health care such as truth-telling to patients, confidentiality, euthanasia, abortion, prenatal obligations and distribution of health care. 

• GEN ED Buckets 6 and 7
• Counts towards Certificate in Health Humanities
• Counts towards Applied Ethics for Ethics Concentration
• Recommended for pre-Med and Health Professions students

PHIL 331.  Ancient Greek Philosophy (3).

Examines the development of Greek philosophy in its major phases, including an exploration of the Milesian and Eleatic traditions, Pythagoras, the Atomists, the Pluralists, the Sophists, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.

• GEN ED Bucket 6
• Counts towards World Philosophy Concentration

PHIL 352.  Contemporary Chinese Philosophy (3).

Surveys Chinese philosophy from the late 19th century to the present day. Covers major figures such as Sun Zhongshan (Sun Yat-sen) Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao, Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Also covers major schools of thought such as the New Culture Movement, Nationalism, Communism, Socialism, Maoism and the post-Mao Economic Reform Movement. Prerequisite(s): PHIL 100 or 144.

• GEN ED Bucket 6
• Counts towards World Philosophy Concentration
• Counts towards Asian Studies Certificate

PHIL 354.  Ethics and Computers (3).

Ethics with application to the ethical issues which may arise from the use of computers, including the moral responsibility of computer professionals for the effect their work has on persons and society; the moral obligations of a computer professional to clients, employer and society; the conceptual and ethical issues surrounding the control and ownership of software; and the justifiability of regulation of the design, use and marketing of computer technology. Prerequisite(s): junior standing or departmental consent.

• GEN ED Buckets 6 and 7
• Satisfies School of Engineering ethics requirement
• Counts towards Ethics Concentration

PHIL 385.  Engineering Ethics (3).

Examines representative ethical issues that arise in engineering. Topics include: professional responsibility and integrity, whistle-blowing, conflict of interest, ethical issues in engineering consulting and research, engineering and environmental issues, and engineering in a global context. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

• GEN ED Buckets 6 and 7
• Satisfies School of Engineering ethics requirement
• Counts towards Applied Ethics for Ethics Concentration

PHIL 410.  Philosophy of Medicine (3).

Focuses on the metaphysics and epistemology of medicine. What medicine is and how people understand it have broad implications well beyond the practice of medicine by licensed professionals. In this course, students delve into these issues by investigating concepts of disease and disability, theories of medicine, the evidence based medicine pyramid vs expert consensus and clinical judgment, medical paradigms like P4 (predictive, personalized, preventive, participatory), current practice and prospects for AI in medicine, and more. Course includes historical, multicultural and social justice considerations.

Explore the metaphysics, epistemology, and science of medicine:

• What is health? What is medicine?
• Causation and kinds
• Evidence and inference
• Objectivity and effectiveness
• Molecular and precision medicine
• Controversial cases and emerging technologies
• MedAI, CRISPR, psychedelics, …

• GEN ED Buckets 6 and 7
• Counts towards Certificate in Health Humanities

PHIL 699.  Directed Readings (3).

For the student interested in doing independent study and research in a special area of interest. Repeatable for credit. Prerequisite(s): departmental consent.

If you're a philosophy major who has a philosophical topic or project you'd like to pursue, please ocntact the instructor you'd like to work with or contact the department chair for a consultation as to which faculty might be appropriate.