Program Review: Philosophy Major

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Program Review Philosophy Major

• Programs engage in planning and review best
  when they organize these activities themselves.  
• WASC Program Review Timelines
• Review as Research Faculty as Principal
  Investigators
• Develop Measurable Program Goals Objectives
• http//dt.pepperdine.edu/goals_and_objectives/g_o_
  list.htm
• Build Curriculum Matrix
• Identify (Objective,Course) Pairings of Interest
• Collect Data
• Primary - Direct Embedded Evidence Student
  Writing, Projects, Pre/Post Exams
• Secondary - Indirect Evidence Alumni Feedback,
  Satisfaction Surveys, Interviews
• Philosophy Faculty Analyze Primary Data
• Program Planning and Review Report
• Report To University Planning Committee
• Outside Consultant, Program Retreat

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Philosophy MajorGoals (Ends)

• Write and speak convincingly about a
  philosophical problem.
• Analyze a variety of arguments, to locate their
  premises, evaluate their validity, and examine
  their soundness.
• Examine a number of the classical philosophical
  texts, several times in some instances.
• Study a number of secondary philosophical texts,
  evaluating the positions presented in those
  texts.
• Examine a variety of ethical positions, both
  classical and contemporary, both normative and
  metaethical.
• Examine a number of works of at least one major
  philosopher (e.g., Plato, Aristotle, Kant).
• Complete and present a report on a semester
  research project in philosophy.
• Become acquainted with a field of study other
  than philosophy.
•  

3
Philosophy MajorObjectives Student Learning
Outcomes (Means) - 1

• Submit term papers in upper-level philosophy
  courses.
• Take essay examinations in all philosophy
  courses.
• Complete a senior project in philosophy and
  present it orally.
• Participate in class and group discussions of
  philosophical problems.
• Study the informal language problems affecting
  arguments.
• Study Aristotelian procedures for analyzing
  arguments.
• Study formal methods for propositional and
  predicate logic.
• Become familiar with the analysis of
  philosophical texts in Introduction to
  Philosophy.
• Further explore Ancient Philosophy.
• Further explore Modern Philosophy.
• Study secondary literature related to study of
  primary texts.

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Philosophy MajorObjectives Student Learning
Outcomes (Means) - 2

• Study secondary literature for senior project.
• Analyze Aristotle, Kant, Mill.
• Explore utilitarianism, deontology, emotivism,
  virtue ethics.
• Study issues in metaethics, the nature of ethical
  language, etc.
• Examine the Socratic method (for Plato, e.g.).
• Study the Socratic dialogues.
• Study Platos theory of forms as a response to
  Socrates problems.
• Study Platos critique of Platonic theory of
  Forms.
• Complete a semester project in regular
  consultation with a member of the department.
• Present a project in the associated class.
• Complete 20 units of study in a field other than
  philosophy.

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Philosophy Curriculum Matrix (Introduce,
Practice, Master)