Revised March 2008

Philosophy

Faculty

Program Description

Degree Requirements

Course Descriptions

103 Main Hall
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2841
Dr. Struckmeyer, Chairperson
Dr. Pierlott and Dr. Schroepfer, Coordinators of Graduate Studies

PROFESSOR

Frederick R. Struckmeyer, Ph.D., Boston University

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Frank Hoffman, Ph.D., University of London
Ruth Porritt, Ph.D., Purdue University
Joan Woolfrey, Ph.D., University of Oregon

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Daniel Forbes, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Matthew F. Pierlott, Ph.D., Marquette University
Helen D. Schroepfer, Ph.D., Temple University

Program of Study

The Department of Philosophy offers a program leading to the master of arts in philosophy, with or without an applied ethics concentration. This degree will serve as a foundation for studies leading to a Ph.D. in philosophy or prepare students for positions in industry, government, or college teaching.

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting general requirements for admission to a degree program at West Chester, applicants must provide three letters of reference (preferrably from undergraduate philosophy professors) as well as a writing sample or GRE scores, and must present a minimum of 12 semester hours of undergraduate philosophy, including courses in history of ancient philosophy, history of modern philosophy, ethics, and logic.

Final Examination Requirement

A comprehensive, written final examination is required of those students not electing the thesis option. This will cover four fields: (1) metaphysics; (2) any two from ethical theory, aesthetics, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind, biomedical ethics or business ethics; (3) any agreed-upon philosopher, such as Plato, Aquinas, Kant, or Wittgenstein.

MASTER OF ARTS IN PHILOSOPHY (30 semester hours)

Students have the choice (under advisement) of a thesis or nonthesis program, and a traditional or applied ethics concentration.

Curriculum: Traditional (30 semester hours)

I. Required (9 semester hours)
PHI 520, 599, and 640

II. Philosophy Concentration (9 semester hours)

III. Thesis

A. Electives (philosophy or related courses) (6 semester hours)

B. Thesis (PHI 610) (6 semester hours)

OR

IV. Nonthesis

A. Electives (philosophy or related courses) (12 semester hours)

NOTE: The recommended list of courses depends on one's choice of concentration. Electives for the traditional concentration should be chosen primarily from graduate-level philosophy courses.

MASTER OF ARTS IN PHILOSOPHY
Concentration in Applied Ethics (30 semester hours)

This degree offers training in the theoretical justification and the practical application of moral reasoning. Students may choose to concentrate their courses in business ethics or healthcare ethics or in combination and will develop skills in seeing, analyzing, and resolving problems in the workplace.   Prerequisites are six credits of upper-division undergraduate work in philosophy.

Curriculum: Applied Ethics (30 semester hours)

I. Required (9 semester hours)
PHI 520, 599, and 640

II. Philosophy Concentration (9 semester hours)
PHI 512, 570, and/or 580 (all recommended)

III.Thesis

A. Electives (6 semester hours)

B. Thesis (PHI 610) (6 semester hours)

OR

IV. Nonthesis - Electives (12 semester hours)

A. Business or healthcare track

1. Limited to one undergraduate course that can be taken for graduate credit: PHI 405, 422, 480, 482

2. Other graduate-level electives: CRJ 504, GEO 525, HIS 555

B. Business Track

ADM 504, 505, 553; COM 510; CRJ 522; GEO 521, 526; MGT 511, 513, 514, 587; WOS 502, 503, 539

C. Healthcare Track:

HEA 515 (strongly encouraged) and/or HEA 500, 501, 506, 512, 537, 550, 555, 640; NSG 521; SOC 519, 522

Certificate in Business Ethics (15 semester hours)

The graduate certificate in business ethics offers training in moral reasoning within the business setting for those with undergraduate degrees who meet the graduate school's and department's entrance requirements. Students will develop skills in seeing, analyzing, and resolving problems in the workplace. The certificate, which can be completed in three semesters, consists of two required philosophy courses - PHI 512 and 580 - and three elective courses selected with advisement.

Electives: ADM 504, 505, 553; COM 510; CRJ 504, 522, 524, 525, 526; HIS 555; MGT 511, 513, 514, 587; PHI 405, 422, 480, 482; WOS 503, 530, 539

Certificate in Healthcare Ethics (15 semester hours)

The graduate certificate in healthcare ethics offers training in moral reasoning within the medical setting for those with undergraduate degrees who meet the graduate school's and departments entrance requirements. Students will develop skills in seeing, analyzing, and resolving problems in the healthcare field. The certificate, which can be completed in three semesters, consists of two required philosophy courses - PHI 512 and 570 - and three elective courses selected with advisement.  

Electives: HEA 515 (strongly encouraged); CRJ 504; GEO 524, 526; HEA 500, 501, 506, 512, 537, 538, 550, 555, 640, 642; HIS 555; NSG 521; SOC 519, 522.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
PHILOSOPHY

Symbol: PHI

506 Meaning in Language (also LIN 506) (3) A discussion of topics having to do with meaning in everyday oral communication.

512 Ethical Theories (3) Examination of various ethical theories with practical applications to such problems as authority, punishment, rights, marriage, and race.

513 Aesthetic Theories (3) History of aesthetics, as seen in classic interpretations. Psychological and sociological origins of art; the role of art works in the enrichment of life.

514 Philosophy of Religion (3) Dominant trends in religious philosophy of the Western world. Religious language, reason and faith, science, the nature of man, the existence of God, and mysticism.

515 Existentialism (3) Background and themes of current existentialism, as reflected in Kierkegaard, Jaspers, Marcel, Heidegger, and Sartre. Evaluation of existentialism and its impact on contemporary literature, drama, art, and society.

520 Philosophy of Mind (3) The human mind, according to representative views. Presuppositions and implications, both scientific and philosophic, traced and analyzed. The mind-body problem, perception, memory, and the implications of depth psychology.

522 Philosophy of Science (3) The course begins with case studies in science and derives general principles from them. Scientific law, analogy, models, variant theories, confirmation, and interpretation.

523 Philosophy of Language (also LIN 523) (3) Problems of language and oral communication, with emphasis on problems of reference.

530 American Philosophy (3) American views of man, society, and the universe, from colonial times to the 20th century.

531 Oriental Philosophy (3) Central figures and classic teachings of Eastern philosophy and religion: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shintoism; naturalistic and humanistic elements of decisive influence on the culture of the Orient.
This course may be taken again for credit.

536 Symbolic Logic (3) Basic principles and methods of symbolic logic. Practice in determining validity of sentential and quantificational arguments. The algebra of classes.

570 Biomedical Ethics (3) Philosophical analysis of ethical issues in medicine, research, and biotechnology.

580 Business Ethics (3) Examination of ethical theory and its application to issues in business and management.

590 Independent Studies in Philosophy (3)
This course may be taken again for credit.

599 Philosophic Concepts and Systems (3) Basic concepts of the philosophic enterprise: form, matter, the categories, cause, and purpose. Relation of premises to method and conclusions. Rival theories are compared for justification and adequacy.
This course may be taken again for credit.

610 Thesis (3-6) By permission of thesis adviser.

640 Seminar (3) Study and evaluation of the major works of one philosopher, such as Plato, Aquinas, Kant, or Wittgenstein.
This course may be taken again for credit.

The following undergraduate course may also be taken for graduate credit, when properly approved: PHI 405 Feminist Theory, PHI 480 Environmental Ethics, PHI 482 Social Philosophy.

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