Leg Item

Faculty Association	December 17, 2003

Legislative Calendar Item # FA 03-26

UNF Board of Trustees
Education Policy Committee Meeting
University of North Florida
Wednesday, December 17, 2003

Master of Arts in Practical Philosophy and Applied Ethics
Approved by the UBOT on January 15, 2004

(view the link)

Provost Kline opened this item by stating that previous to the devolution, the authority to approve degree programs required Board of Regent approval. Dr. Kline then asked Dean Workman to present the degree program. Dean Workman stated that much care and thought had gone into the proposal for this program and that it was consistent with the mission of UNF and the mission of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dean Workman stated that the degree program was grounded in sound philosophical education, would appeal to many students and would address needs of community. He stated that this degree program would bring positive attention to UNF. He continued by stating that the degree program would not be cost prohibitive. The cost of graduate teaching assistants would be offset by the costs saved on faculty.

Dr. Kline opened the floor up for questions to be addressed to Dean Workman and
Dr. Fenner, Interim Chair of the Philosophy Department. Trustee Taylor requested clarification on tracking the program and making it available to students. He also inquired about making the program a certificate program in other master's level programs. Dean Workman responded by stating that this program would be extremely valuable to graduate students and that nationally, postgraduate certificates are becoming more valuable. He stated that certificates are used to develop expertise and that a number of people in human resources in private business, the medical profession and the engineering industry could benefit from this program. Dean Workman stated that infusing this into undergraduate programs would be difficult because of the credit hour requirements. He stated that graduate programs have more flexibility.

Chair Hicks asked for a motion to recommend the Master of Arts in Practical Philosophy and Applied Ethics be presented to the full Board. It was so motioned and the Trustees voted unanimously to recommend the program to the Board.