Society, Technology & Values

ANTH 360. Environmental Change & Culture. 3 Credits.

This course uses an anthropological lens to understand how humans have responded to and/or caused environmental changes and how differing cultural values and behaviors have shaped this relationship. By the end of the course students should be able to (1) explore how power and privilege impact us and others and how this relates to race, ethnicity, cultural identity, economic class, and environmental discrimination and (2) use wordview as a tool to understand different cultural responses to environmental challenges. Present and past cultural examples from around the world are examined to provide background for class discussions and exploration of hot topics and challenges that currently face us and how this relates to our diverse beliefs and levels of local and global power. F, odd years.

PHIL 120. Introduction to Ethics. 3 Credits.

This course investigates the nature of the Good Life, of moral principles, and the application of moral systems to contemporary debate. These may include questions about the morality of war, capital punishment, sexual behavior, welfare, and so forth. F,S.

HIST 230. A Cultural History of Science and Technology. 3 Credits.

This course examines the evolution of modern science and technology from the Renaissance through the present day, focusing on the relationship between how cultures describe the natural world and develop the tools needed to manipulate it. The course will investigate how and why science and technology have acquired their privileged places in modern society, their crucial roles in the development of economic and military power, and in our construction of human social, racial, and gender difference. S.

COMM 406. Future of Communication Technology. 3 Credits.

Evaluates different perspectives on the future of communication technology, ranging from utopian through dystopian views of the impact of communication technologies on modern society. Examines the implications of new means of creating, storing, manipulating and disseminating/communicating information, and analysis of whether potential benefits may be realized. This course is also offered for graduate credit. F,S.

PHIL 254. Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ethics. 3 Credits.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems include fields of study that pose significant public responsibilities. This course will review ethical history and ethical theory in the context of a UAS professional's life. The major focus of the course is on ethical dilemmas, case studies, and codes relevant to contemporary UAS and scientific practices. F.