Goals/Objectives/Learning Outcomes


Ways of Knowing (KNW 2333)

This course will provide students with an understanding of the scientific method sufficient to detect pseudoscience in its many guises: paranormal phenomena, free-energy devices, alternative medicine, intelligent design creationism/creation science, denial of human-induced climate change, propaganda, denial of science-based medicine, misuse of data and statistics, and many others. Students will learn to think critically and creatively and to question outlandish claims, hype, propaganda, outright nonsense.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

  • (Ways of Knowing) Students will be able to demonstrate a knowledge of more than one disciplinary practice.
  • (Ways of Knowing) Students will be able to explain how bringing more than one practice to an examination of the course topic contributes to knowing about that topic.
  • (Writing) Through multiple opportunities supervised and/or directed by a professor, an editor or other authority, students will demonstrate proper use of language through completion of a substantial amount of purposeful writing appropriate for a specific or targeted audience.
  • (Information Literacy) Students will be able to select and use the appropriate research methods and search tools for needed information.
  • (Information Literacy) Students will be able to evaluate sources for quality of information for a given information need.

General Cultural Formations Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate the ability to use inter/multi-disciplinary approaches for understanding complex issues.

Specific KNW2333/CFB3333/PHYS3333 Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to detect pseudoscience in its many guises: paranormal phenomena, free-energy devices, alternative medicine, intelligent design creationism, and many others.
  • Students will learn to think critically and to question outlandish claims, hype, and outright BS.
  • Students' writing will improve.
  • Students will be able to distinguish credible sources of information from nonsense; students will become intelligent consumers of information.