Diversity statement
Teaching philosophy
Student evaluations
Global Engineering Ethics Engineering and technology are involved in all facets of the modern-day world, with the tremendous capacities to make the world better or worse. With the increasingly global natures of engineering and technology, this is truer than ever before. To maximize benefits and minimize harms, it is important that engineers and those working with technology behave ethically, but what does it mean to behave ethically within engineering and with regard to technology? This course introduces students to engineering and technology ethics, with a cross-cultural and international focus. Its ultimate goal is to increase your ethical awareness, and understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities in global contexts, to identify and navigate ethical issues involving technology. Students will also gain a deeper sense of what they believe, and the ability to articulate and argue for these beliefs.
Introduction to Chinese Philosophy (Vr265) In the last forty years, China has developed more and more quickly than any society in human history, resulting in inquiry into the basis of contemporary Chinese culture. In attempting to understand this basis, efforts have tended to focus on China’s differences from the West, as well as China’s history: In contradistinction to contemporary Western culture, that in Chinese culture would be based on ancient Eastern paradigms, characterized in terms of figures, questions, and themes associated with the Chinese philosophical tradition. To better understand these dynamics and their stakes, this course introduces Chinese philosophy, through reflection on the ways and extent to which Chinese philosophy serves as the basis for contemporary Chinese culture. It surveys Confucianism, Mohism, Daoism, and legalism, as well as psychological and anthropological accounts of the nature and evolution of culture. Towards these ends, emphasis will be given to not only the history of China and its philosophical tradition, but also contemporary China and current social trends. The course will focus on understanding not only the manner and extent to which Chinese philosophy is related to Chinese culture, but also how ancient Chinese philosophy can contribute to a better understanding of the contemporary world. In addition to these specific contents, the course will cultivate the general skills of close reading, critical thinking, and clear writing.
Introduction to Psychology Psychology is involved in all aspects of human life, from the ability to read these words and understanding this sentence, to its influence on subsequent decisions, behaviors, and interactions with others. To better understand oneself and the world in which we live, this course serves as an intensive, short-term introduction to psychology. Students will learn about the history of psychology, psychological research methods, and branches of psychology, exploring classical and contemporary studies and considering their real-life implications. The final research project for this course is about cross-cultural moral psychology, attempting to replicate with Chinese participants an earlier study concerning the nature of ethical judgments. In addition, students will develop their abilities to read closely, think critically, and write clearly.
Philosophical Ethics (Vr361) To better understand the natures of “right” and “wrong,” “good” and “bad,” and how people should act – as well as how they conceive and make judgments with regard to such notions – this course is an introduction to philosophical ethics. It examines questions such as: Can we say certain acts are ethically required and others are wrong? What do terms like “valuable” and “morally wrong” mean? And what grounds these distinctions? The course will take a two-fold historical-theoretical and practical approach: in the first place, reading texts by significant figures within the Western philosophical tradition to understand different ethical theories and perspectives; in the second place, bringing these to bear on practical concerns. This course will examine some central traditions of ethics, and explore the relationship between ethics and human psychology, examining reasons for why persons should act in a certain manner but also the psychological basis for these reasons and judgments. Upon completion, students will be familiar with different ethical theories and capable of examining practical problems in light of these theories. In addition, students will develop their abilities to read closely, think critically, and write clearly.
Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion (Vr262) This course acts as an introduction to philosophy through reflection on issues central to religion. These include – but are not limited to – arguments for and against the existence of God, the problem of evil, nature of religious experience, and cognitive and social basis of religion. In addition to philosophical and religious content, this course will develop the skills of reading closely, thinking critically, and writing clearly. Having successfully completed this course, students will be expected to demonstrate these skills, an understanding of philosophy and its relations to the academic study of religion, describe differences in religious and nonreligious views of reality, and reflect rationally on religious concepts and claims.
