PHI 3941: Philosophy Practicum

Statement of S-L Activities, Course Objectives, and Community Needs

This course emphasizes ethical theory and practice in personal, professional, and academic integrity. Academic dishonesty is a serious, rampant problem at all levels of education. Furthermore, violations of personal and professional integrity in other realms (business, government, medicine, etc.) are analogues to problems of academic integrity. Engaging students in service related to theoretical inquiry into ethical issues of integrity will both enhance and be enhanced by application of theory to practice by tutoring and providing appropriate & legitimate research assistance to others. Course assignments and papers focus on understanding theoretical issues and problems of integrity, combining theory and application in service to any one of the following: (1) local elementary, junior or senior high schools as teacher assistants/tutors/graders; (2) on-campus at the University Writing Center or SARC as a tutor for critical thinking, reading and writing primarily for philosophy and humanities majors, but also for other disciplines as appropriate; (3) on-campus with the Office of Student Conduct Seminar in Academic Integrity to assist in evaluating student assignments, helping to design appropriate course materials, and assist with lectures and presentations at or for OSC and the University; (4) off-campus with the cooperation of the UCF Department of Philosophy and Valencia CC in the Prometheus Project for disadvantaged adults for tutoring and research assistance.