Programs

Advisor to the Bioethics Minor: Prof. Brendan Mahoney

Requirements: A minimum of 18 graduation credits including an introductory course (A PHI 114 or 115 or 212 or 218); an introductory course in biology (A BIO 102, 110, 120 or A BIO 209; biology majors may substitute an advanced biology course for this requirement); Moral Problems in Medicine (A PHI 338); 3 credits at 300-level or higher in ethical and/or political theory (A PHI 320, 321, 326, 425, 474 or R POS 301, 302, 306, 307, 308, 310); and 6 credits from advanced related courses.

Advanced related courses include: A ANT 312, 360, 361, 364, 365, 418, 450; A BIO 205, 212, 214, 311, 318, 329; A ECO 381; A GOG 310; A PHI 355, A PHI 417, A PHI 418; A PSY 329, 385, 387; A SOC 359; H SPH 342; R CRJ 405; R POS 328; U UNI 310.

Advanced related graduate courses include: A ANT 511, 517, 518; A BIO 511, 519; A PHI 520; A ECO 509, 511, 512; A PHI 517; H EPI 501, 502; H HPM 501, 511; R POS/RPUB 502. 

Students may use other courses to fulfill the related courses requirement at the discretion of the advisor to the Bioethics Minor.

Requirements: The minor in Cognitive Science requires 18 Credits, 9 Credits or more of which must be in course work at or above the 300 level and/or in courses requiring a prerequisite. All students must take

• Introduction to Cognitive Science (A LIN 301, A PHI 301, or A PSY 301)
• 3 courses from: A CSI 201N, A LIN 321, APHI 210L, A PSY 365
• 6 Credits from the following:
  • A CSI 101N, 201N, 210, 310, 409
  • A LIN 322, 421, or 421Z, 422
  • A PHI 332, 415, 418, 422, 432
  • A PSY 210, 211, 381, 382, 382Z

The minor in Ethics and Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence is designed for undergraduate students of any major, whether individuals interested in the diverse and growing career opportunities related to artificial intelligence (AI), ethics, and philosophy or individuals who desire to think critically about the growing role AI will play in society alongside their other studies. 

A deep understanding of the ethical and foundational questions around the nature of AI (and its relationship to human intelligence), as well as how its development, deployment and use affect human flourishing, is central to the training of well-rounded, thoughtful workers in the AI industry of the future and, more broadly, to any major.

For students not majoring in a STEM subject who want to think critically about big questions related to AI, electives in areas like Business, Computer Science, Cybersecurity and Public Administration provide them with practical knowledge about AI applications. 

For students pursuing a STEM-based path, the minor provides a way to gain a competitive edge on the AI job market, complementing and augmenting their technical skills with “big picture” thinking and an enhanced sensitivity for the ethical and social implications of AI.

Requirements

The minor requires 9 credits in Philosophy and 9 credits in Ethics and Philosophy of AI electives. At least 9 credits must be in coursework at or above the 300 level. 

Elective courses may be AI-related courses from Philosophy or other units, including Business, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Education, English, History, Information Sciences and Technology, Public Administration and Policy, Social Welfare, and Music.

