Electives

MCO 106: Speech (1c)
LPR 280: Topics in LPR (.5 or 1c)
LPR 301: LPR Internship (.5 or 1c)
PHL 306E: Ethics and Environmental Problems (1c)
PHL 321E: Utopia and Social Philosophy (1c)
REL 351D: Religion and Crisis in America (1c)
LPR 352: Business Law (1c)

HIS 220H: American Business and Labor History (1c)
PHL 320E: Ethical Issues (1c)

LPR majors may study abroad up to and through the first semester of the junior year. They should not plan to study abroad during the second semester of the junior or the entire senior year since courses related to the senior essay and its oral defense, study for the LSAT, and the time-consuming application process for law school will consume the final three semesters.

Course descriptions other than LPR listings may be found in the appropriate discipline sections of this catalog.

Requirements for a Minor in Philosophy and Religion
The philosophy and religion minor offered by faculty in LPR requires completion of a minimum of 5.0 REL and/or PHL courses, with at least 2.0 at the 300 level or above. Electives from PHL and REL courses may be added up to a total of 8.0 in a 40.0 course degree program. At least a C in each course is required in the minor.

Philosophy and Religion and the Liberal Studies Major
In the residential program, the philosophy and religion minor is available as an option to include in the liberal studies major. See the liberal studies section of the catalog for complete information about the major.

Law, Philosophy and Rhetoric Courses

LPR 110S: Women, Law and Justice
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students; cross-listed as WST 110S)
An introduction to the system and practice of law by focusing on areas of law impacting women's lives: family law, employment law and criminal law. Legal reasoning and research, text analysis and lawyer's lives are explored. Class panels and field trips.

LPR 206: Debate I: Principles of Advocacy
(.5 course)
(Prerequisite: sophomore standing or one year of high school debate or permission of the instructor)
A study of the standards for evaluating debates, the nature of propositions in a controversy, the bases of argument and refutation, responsibilities and ethical considerations, research techniques in gathering evidence, strategies and principles of effective style and delivery. Complemented by readings, exercises and audio-visual media.

LPR 207: Debate II: Forensic Practices
(.5 course)
(May be repeated two times for additional credit)
(Prerequisite: LPR 206 or permission of the instructor)
Applications of knowledge and skills in Debate I in oral debates on a variety of topics and in various debate formats. Topics, incorporating communication, philosophy, science, history, sociology and political science among others, change each time this course is offered.

LPR 220: Legal Analysis and Problem-Solving
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: LPR 110S or permission of the instructor)
This course explores legal research and writing. The course emphasizes effective writing methods and teaches students to analyze successfully various legal problems. Students will learn the skills and technology to be effective in today's legal environment, especially strategies for research and modes of legal writing.

LPR 250: Negotiation, Dialogue and Community
(.5 course)
(Prerequisite: sophomore standing)
This course covers the field of alternative dispute resolution, focusing on negotiation strategies and techniques as alternatives to conflict-oriented models of settling disputes. Students practice negotiation strategies in workshops while considering relevant philosophies of self and community in theoretical study.

LPR 280: Topics in LPR
(.5-1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: dependent on topic)
Check semester course schedule for current information. Taught at irregular intervals in response to current issues, student requests, themes, availability of key personnel or other special needs. Investigates content related to one of the interdisciplinary areas comprising the major.

LPR 301: Internship
(.5-1.0 course)
(May be taken twice for credit but counts only once in electives category)
(Prerequisite: permission of program chair)
Students will intern in a local law office, public interest group, or other agency under professional supervision.

LPR 302: Professional Communication
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: MCO 106 or LPR 206 and 207, or BUS 225 or permission of instructor.) This course teaches the theory and skills necessary for understanding and practicing effective professional communication. It emphasizes effective oral communication in professional settings and provides students opportunities to practice skills that allow them to communicate successfully in their professional careers.

LPR 306D: Argument
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: 1.0 general education course)
The study of Socratic argument covers dialogues and dialectic; Aristotelian argument covers the Rhetoric, topics, syllogisms and enthymemes. The course also addresses gender issues as they relate to classical and modern argument. Rogerian argument features the dynamics of a nonadversarial approach to conflict. Toulminian argument presents a corrective to dialectic and argument through the open syllogism and chained discourse.

LPR 330E: Philosophy and Law Seminar
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: junior or senior standing; PHL 104 or PHL 250A; PHL 201M)
An introduction to the philosophy of law, the course promotes critical reflection on the concepts undergirding the rule of law. Students study the logical structures of legal reasoning and review ethical criticism of the American legal system and the legal profession. Main coursework involves examining and debating important court decisions in the light of logical criteria and ethical principles.

LPR 352: Business Law
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: junior standing or permission of instructor. Cross-listed as BUS 352.)
A study of the basic concepts of law as they relate to legal rights and remedies, with an emphasis on contracts and other facets of law relevant to business practice.

LPR 380: Topics in LPR
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: dependent on topic)
Check semester course schedule for current information. Taught at irregular intervals in response to current issues, student requests, themes, availability of key personnel or other special interdisciplinary areas comprising the major.

LPR 491: Senior Essay Research
(.5 course)
(Prerequisite: permission of program chair)
Occuring in the last seven weeks of the spring semester, this course assists students in establishing a research track to be pursued over the summer in preparation for LPR 492 in the fall semester.

LPR 492: Senior Essay and Defense
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: third-year standing; must be taken in the fall semester)
The student will write a lengthy essay that integrates and demonstrates competence in the fields of study that comprise the major. In addition, an oral defense of the essay is required, which will occur before an invited audience. A student may not write or defend the senior essay before the third year.

Philosophy Courses

PHL 104A: Introduction to Philosophy
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
An introduction to philosophy that examines major issues of knowledge and values and develops skills in critical thinking. Classes discuss questions about what we can know (epistemology), what is real (metaphysics) and what we should do (ethics).

PHL 201M: Logic and Critical Thinking
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
The course teaches the basic strategies for critical thinking, focusing on the structures of arguments as analyzed by traditional logic and analysis for fallacies. Topics include deductive and inductive reasoning, immediate inference, and argument proofs.

PHL 250A: Philosophy and the Western Intellectual Tradition
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
A study of the ideas that have taken a dominant place in the history of Western thought since the time of Plato's Athens. The course serves as an introduction to philosophy and religion courses, examining concepts of philosophy that have given structure to law, education, politics and religion.

PHL 280: Topics in Philosophy
(.5-1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: dependent on topic)
Check semester course schedule for current information. Taught at irregular intervals in response to current issues, student requests or other special needs. Investigates thinkers and problems not covered in depth in other courses.

PHL 306E: Ethics and Environmental Problems
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: 1.0 PHL, REL, BIO or NSC course or permission of instructor)
The course examines contemporary environmental thought in America focusing on philosophical, ethical and politico-legal aspects. Special attention is given to issues and values as they are discussed by advocates of "deep ecology," animal rights, ecofeminism, political "greening" and others at the cutting edges of ecological values.

PHL 318E: Social and Ethical Issues in Business
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: junior standing, one 100- or 200-level course in either business or philosophy or permission of instructor; cross-listed as BUS 318E)
This is an applied ethics course designed to identify and explore some of the major ethical issues facing people in business. Introduction to the techniques of ethical reasoning, exploration of methods for improving corporate morality and exploration of the duties, obligations and responsibilities of individuals and businesses in our society. Students learn through case method and extensive class discussions and involvement in an ethical decision-making process.

PHL 320E: Ethical Issues
(1.0 course)
(May be repeated for credit under a different theme)
(Prerequisite: at least sophomore standing.)
Study of selected contemporary moral-ethical concerns and dilemmas using the resources of philosophical and religious ethics to illuminate and evaluate issues, options and principles. The course analyzes issues like abortion, war, economic ethics, sexism and environmental policy.

PHL 321E: Utopia and Social Philosophy
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: at least sophomore standing.)
A study of selected social philosophies shaping Western society, in relation to the ethical ideal or utopia informing each. Examines such issues as the moral legitimacy of state authority, economic justice, the right of revolution, socioeconomic origins of ethical norms and the virtues of the ideal citizen.

PHL 380/480: Topics in Philosophy
(.5-1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: dependent on topic)
Check semester course schedule for current information. In-depth study of thinkers and problems not available in other courses. Topics taught at irregular intervals in response to current issues and student requests.

Religion Courses

REL 201A: Religion Across Cultures
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
An introduction to the academic study of religion focused on the three "global" or "cross-cultural" religions of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Students develop an in-depth project on themes such as vision quest, suffering, body, healing or love.

REL 207A: The God of Israel
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
A survey of the major biblical themes, concepts and stories from creation in Genesis to the visions of the prophets. Students learn historical methods and tools for understanding the religion and literature of Jews and Christians.

REL 208A: Jesus and the Philosophy of Love
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students.)
This course surveys the major themes, concepts and narratives of the New Testament from the birth of Jesus through the early church. The central message and philosophy of those writings concerns the concept and practice of love. Through New Testament readings, supplementary texts and discussion, students become familiar with this philosophy.

REL 220F: Zen and Japanese Arts
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
Study and practice of elementary meditation and self-awareness methods drawn from Japanese Zen tradition, combined with study and practice of selected Japanese arts in a spirit of creativity. On the foundation of the art of meditation, the following will be explored: brush painting, elements of the tea ceremony, haiku poetry and a form of Tai Chi exercises.

REL 280: Topics in Religion
(.5-1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: dependent upon topic)
Check current semester course schedule for current information. In-depth study of thinkers and problems not available in other classes. Offered at irregular intervals in response to current issues or student requests.

REL 351D: Religion and Crisis in America
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102 or 206 and 2.0 general education courses)
This course is a dialogue on a critical issue in American life. Religion and theological perspectives join with other academic disciplines in a multi-disciplinary exploration of "sacred and secular" in America.

REL 380/480: Topics in Religion
(.5 -1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: one PHL or REL course and junior standing, or permission of instructor)
In-depth study of thinkers and problems not available in other courses. Offered at irregular intervals in response to current issues or student requests.

Independent Study

Independent studies (special studies, tutorials, readings, projects) may be proposed by students who wish to investigate a subject not otherwise available. Information about independent study may be obtained in department offices or in the Office of the Registrar.