Courses in the FIG:
UGST 109 FIG Seminar
Tuesday/Thursday | 11:00-11:50 | 16466 | 1 Credit
We live in complex times. Political tensions are high, the economy is unpredictable, and social media bubbles impair our ability to take seriously the points of view of those with whom we disagree. Unfortunately, constructive disagreement is one of the cornerstones of a healthy society. It's the means by which we test our ideas to ultimately arrive at rationally and morally sound conclusions. This FIG is designed to help break you out of your bubble. It's designed to prepare you for the spirited discussions you will inevitably have in the most impactful courses you take in college. Most importantly, it's designed to teach you the dying art of disagreeing with your loved ones. Throughout the term, it's hoped that you'll learn why good people disagree about important issues, how people come to vilify others for holding beliefs that don't align with their own, and what you can do to constructively disagree with conversation partners. It's cozy in your bubble, but the world outside it is so much more interesting. We hope you'll join us for a term of friendly disagreement.
PS 201 US Politics
Social Science (>2) | Monday/Wednesday/Friday | 10:00-10:50 | 14754 | 4 Credits
+Dis | Thursday | 10:00-10:50 | 14758
This course provides an introductory look at the United States and its national system of government. No prior knowledge is required. We will first explore the foundations of American government in the Constitution and the country's unique cultural traditions. We will then explore the different institutions that make up the government in Washington, DC: the president, the Congress, the bureaucracy, the courts, and parties and interest groups. Finally, we will explore the role of the media and the way in which average citizens engage with their government. The primary goal of this course is to make you a more informed observer of and participant in the U.S. system of government. A secondary goal is to give you a sense of the U.S. government's size and complexity, which mirrors the size and diversity of the country it serves. The hope is that this will leave you with a new respect, if it is not already there, for those who choose to serve in government, since it is easy to criticize them until you have seen the challenges they face. Students will gain both written communication and writing skills.
PHIL 103 Critical Reasoning
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday | 9:00-9:50 | 11631 | 4 Credits
Through the practice of argumentation in relation to current and classic controversies, this course is designed to improve your reasoning skills as well as your critical writing capabilities. Along the way, students will also explore informal fallacies, basic rules of deduction and induction, issues pertaining to the ethics of belief, and some general reflections on the political dimensions and promise of argumentatio. Typical assignments include argumentative journals, homework sets, and in-class exams. Class time involves a mixture of lecture, discussion, and group work.
