General Education Courses

Course Description: This course examines the methods, foundations, assumptions and purposes of the social sciences. In particular, it will examine the ways in which science and non-science are distinguished as well as the similarities and differences between the social and natural sciences. Special attention will be paid to the ways in which both Anglo-American and European philosophical traditions approach the social sciences. Other topics may include the role of values in social scientific inquiry, the processes of explanation and theory confirmation in the social sciences, and various conceptions of interpretation and meaning in the social sciences. The course will also examine how the tensions between claims of universality and claims of relativism, claims of objectivity and claims of partiality should be understood within the social sciences.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course examines the methods, foundations, assumptions and purposes of the social sciences. In particular, it will examine the ways in which science and non-science are distinguished as well as the similarities and differences between the social and natural sciences. Special attention will be paid to the ways in which both Anglo-American and European philosophical traditions approach the social sciences. Other topics may include the role of values in social scientific inquiry, the processes of explanation and theory confirmation in the social sciences, and various conceptions of interpretation and meaning in the social sciences. The course will also examine how the tensions between claims of universality and claims of relativism, claims of objectivity and claims of partiality should be understood within the social sciences.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course examines developments in philosophy since 1900. During this time philosophy evolved along with science, politics, and the arts. In some cases philosophy responded to new discoveries and theories while at other times it precipitated movements that had far-reaching effects. A range of philosophical approaches may be discussed, including existentialism, experimental philosophy, feminist theory, hermeneutics, logical positivism, neo-pragmatism, phenomenology, and postmodernism. The connections among different approaches may also be addressed.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course examines developments in philosophy since 1900. During this time philosophy evolved along with science, politics, and the arts. In some cases philosophy responded to new discoveries and theories while at other times it precipitated movements that had far-reaching effects. A range of philosophical approaches may be discussed, including existentialism, experimental philosophy, feminist theory, hermeneutics, logical positivism, neo-pragmatism, phenomenology, and postmodernism. The connections among different approaches may also be addressed.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course explores the three central philosophical issues of action theory: what is an action, what is an agent, and what is metaphysical freedom. The first part of the course examines the most significant theories of action and the different ways in which they characterize intentional behavior. The second part of this course explores the nature of agency. The third part of this course focuses on the classical problem of free will and its relation to moral responsibility.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course explores the three central philosophical issues of action theory: what is an action, what is an agent, and what is metaphysical freedom. The first part of the course examines the most significant theories of action and the different ways in which they characterize intentional behavior. The second part of this course explores the nature of agency. The third part of this course focuses on the classical problem of free will and its relation to moral responsibility.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: Introduces students to models of cultural critique that arose in pre-war Germany and that have burgeoned in our contemporary aesthetic and philosophical practices. These models combine philosophical, aesthetic, economic and psychoanalytic methods of analysis. Among the topics considered are alienation and reification, hegemony or false consciousness, trauma, fetishism, the authoritarian personality and state, advertising and modern technology, and the relative autonomy of art.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: Introduces students to models of cultural critique that arose in pre-war Germany and that have burgeoned in our contemporary aesthetic and philosophical practices. These models combine philosophical, aesthetic, economic and psychoanalytic methods of analysis. Among the topics considered are alienation and reification, hegemony or false consciousness, trauma, fetishism, the authoritarian personality and state, advertising and modern technology, and the relative autonomy of art.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: Existentialism is distinguished by its emphasis on human existence and the way its meaning is created through actions and choices. Existentialism focuses on the concept of individual freedom in an effort to respond authentically to the possibilities which life presents, emphasizing the importance of certain psychological states (e.g., anxiety, anticipation of death, fear, care, responsibility, and hope) and extreme situations in bringing us to an awareness of our radical freedom. This course will consider such philosophers and writers as Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Berdyaev, Heidegger, Jaspers, Camus, Sartre, Kafka, Beauvoir, Marcel, Buber, Ortega, and Unamuno.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: Existentialism is distinguished by its emphasis on human existence and the way its meaning is created through actions and choices. Existentialism focuses on the concept of individual freedom in an effort to respond authentically to the possibilities which life presents, emphasizing the importance of certain psychological states (e.g., anxiety, anticipation of death, fear, care, responsibility, and hope) and extreme situations in bringing us to an awareness of our radical freedom. This course will consider such philosophers and writers as Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Berdyaev, Heidegger, Jaspers, Camus, Sartre, Kafka, Beauvoir, Marcel, Buber, Ortega, and Unamuno.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course is an introduction to the philosophical thought during the medieval period (approximately 300 C.E. to 1500 C.E.). It will consider the thought of various major figures from the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions, and will take up this period's two principal areas of concern: the philosophy of religion and theology, on the one hand, and metaphysics and epistemology, on the other.