Outcomes - B.A., Philosophy and Law
Seton Hall University embraces the principle that effective and meaningful assessment is an integral part of the educational process. This principle is at the heart of our commitment to meet our responsibilities to our students, professions, and the communities that we serve.
Goals: Philosophy Program Learning Outcomes
The Department of Philosophy provides a program leading to the degree of Bachelor
of Arts. The program offers the opportunity for examining major philosophers and areas
from ancient times to the present. These include issues that are matters of continuing
human concern: Is there a God? What is knowledge and how is it acquired? What is the
basis of right and wrong? What is the most just form of government? Is my behavior
genuinely free or determined by prior causes? The study of philosophy helps students
to understand these kinds of fundamental issues and provides the rigorous critical
skills needed to examine them. The skills and knowledge acquired from taking philosophy
courses contribute to a lifetime of intellectual learning and professional development.
- Outcomes for Philosophy Majors
Depending on their specific career path, students majoring in philosophy will be well suited for the following. -
- Doing graduate work in philosophy.
- Doing graduate work in other programs, especially Law School.
- Succeeding in one's professional pursuits.
- Continuing one's intellectual development beyond undergraduate study.
- Outcomes for Major, Minors, and Non-Majors
The goals and desired outcomes for our tiered course offering are as follows. Special emphasis is placed on critical thinking and argumentation in written and oral work.
- Define key concepts and explain basic philosophical issues.
- Critically analyze and evaluate arguments discussed in class.
- Write and speak intelligibly about the philosophical positions discussed in class.
- Articulate clearly his/her own insights.
- Effectively use library and internet resources.
- Identify, understand, and critically analyze the major themes and arguments in primary texts.
- Write and speak intelligently about ideas and arguments that are presented in class and do so at an intermediate level of knowledge.
- Work out thoughtful and reasoned evaluations of arguments that are presented in class and in primary and secondary texts (both in writing and orally).
- Demonstrate the ability to identify issues of increasing complexity and difficulty, with claims and counterclaims being well understood and delineated.
- Articulate clearly and well his/her own insights.
- Use relevant databases for the investigation of specific topics; be able to conduct a complete and well-tailored literature search.
- Be aware of the differences between reliable and unreliable internet sources.
- In short response papers or longer papers: identify and comment on the thesis, argument, and conclusions presented in a text (primary or secondary); develop an argument that agrees or disagrees with the conclusions presented in the original article; articulate the evidence and reasons for one's position.
- Demonstrate oral competence in presenting and supporting a philosophical position that is being examined in class.
Outcomes for Foundational Law Courses (15 credits):
- Define key legal concepts and explain basic legal principles including constitutional law, common law, and statutory interpretation.
- Critically analyze and evaluate legal arguments and reasoning presented in cases, statutes, and regulations.
- Write and speak intelligibly about legal positions, doctrines, and precedents discussed in class.
- Articulate clearly his/her own legal analysis and reasoning.
- Effectively use legal databases, court records, and legislative resources.
Outcomes for Applied Law Track Courses (9 credits):
- Identify, understand, and critically analyze major legal themes, regulatory frameworks, and compliance issues in primary legal texts within their chosen specialization.
- Write and speak intelligently about legal doctrines, regulations, and case law that are presented in class and do so at an intermediate level of legal knowledge.
- Work out thoughtful and reasoned evaluations of legal arguments, regulatory approaches, and compliance strategies that are presented in class and in primary and secondary legal sources.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify legal issues of increasing complexity and difficulty, with legal claims and counterclaims being well understood and delineated.
- Articulate clearly and well his/her own legal insights and analysis.
- Use relevant legal databases for the investigation of specific legal topics; be able to conduct a complete and well-tailored legal research project.
- Be aware of the differences between primary legal authorities and secondary sources, and between reliable and unreliable legal information.
- In legal analysis papers: identify and comment on the holding, reasoning, and implications presented in cases or regulations; develop a legal argument that supports or challenges the conclusions presented in the original source; articulate the legal precedents and authorities supporting one's position.
- Demonstrate oral competence in presenting and supporting a legal position or compliance strategy that is being examined in class.
Outcomes for Senior Seminar in Philosophy and Law (3000 level):
- Identify, understand, and critically analyze complex legal and philosophical themes in primary legal and philosophical texts.
- Write and speak intelligently and specifically about the intersection of legal doctrine and philosophical principles, and do so at an advanced level of knowledge.
- Identify and articulate a specific and manageable topic for interdisciplinary research drawn from legal and philosophical sources.
- Have sufficient mastery of both legal and philosophical texts to be able to come to a reasoned judgment with regard to various perspectives offered in the relevant legal and philosophical literature.