ACADEMIC LEARNING COMPACT
The mission of the Philosophy department is to expose students to a broad range of topics and methods of inquiry: Socratic questioning of the extent and nature of human knowledge, probing the rational basis of moral and political thought, confrontation with fundamental questions of value and meaning, analysis of basic concepts underlying theoretical and practical thought, reflection on the human existential situation, and exploring the structure of reasoning itself. The great philosophers are studied both for historical understanding and contemporary significance.
Florida International University graduates in Philosophy should be able to do
the following:
Content/Discipline Knowledge
1. Explain philosophical problems relevant to a specified topic.
2. Evaluate differing philosophical methods or traditions as they impact a specified topic.
3. Interpret and critique competing views of major philosophers relevant to a specified topic.
4. Apply relevant philosophical concepts to a specified topic.
Critical Thinking
1. Identify premises, structures of inference, and conclusions.
2. Differentiate between deductive and inductive reasoning.
3. Critique presuppositions of arguments.
4. Evaluate the validity or strength of arguments.
Oral and Written Communication
1. State a clear thesis as the transition from an introductory section to the body of the paper or presentation.
2. Formulate supporting arguments in a well-structured set of paragraphs.
3. Explain and critique opposing views in a well-structured set of paragraphs.
4. Construct a conclusion that follows from the body of the paper or presentation and that further develops the initial thesis.