Learning Outcomes

The Philosophy Department expects undergraduate majors in the program to be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes. These learning outcomes are used in evaluating students and the department’s undergraduate program. Students are expected to demonstrate:

• The ability to effectively communicate philosophical ideas orally and in writing

• Close reading, argument evaluation, and analytical writing

• Dialectical ability to identify strengths and weaknesses of an argument and devise appropriate and telling responses

• The ability to think critically and demonstrate clarity of conceptualization

• The ability to differentiate good from unpromising philosophical questions

• The ability to sustain an argument of substantial scope, showing control over logical, argumentative, and evidential relations among its parts

• Mastery over a domain of literature, an area of philosophical problems, or an area in the history of thought

• An understanding of argumentative relations among different philosophical issues in their area and an ability to discriminate between problems that must be addressed and those that may be deferred to future work

• The ability to frame and deeply pursue a philosophical question within the domain

• The ability to develop, articulate, and defend a thesis about the question

• Knowledge and awareness of plausible objections to their arguments and resourcefulness in responding to them

The Religious Studies Department expects undergraduate majors in the program to be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes. These learning outcomes are used in evaluating students and the department’s undergraduate program. Students are expected to:

1. Demonstrate familiarity with various methods used analytically in the field of Religious Studies

2. Demonstrate proficiency in writing papers in the style of academic writing in the field of Religious Studies

3. Demonstrate the ability to engage peer scholars’ research constructively and critically, and effectively communicate feedback

4. Demonstrate individual expertise through oral presentation of one’s advanced research to peers

5. Complete an advanced research project consistent with standards for papers in Religious Studies