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course is an introduction to the philosophical thought during the medieval period (approximately 300 C.E. to 1500 C.E.). It will consider the thought of various major figures from the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions, and will take up this period's two principal areas of concern: the philosophy of religion and theology, on the one hand, and metaphysics and epistemology, on the other.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: Metaphysics is the study of the general features of existence or reality. This course focuses on the fundamental concepts of being as developed in several major philosophers from the Greeks to the present. Discussion will focus on such topics as God, time, space, substance, essence, existence, process, causality, possibility, necessity, chance, and value.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: Metaphysics is the study of the general features of existence or reality. This course focuses on the fundamental concepts of being as developed in several major philosophers from the Greeks to the present. Discussion will focus on such topics as God, time, space, substance, essence, existence, process, causality, possibility, necessity, chance, and value.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: The nineteenth century marks a radical shift in the history of philosophy and culture and stands in its own right as a distinct period of thought between the modern era and the contemporary era. This course will consider such philosophical positions as idealism, empiricism, existentialistic romanticism, Marxism, evolution, nihilism, positivism, pragmatism, and the role of the arts and aesthetics. Philosophers considered include Schelling, Fichte, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Mill, Marx, Darwin, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Comte, Bradley, Green, Peirce, and James.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: The nineteenth century marks a radical shift in the history of philosophy and culture and stands in its own right as a distinct period of thought between the modern era and the contemporary era. This course will consider such philosophical positions as idealism, empiricism, existentialistic romanticism, Marxism, evolution, nihilism, positivism, pragmatism, and the role of the arts and aesthetics. Philosophers considered include Schelling, Fichte, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Mill, Marx, Darwin, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Comte, Bradley, Green, Peirce, and James.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: Introduces students to models of literary theory from the mid-twentieth century to the present and familiarizes them with the key works of literature to be analyzed. Prepares students to practice questioning and critiquing texts using the philosophical, aesthetic, economic and psychoanalytic methods of analysis which have come to form the foundation of contemporary literary theory. Among the topics considered are culture and imperialism, performativity, the encounter of modern literature and modern technology, structuralism and semiotics, the role of psychoanalysis, the role of the academy, and the relative autonomy of art.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: Introduces students to models of literary theory from the mid-twentieth century to the present and familiarizes them with the key works of literature to be analyzed. Prepares students to practice questioning and critiquing texts using the philosophical, aesthetic, economic and psychoanalytic methods of analysis which have come to form the foundation of contemporary literary theory. Among the topics considered are culture and imperialism, performativity, the encounter of modern literature and modern technology, structuralism and semiotics, the role of psychoanalysis, the role of the academy, and the relative autonomy of art.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course examines how philosophers and others have understood the nature of language. It explores the classical philosophical contexts in metaphysics, epistemology, aesthetics and rhetoric in which concerns about the nature of language arose. In addition, the course focuses on recent debates, within both contemporary analytic and continental traditions of philosophy. Some likely areas of inquiry will be: theories of reference, description and naming; theories of meaning, metaphor and narrative; functionalist, pragmatist and naturalist accounts; structuralist, post-structuralist, and hermeneutic accounts, among others. The prominence of one or the other of these debates and approaches will vary.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course examines how philosophers and others have understood the nature of language. It explores the classical philosophical contexts in metaphysics, epistemology, aesthetics and rhetoric in which concerns about the nature of language arose. In addition, the course focuses on recent debates, within both contemporary analytic and continental traditions of philosophy. Some likely areas of inquiry will be: theories of reference, description and naming; theories of meaning, metaphor and narrative; functionalist, pragmatist and naturalist accounts; structuralist, post-structuralist, and hermeneutic accounts, among others. The prominence of one or the other of these debates and approaches will vary.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course examines the theoretical basis of ethics and morality, namely the theoretical commitments that enter into any judgment that a particular action is right or wrong, with special emphasis on a particular thinker or theoretical approach. Topics may include different ways of understanding the concepts of right and wrong; the existence or non-existence of moral facts; different criteria of moral actions; different conceptions of the good life.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course examines the theoretical basis of ethics and morality, namely the theoretical commitments that enter into any judgment that a particular action is right or wrong, with special emphasis on a particular thinker or theoretical approach. Topics may include different ways of understanding the concepts of right and wrong; the existence or non-existence of moral facts; different criteria of moral actions; different conceptions of the good life.