Graduate Courses

The faculty has approval to offer the following courses in the academic years 2019–2020 and 2020–2021; however, not all courses are taught each semester or summer session. Students should consult the Course Schedule to determine which courses and topics will be offered during a particular semester or summer session. The Course Schedule may also reflect changes made to the course inventory after the publication of this catalog.

Philosophy: PHL

PHL 380. Contemporary Philosophy.

Past topics include pragmatism; postmodernism; contemporary Marxism; critical theory. Three hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 381. History of Philosophy.

Past topics include major figures and movements in ancient, medieval, early modern, and nineteenth- and twentieth-century philosophy. Three hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 382. Metaphysics.

Past topics include basic issues in metaphysics; particulars and universals; identity and individuation; realism and antirealism; mind-body issues. Three hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 383. Theory of Knowledge.

Past topics include basic issues in epistemology; theories of belief and rationality; justification and truth. Three hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 383C. Introduction to Cognitive Science.

Same as Cognitive Science 380 (Topic 1: Introduction to Cognitive Science), Linguistics 392 (Topic 1: Introduction to Cognitive Science), and Psychology 394U (Topic 3: Introduction to Cognitive Science). Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Cognitive Science 380 (Topic 1), Linguistics 392 (Topic 1), 393 (Topic: Introduction to Cognitive Science), 393 (Topic: Topics in Cognitive Science), Philosophy 383 (Topic: Introduction to Cognitive Science), 383C, Psychology 394U (Topic 3). Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PHL 384F. First-Year Seminar.

Central problems in philosophy. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in philosophy, or graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 384K. The Analytic Tradition.

A selective examination of works by major figures such as Frege, Moore, Russell, and Wittgenstein. Three hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PHL 385. Theory of Value.

Past topics include basic issues in value theory; the objectivity of value; literature and philosophy; philosophy of art; literary criticism. Three hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 386. Philosophy of Science.

Past topics include basic issues in the philosophy of science; theories and explanations; philosophy of quantum mechanics; philosophy of the social sciences. Three hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 387. Ethical, Political, and Legal Philosophy.

Past topics include contemporary ethical theory; theories of justice; philosophy of law; social contract theories; political philosophy. Three hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 188, 388. Conference Course.

Mainly a reading course in the works of classical and modern philosophers. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 388C. Prospectus Course.

Mainly a reading course for development of a dissertation prospectus. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 389. Logic.

Rigorous definitions of syntax and semantics. Proofs of soundness and completeness of sentential and predicate logics; other topics in metatheory. May include extensions of and alternatives to classical logic. Philosophical significance of logic and metalogical results. Three hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 391. Logic and Philosophy.

Past topics include identity and substitutivity; philosophy of logic; discourse representation. Three hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 394K. Philosophy of Language.

Same as Linguistics 394K. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Linguistics 393S (Topic: Philosophy of Language), 394K, Philosophy 391 (Topic: Philosophy of Language), 394K. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

PHL 396W. Dissertation Seminar.

Restricted to doctoral students in philosophy. Intensive examination of selected dissertation topics: attention to research methods, presentation, structure, and argument. Student reports on current research. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 698. Thesis.

The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for two semesters. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: For 698A, graduate standing in philosophy, twelve semester hours of upper-division or graduate coursework in philosophy, and consent of the graduate adviser; for 698B, Philosophy 698A.

PHL 398R. Master's Report.

Preparation of a report to fulfill the requirement for the master's degree under the report option. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in philosophy and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 398T. Supervised Teaching in Philosophy.

Teaching experience developed through an apprentice relationship between student and faculty member. Three hours a week for one semester. Students may register for this course as many as four times, but only three semester hours of credit in this course may be applied toward a graduate degree. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

PHL 399W, 699W, 999W. Dissertation.

May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree.