Chair,
Department of Law, Philosophy and Rhetoric: Bruce Ballard, Ph.D.
LPR Faculty:
James Whitehill, Ph.D.
Alan Havig, Ph.D.
Alexandria Zylstra, J.D., L.L.M.
With a B.A. major in law, philosophy and rhetoric (LPR) and a minor
in philosophy and religion, this interdisciplinary liberal arts
program prepares students for leadership in society. These studies
also develop intellectual talents students will need to succeed
in a wide variety of graduate and professional programs.
As a pre-law major, this carefully planned sequence of studies focuses
on enhancing critical thinking through logic and analytical practice
and critical reading exercises in philosophy and law. Other special
features are a sound philosophical grounding; intensive writing
in a variety of modes integrated throughout the major; skill-building
in negotiation, mediation, debate and argument; and ethics. Students
are encouraged to seek internships in law-related fields to explore
career options and to synthesize academic theory and practical experience.
Students may join the Stephens chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, the national
pre-law fraternity.
Because of its flexibility, many students combine another major
or one or two minors with this plan.
The minor in philosophy and religion is a special opportunity for
combining study in Western philosophy and ethics with an appreciation
for the full range of the world's religious traditions and their
contemporary manifestations. The minor develops intellectual skills
useful in examining human meaning, while inviting a student to explore
moral and spiritual realities.
Requirements for the B.A.
Major in Law, Philosophy and Rhetoric
The law, philosophy and rhetoric major involves
completion of the liberal arts requirements, including 2.0 required
liberal arts requirements and 11.0 courses required for the major
including 2.0 electives. Electives in the prefixes of the major
may be added up to a total of 15.0 courses within a 40.5 course
degree program. The student must earn at least a C in each course
required in this major.
NOTE: In the following course listings, (1c) = 1.0
course or 3 semester hours.
Required Courses
9.0 courses, 2.0 elective courses and
2.0 specified liberal arts courses
Law (3.0):
LPR 110S: Women, Law and Justice (1c)
LPR 220: Legal Analysis and Problem-Solving (1c)
LPR 360D: The Supreme Court and Constitutional Law (1c)
Philosophy (3.0):
PHL 104A: Introduction to Philosophy (1c)
or
PHL 250A: Philosophy and the Western Intellectual Tradition (1c)
and
PHL 201M: Logic and Critical Thinking (1c)
PHL 321E: Social and Legal Philosophy (1c)
Rhetoric (3.0):
LPR 250S: Conflict Resolution: Personal and Community Negotiation (1c)
LPR 302: Professional Communication (1c)
LPR 492: Senior Essay and Oral Defense (1c)
Electives
Two (2.0) courses, at least one at the 300 level, from the list below.Required Liberal Arts CoursesMCO 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)
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 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 PHL and/or REL 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 40.5 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
lawyers' lives are explored. Class panels and field trips.
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 250S: Conflict Resolution: Personal and Community Negotiation
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: sophomore standing)
This course explores a variety of conflict resolution methods including:
negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and judicial processes. By
examining personal, community, and world conflicts, students will
learn how to analyze, select and apply an appropriate conflict resolution.
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 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 306: 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 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 360D: The Supreme Court and Constitutional Law
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: LPR 110S or PSC 101S or PSC201S sophomore
standing; or permission of instructor; cross-listed as PSC 360.)
Course explores the basic principles of American constitutional
law through an examination of the United States Supreme Court. Focuses
on the history of the Court, civil liberties and individual rights
and the development of social policy as understood through landmark
Supreme Court decisions.
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 492: Senior Essay and Defense
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: third-year standing; must be taken in the fall semester)
The student will write an 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: Social and Legal Philosophy
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: at least sophomore standing.)
This course examines philosophies of the social good together with
the philosophies of law connected with them. Main issues of the
course include the concept of social fairness, the moral legitimacy
of state authority or validity of law, ideals of de-alienation and
fulfillment in community, the nature of law, and theories of punishment.
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 concern 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 285S: Islam, Politics and Gender (1c)
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students; crosslisted as PSC285S and WST285S.)
This course introduces Islam as a religion, a framework for community
and a way of governance. The various strains of Islam will be presented,
including the Sunni/Shi'a split and Islamic fundamentalism. Gender
issues are introduced as a debate characteristic of modern Islam
domestically, within other cultures and across cultures. The goal
is to develop a student's ability to analyze an eclectic religion
and its concomitant political systems.
REL 351D: Religion and Crisis in America
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: ENG 102 or 206 and 2.0 liberal arts 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.