Interpersonal Communication (Vx310) This course introduces the theoretical nature and practical application of social and cross-cultural communication skills. Building on previous knowledge and past experience, students will learn about the evolutionary, psychological, and anthropological basis of these skills, while practicing them in various real-life situations, such as school, extra-curricular, and work environments. Research has shown that social and cross-cultural communication skills, in general, lead directly to higher grades, salaries, and better jobs, and indirectly – through extracurricular participation and better relationships – to higher grades, salaries, life satisfaction, and better jobs. These skills are especially important to Chinese nationals who plan to study and work abroad. Many younger Chinese lack social and communication skills – due to the one-child policy and organization of primary and secondary Chinese education. Those who work and study abroad can face difficulties, where different norms of sociability and communication can result in misunderstanding and impede successful cooperation.
Introduction to Philosophy (Vr202) This course will introduce students to the study of philosophy, understood as a discipline that consists in asking questions and giving answers in a systematic and critical fashion. The course will take a two-fold historical and topical approach, in the first place reading texts by significant figures within the Western philosophical tradition – isolating and understanding the types of questions they pose – in the second place attempting to understand how these provide the basis for Western culture and science. (This will be in preparation for a complementary course introducing Chinese philosophy, which will take place during the summer.) Upon completion of this course, students should be able to ask questions and give answers in a systematic and critical fashion, be familiar with major themes and figures within the Western philosophical tradition, and have an awareness of how these shape Western culture and science. In addition, students will develop their abilities to read closely, think critically, and write clearly.
Political Anthropology: Rousseau’s Social Contract (X090499) This course explores the philosophical anthropological roots of political thought, how concepts belonging to political theory – and the closely related fields of ethics and legal studies – can be understood in terms of accounts of human nature. This semester will focus on Rousseau’s Social Contract. Not only will we examine Rousseau’s explicit political commitments in this work, but also the implicit understanding of human nature that drives these commitments. Rousseau espouses an ideal form of political organization, and we will attempt to understand what he thinks human beings are like such that this organization is the ideal. Having successfully completed this course, students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the basic tenets of Rousseau’s political thought.
Introduction to Engineering: Technical Communication Component (Vg100) In this course, students learn and experience how engineers conceptualize the world and create things that can profoundly alter people’s lives. In doing so, they find out that engineers bring much of their lives and learning to bear on problem solving. It’s not just math. It’s not just science. The best of engineering often embraces one’s life and passion to share with others, to help those in need, to improve life quality, and to encourage exploration into the unknown.
Academic Writing 2 (Vy200) This course is designed as a continuation of “Academic Writing 1” (Vy100). You will learn the fundamentals of English reading and writing. The class will also serve as a review of basic grammatical principles and as a space in which you can gain greater academic and conversational fluency. To that end, the course will be organized as follows: The first class of each week will be devoted to reading. The second class of each week will be devoted to grammar. The last class of each week will be devoted to writing. This pattern will continue for the span of the 10-week semester.
Academic Writing 1 (Vy100) What is a well-written essay? What is a well-written paragraph? The answers may seem obvious to you. The problem is, a Chinese person and an American would give completely different answers to these questions. What are the differences between the American ideal of a well-written academic essay and the Chinese ideal? In an American academic essay, how can you integrate others’ prior research into your paper without being accused of plagiarism? To an American, what is plagiarism? This course is designed to introduce students to principles of American-style academic writing, and give students a chance to apply those principles. Topics covered will include: differences in Chinese and English rhetorical styles; punctuation review; writing a well-constructed paragraph; structuring an American-style formal essay; writing topic sentences and thesis sentences; paraphrasing and avoiding plagiarism.
Philosophical Ethics (Vr361) To better understand the natures of “right” and “wrong,” “good” and “bad,” and how people should act – as well as how they conceive and make judgments with regard to such notions – this course is an introduction to philosophical ethics. It examines questions such as: Can we say certain acts are ethically required and others are wrong? What do terms like “valuable” and “morally wrong” mean? And what grounds these distinctions? The course will take a two-fold historical-theoretical and practical approach: in the first place, reading texts by significant figures within the Western philosophical tradition to understand different ethical theories and perspectives; in the second place, bringing these to bear on practical concerns. This course will examine some central traditions of ethics, and explore the relationship between ethics and human psychology, examining reasons for why persons should act in a certain manner but also the psychological basis for these reasons and judgments. Upon completion, students will be familiar with different ethical theories and capable of examining practical problems in light of these theories. In addition, students will develop their abilities to read closely, think critically, and write clearly.
Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion (Vr262) This course acts as an introduction to philosophy through reflection on issues central to religion. These include – but are not limited to – arguments for and against the existence of God, the problem of evil, nature of religious experience, and cognitive and social basis of religion. In addition to philosophical and religious content, this course will develop the skills of reading closely, thinking critically, and writing clearly. Having successfully completed this course, students will be expected to demonstrate these skills, an understanding of philosophy and its relations to the academic study of religion, describe differences in religious and nonreligious views of reality, and reflect rationally on religious concepts and claims.
Interpersonal Communication (Vx310) This course introduces the theoretical nature and practical application of social and cross-cultural communication skills. Building on previous knowledge and past experience, students will learn about the evolutionary, psychological, and anthropological basis of these skills, while practicing them in various real-life situations, such as school, extra-curricular, and work environments. Research has shown that social and cross-cultural communication skills, in general, lead directly to higher grades, salaries, and better jobs, and indirectly – through extracurricular participation and better relationships – to higher grades, salaries, life satisfaction, and better jobs. These skills are especially important to Chinese nationals who plan to study and work abroad. Many younger Chinese lack social and communication skills – due to the one-child policy and organization of primary and secondary Chinese education. Those who work and study abroad can face difficulties, where different norms of sociability and communication can result in misunderstanding and impede successful cooperation.
Introduction to Philosophy (Vr202) This course will introduce students to the study of philosophy, understood as a discipline that consists in asking questions and giving answers in a systematic and critical fashion. The course will take a two-fold historical and topical approach, in the first place reading texts by significant figures within the Western philosophical tradition – isolating and understanding the types of questions they pose – in the second place attempting to understand how these provide the basis for Western culture and science. (This will be in preparation for a complementary course introducing Chinese philosophy, which will take place during the summer.) Upon completion of this course, students should be able to ask questions and give answers in a systematic and critical fashion, be familiar with major themes and figures within the Western philosophical tradition, and have an awareness of how these shape Western culture and science. In addition, students will develop their abilities to read closely, think critically, and write clearly.
Political Anthropology: Rousseau’s Social Contract (X090499) This course explores the philosophical anthropological roots of political thought, how concepts belonging to political theory – and the closely related fields of ethics and legal studies – can be understood in terms of accounts of human nature. This semester will focus on Rousseau’s Social Contract. Not only will we examine Rousseau’s explicit political commitments in this work, but also the implicit understanding of human nature that drives these commitments. Rousseau espouses an ideal form of political organization, and we will attempt to understand what he thinks human beings are like such that this organization is the ideal. Having successfully completed this course, students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the basic tenets of Rousseau’s political thought.
Introduction to Engineering: Technical Communication Component (Vg100) In this course, students learn and experience how engineers conceptualize the world and create things that can profoundly alter people’s lives. In doing so, they find out that engineers bring much of their lives and learning to bear on problem solving. It’s not just math. It’s not just science. The best of engineering often embraces one’s life and passion to share with others, to help those in need, to improve life quality, and to encourage exploration into the unknown.
Academic Writing 2 (Vy200) This course is designed as a continuation of “Academic Writing 1” (Vy100). You will learn the fundamentals of English reading and writing. The class will also serve as a review of basic grammatical principles and as a space in which you can gain greater academic and conversational fluency. To that end, the course will be organized as follows: The first class of each week will be devoted to reading. The second class of each week will be devoted to grammar. The last class of each week will be devoted to writing. This pattern will continue for the span of the 10-week semester.
Academic Writing 1 (Vy100) What is a well-written essay? What is a well-written paragraph? The answers may seem obvious to you. The problem is, a Chinese person and an American would give completely different answers to these questions. What are the differences between the American ideal of a well-written academic essay and the Chinese ideal? In an American academic essay, how can you integrate others’ prior research into your paper without being accused of plagiarism? To an American, what is plagiarism? This course is designed to introduce students to principles of American-style academic writing, and give students a chance to apply those principles. Topics covered will include: differences in Chinese and English rhetorical styles; punctuation review; writing a well-constructed paragraph; structuring an American-style formal essay; writing topic sentences and thesis sentences; paraphrasing and avoiding plagiarism.