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: Examines some area of philosophy at an advanced undergraduate level. The area examined may vary from semester to semester. The seminar is designed especially for those whose interest in philosophy goes beyond the requirements of the liberal arts curriculum.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: Examines some area of philosophy at an advanced undergraduate level. The area examined may vary from semester to semester. The seminar is designed especially for those whose interest in philosophy goes beyond the requirements of the liberal arts curriculum.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course will provide an overview of some of the major currents in Continental philosophy, the distinctive philosophical approach and style of thinking that emerges in the early 20th century largely as a critical response to German Idealism, Marxism, and the antecedent existentialism of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. Continental philosophy is rooted in the history of philosophy, attentive to the world of experience, and develops in constant conversation with various other areas of human activities such as literature, politics, psychoanalysis, and religion. Among the major currents to be examined in the course are phenomenology, hermeneutics, deconstruction, structuralism, poststructuralism, French feminist theory, posthumanism, and speculative realism. Traditional philosophical topics such as ontology, metaphysics, epistemology, language analysis, feminist theory, ethics, and politics will be considered in the light of their reassessment by Continental philosophy. Figures covered may include Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Gadamer, Foucault, Levinas, Deleuze, Nancy, Derrida, Agamben, Irigaray, and Žižek, among others.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course will provide an overview of some of the major currents in Continental philosophy, the distinctive philosophical approach and style of thinking that emerges in the early 20th century largely as a critical response to German Idealism, Marxism, and the antecedent existentialism of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. Continental philosophy is rooted in the history of philosophy, attentive to the world of experience, and develops in constant conversation with various other areas of human activities such as literature, politics, psychoanalysis, and religion. Among the major currents to be examined in the course are phenomenology, hermeneutics, deconstruction, structuralism, poststructuralism, French feminist theory, posthumanism, and speculative realism. Traditional philosophical topics such as ontology, metaphysics, epistemology, language analysis, feminist theory, ethics, and politics will be considered in the light of their reassessment by Continental philosophy. Figures covered may include Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Gadamer, Foucault, Levinas, Deleuze, Nancy, Derrida, Agamben, Irigaray, and Žižek, among others.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: A critical examination of issues in some area of philosophy not covered in other philosophy courses.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: A critical examination of issues in some area of philosophy not covered in other philosophy courses.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course will address historical, social, political, and ethical issues as they relate to documentary photography. Within its history, documentary photography has been seen as personal artistic expression, a form of anthropological research, a tool for social change and even propaganda. Documentary photography is frequently newsworthy, and selected images from more extensive projects have become a part of daily editorial and press coverage. Students will consider the different ways that documentary photography is translated into the contemporary media landscape and more importantly, they will analyze the ethical dimensions of the use of documentary today.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course will address historical, social, political, and ethical issues as they relate to documentary photography. Within its history, documentary photography has been seen as personal artistic expression, a form of anthropological research, a tool for social change and even propaganda. Documentary photography is frequently newsworthy, and selected images from more extensive projects have become a part of daily editorial and press coverage. Students will consider the different ways that documentary photography is translated into the contemporary media landscape and more importantly, they will analyze the ethical dimensions of the use of documentary today.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: The course Photographic Science Fundamentals will introduce the application of physics, mathematics, and optical science behind the processes of photography. The course also provides the students with the opportunity to employ statistical data analysis to identify trends through laboratory exercises utilizing principles of scientific inquiry.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: The course Photographic Science Fundamentals will introduce the application of physics, mathematics, and optical science behind the processes of photography. The course also provides the students with the opportunity to employ statistical data analysis to identify trends through laboratory exercises utilizing principles of scientific inquiry.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: The course Photographic Science Fundamentals will introduce the application of physics, mathematics, and optical science behind the processes of photography. The course also provides the students with the opportunity to employ statistical data analysis to identify trends through laboratory exercises utilizing principles of scientific inquiry.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: The course Photographic Science Fundamentals will introduce the application of physics, mathematics, and optical science behind the processes of photography. The course also provides the students with the opportunity to employ statistical data analysis to identify trends through laboratory exercises utilizing principles of scientific inquiry.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course will explore the anatomical structure, function, and physiology of the human eye and brain and their relationship to vision, color, visual perception and imaging systems. The biology and physiology of the eye and psychology of visual perception will be explored. The concepts of depth perception in human vision as they relate to both two-dimensional and three-dimensional contexts will be examined. Relationships of image brightness, contrast and how visual processes lead to seeing will be addressed.