Course Finder

IGETC AREA 3B (Humanities)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

A philosophical inquiry into themes such as knowledge, truth, justice, freedom, responsibility, love, technology, punishment, self-deception, death, religious faith, and the meaning of life through the examination of selected literary works (novels, short stories, plays, poetry). The course will also focus on certain philosophical issues relevant to the philosophy of literature (ie, how humans emotionally relate to fictional characters, interpretation and artistic intention in literary art, how literature is to be defined, the status of truth in literature).

IGETC AREA 3B (Humanities)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This course will acquaint the student with some of the ancient Greek contributions to the Western philosophical and scientific tradition and examine a broad range of central philosophical themes concerning: nature, law, justice, knowledge, virtue, happiness, and death. There will be a strong emphasis on analyses of arguments found in the primary texts.

IGETC AREA 3B (Humanities)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This study of the principal philosophical developments since the Renaissance emphasizes the relation of philosophy to the growth of science and social and cultural changes in the modern period.

IGETC AREA 3B (Humanities)

• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This course is designed to enable the interested student to study in depth selected philosophical problems in the areas of epistemology, metaphysics, and value theory. Primary source materials are analyzed and discussed in a seminar atmosphere. Oral and written reports are assigned. Philosophy majors are encouraged to take the course; non-majors are also eligible.

IGETC AREA 3B (Humanities) or 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

Formerly same course as History 48.

An examination of the causes of war and violence in world history and the various organized efforts to maintain peace and end wars. Nonviolent resistance movements will be emphasized.

IGETC AREA 3B (Humanities)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This course is a philosophic examination of major ethical debates in contemporary American society. Topics may include capital punishment, abortion, euthanasia, racial and sexual equality, affirmative action, sexual morality, pornography, “victimless crimes,” bio-medical research, animal rights, and environmental issues. Preparatory to those investigations, time is devoted to studying some of the most important moral theories and various types of moral reasoning.

IGETC AREA Area 3B (Humanities) or Area 4 (Social & Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

In this inter-disciplinary course students examine fundamental ideas about politics in the writings of major Western philosophers from the ancient to the contemporary period, and use those ideas to consider and debate current political issues.

Philosophy 51 is the same course as Political Science 51. Students may earn credit for one, but not both.

IGETC AREA Area 3B (Humanities) or Area 4 (Social & Behavioral Sciences)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This interdisciplinary course in philosophy and political science examines arguments and discourses developed within contemporary political thought. How those discourses critique and/or are rooted in modern ideologies, such as liberalism and socialism will be considered. The theoretical perspectives presented in the course will be used to critically examine important issues in contemporary politics. Students will situate themselves as citizens and political agents in relation to those issues.

Philosophy 52 is the same course as Political Science 52. Students may earn credit for one, but not both.

IGETC AREA 3B (Humanities)

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

This course is a general introduction to the philosophy of science, aimed at fostering an enhanced awareness of the philosophical aspects and implications inherent in the scientific enterprise. The central concepts and methodology of science will be analyzed, and philosophical topics like distinguishing science from pseudoscience, virtues of explanations including simplicity and falsifiability, gestalt and paradigm shifts, incommensurability, underdetermination, objectivity and subjectivity, realism and anti-realism, bias within science and more will be examined. Specific episodes taken from the history of science will be regularly employed to illustrate and elucidate these general ideas. A background in philosophy or the physical sciences is helpful but not a requirement for this course.

• Prerequisite: None.
• Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1.

A course in general logic emphasizing its applications to practical situations. The course covers both inductive and deductive techniques.

Please see “Independent Studies” section.

Please see “Independent Studies” section.

• Prerequisite: None.

This is a beginning course in modern logic covering symbolic notation and translations, and decision procedures for validity and invalidity of arguments in sentential logic and predicate logic.

• Corequisite: Any course in Philosophy.

This course -- taken in tandem with another course in the discipline -- enables a student to apply course content in a meaningful and relevant way to a particular activity. In this hands-on course, students engage in applied learning through unpaid experiential activities organized by the student (in conjunction with SMC’s applied/service learning center) and approved by the instructor. Students will develop a customized reading list relevant to their particular activity, complete a minimum of 15 hours of volunteer work with that activity, and submit academically-sound written reports regarding the activity. By applying course material to their experience, students develop a deeper understanding of the discipline.

• Prerequisite: None.

This non-laboratory course is an introduction to photography including camera techniques and creative considerations. Using the HDSLR camera format and natural light, students shoot digitally for specific assignments emphasizing exposure, depth-of-field, motion, composition, and image quality. A 35mm Digital Single Lens Reflex camera with manual focus lens and exposure capabilities is required.

• Prerequisite: None.
• Advisory: Photography 1.

This survey course in basic news photography is designed for journalism or photography majors and students interested in having work published in magazines and news publications. Students learn basic camera and storytelling techniques through individual assignments and a semester long project, along with photo composition, and picture layout principles. A Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera with manual exposure capability is required.

Photography 13 is the same course as Journalism 21. Students may earn credit for one, but not both.

• Prerequisite: None.
• Advisory: Journalism 21 or Photography 13.

This advanced course provides an in-depth study of photojournalism with an emphasis on creation of photo story ideas, photo essays, news, sports and feature photos for publication. Photo editing and layout for newspapers, magazines, and online publishing will be covered. Students will comprise the staff of the campus newspaper, The Corsair, and online publications. This course may be repeated once for credit. A Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera with manual exposure capability is required.

Photography 14 is the same course as Journalism 22. Students may receive credit for one, but not both.

• Skills Advisory: Photography 1.

This introductory lab course prepares students for general specialization in photography. Black and white film exposure, development, and printing techniques are examined. Various shooting and printing assignments explore a variety of natural light situations and shooting challenges. Weekly lectures support practical application of assignments. Required for photography majors.

• Prerequisite: None.
• Advisory: Photography 2.

Introduction into non-traditional and historical photographic processes. Emphasis is placed primarily on non-silver techniques and processes, including the making of enlarged negatives. Processes may include cyanotype, Van Dyke, platinum/palladium and others

• Skills Advisory: Photography 5 and Photography 30.

This class is designed to provide the intermediate photography student with the skill set to produce high definition digital video content at industry standards. This course covers common preproduction methods, HD DSLR Camera techniques, lighting for video, recording sound and video and sound editing. Hands-on practical technique is covered in conjunction with theory and concept.