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course will explore the anatomical structure, function, and physiology of the human eye and brain and their relationship to vision, color, visual perception and imaging systems. The biology and physiology of the eye and psychology of visual perception will be explored. The concepts of depth perception in human vision as they relate to both two-dimensional and three-dimensional contexts will be examined. Relationships of image brightness, contrast and how visual processes lead to seeing will be addressed.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts of stellar astronomy including the celestial sphere, constellations, nomenclature, physical properties of stars, principles of spectroscopy as applied to astronomy, double stars, variable stars, star clusters, stellar evolution, gaseous nebulae, stellar motions and distribution, the Milky Way system, external galaxies, and cosmology.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts of stellar astronomy including the celestial sphere, constellations, nomenclature, physical properties of stars, principles of spectroscopy as applied to astronomy, double stars, variable stars, star clusters, stellar evolution, gaseous nebulae, stellar motions and distribution, the Milky Way system, external galaxies, and cosmology.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This laboratory course includes experiments and exercises that relate to the principles and theories discussed in COS-PHYS-104 Stellar Astronomy. Observational exercises utilizing the RIT observatory and associated equipment will be emphasized.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This laboratory course includes experiments and exercises that relate to the principles and theories discussed in COS-PHYS-104 Stellar Astronomy. Observational exercises utilizing the RIT observatory and associated equipment will be emphasized.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course provides an introduction to basic concepts of solar system astronomy including celestial sphere, zodiac, astronomical telescopes, sun, moon, eclipses, earth as planet, planets and their satellites, comets, meteors, and theories of the origin of the solar system.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course provides an introduction to basic concepts of solar system astronomy including celestial sphere, zodiac, astronomical telescopes, sun, moon, eclipses, earth as planet, planets and their satellites, comets, meteors, and theories of the origin of the solar system.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This laboratory course includes experiments related to the principles and theories discussed in the corresponding lecture course Solar System Astronomy PHYS-106. Observational exercises utilizing the RIT observatory and associated equipment will be emphasized.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This laboratory course includes experiments related to the principles and theories discussed in the corresponding lecture course Solar System Astronomy PHYS-106. Observational exercises utilizing the RIT observatory and associated equipment will be emphasized.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This is an introductory course in algebra-based physics focusing on mechanics and waves. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton’s laws, gravitation; rotational kinematics and dynamics; work and energy; momentum and impulse; conservation laws; simple harmonic motion; waves; data presentation/analysis and error propagation. The course is taught using both traditional lectures and a workshop format that integrates material traditionally found in separate lecture, recitation, and laboratory settings.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This is an introductory course in algebra-based physics focusing on mechanics and waves. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton’s laws, gravitation; rotational kinematics and dynamics; work and energy; momentum and impulse; conservation laws; simple harmonic motion; waves; data presentation/analysis and error propagation. The course is taught using both traditional lectures and a workshop format that integrates material traditionally found in separate lecture, recitation, and laboratory settings.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This is an introductory course in algebra-based physics focusing on mechanics and waves. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton’s laws, gravitation; rotational kinematics and dynamics; work and energy; momentum and impulse; conservation laws; simple harmonic motion; waves; data presentation/analysis and error propagation. The course is taught using both traditional lectures and a workshop format that integrates material traditionally found in separate lecture, recitation, and laboratory settings.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This is an introductory course in algebra-based physics focusing on mechanics and waves. Topics include kinematics, planar motion, Newton’s laws, gravitation; rotational kinematics and dynamics; work and energy; momentum and impulse; conservation laws; simple harmonic motion; waves; data presentation/analysis and error propagation. The course is taught using both traditional lectures and a workshop format that integrates material traditionally found in separate lecture, recitation, and laboratory settings.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course is an introduction to algebra-based physics focusing on thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, and elementary topics in modern physics. Topics include heat and temperature, laws of thermodynamics, fluids, electric and magnetic forces and fields, DC electrical circuits, electromagnetic induction, opyics, the concept of the photon, and the Bohr model of the atom. The course is taught using both traditional lectures and a workshop format that integrates material traditionally found in separate lecture, recitation, and laboratory settings.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.

Course Description: This course is an introduction to algebra-based physics focusing on thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, and elementary topics in modern physics. Topics include heat and temperature, laws of thermodynamics, fluids, electric and magnetic forces and fields, DC electrical circuits, electromagnetic induction, opyics, the concept of the photon, and the Bohr model of the atom. The course is taught using both traditional lectures and a workshop format that integrates material traditionally found in separate lecture, recitation, and laboratory settings.

For prerequisites, availability, other details and to register, go to http://sis.rit.edu/.