Structure of the Minor

• Choice of 3 credits in Philosophy of Mind or Philosophy of Science: APHI 111 (Mind & World) or APHI 218 (Understanding Science)
• Choice of 3 credits in Normative Ethics and Ethical Theory: APHI 213 (Ethics and Philosophy of AI) or 3 credits from APHI 114 (Morals and Society) or APHI 115 (Moral Dilemmas) or APHI 212 (Intro to Ethical theory)
• 3 credits from APHI 380 (AI in Society: Ethical and Legal issues)
• 3 credits from lower-level electives chosen from the following:
  • Business
    • BFOR 100 Introduction to Information Systems
    • BFOR 200 Information Security for Business
    • BFOR 203 Networking and Cryptography
  • Social Welfare
    • RSSW 230 Artificial Intelligence and Social Justice
  • English
    • AENG 272 Media, Technology and Culture: Challenges in the 21st Century
  • CEHC (Information Sciences and Technology)
    • CINF 135 Concepts of Artificial Intelligence
  • CEHC (Cybersecurity)
    • CYBR 101 Foundations of Cybersecurity Policy and Management
    • CYBR 102 Technical Foundations of Cybersecurity
    • CYBR 201 Web Technologies Essentials: Security and Design
    • CYBR 202 Database Fundamentals and Security Practices
  • History
    • AHIS 276 Technology and Society in America
  • Computer Science
    • ICSI 201 (IECE 201) Introduction to Computer Science
    • ICSI 235 AI for All
  • Philosophy
    • APHI 202 Critical Thinking 
    • APHI 210 Introduction to Logic
  • Rockefeller (Public Administration and Policy)
    • RPAD 204 Introduction to Data Science for Public Policy and Management
• 6 credits from upper-level electives chosen from the following:
  • CEHC (Cybersecurity)
    • CYBR 422 Trustworthy AI
  • CEHC (Information Sciences and Technology)
    • CINF 320 Ethical Considerations in AI
  • Education 
    • ETAP 431 AI in the Classroom
  • Music
    • AMUS 385 (AWSS 385) Music, Power, and Digital Tech
  • Computer Science
    • ICSI 300Z Societal and Ethical Implications of Computing
  • Philosophy
    • APHI 410 Perspectives on Reasoning
    • APHI 416 Philosophy of Mind
    • APHI 418 Philosophy of Science
    • APHI 422 Theory of Knowledge
    • APHI 425 Contemporary Ethical Theory
  • Rockefeller (Public Administration and Policy)
    • RPAD305 Public Administration and Information Technology

Advisor to the Law and Philosophy Minor: Prof. Brendan Mahoney

The study and practice of Law requires a unique combination of argumentative skills and reasoning abilities. Indeed, the American Bar Association's Council of Legal Education and Opportunity recommends that students interested in studying the Law take courses that “teach reasoning and analytical skills.” The discipline of Philosophy has traditionally played a role in the development of such skills and abilities in students.

The Law and Philosophy minor provides students with intensive training in reasoning and argumentation. It allows students to examine many of the current moral, political, and legal issues that are of interest to lawyers, judges, and legal scholars, as well as to professions in criminal justice, security and preparedness, government, and social work. Students will investigate questions such as: What is the relation between law and morality? How do changes in technology contribute to changes in the law (e.g., regarding medicine or environmental issues)? Does the law help or hurt oppressed groups in society? What makes something a human right, and how should respect for human rights be instantiated in the law? What is the basis of international law and can international law contribute to peace?

In the classroom, students will learn to engage in reasoned debate about complex problems, to argue for or against certain propositions, to defend views against objections, and to subject their own biases to careful scrutiny. Special emphasis is placed on reading arguments carefully, analyzing their structures and assumptions, and writing logically, clearly, and precisely.

Requirements

The minor requires 12 core credits in Philosophy and 6 credits of legal studies electives. At least 9 of the total credits must be in coursework at or above the 300 level.

Elective courses may be law-related courses from Philosophy or other units, including Africana Studies, Business, Criminal Justice, Journalism, Political Science, and Sociology. Subject to prior approval by a Law and Philosophy Advisor, senior students may take an Albany Law course and count it as an elective.

Philosophy course (12 credits)

• 3 credits from APHI 112 Critical Thinking or APHI 202 Critical Thinking or APHI 210 Introduction to Logic
• 3 credits from APHI 212 Introduction to Ethical Theory or APHI 220 History of Social and Political Philosophy or APHI 326 Moral Philosophy
• 3 credits from APHI 325 Philosophy of Law
• 3 credits from a 300-level or 400-level course in Philosophy

Elective courses (6 credits)

• APHI 114 Morals and Society or APHI 115 Moral Dilemmas
• APHI 338 Moral Problems in Medicine
• APHI 350 Philosophy and Feminism
• APHI 355 Global Justice
• APHI 365 Environmental Ethics
• APHI 417 Bioethics
• APHI 474 Contemporary Social and Political Philosophy
• AAFS 400 The Law and African-America
• BLAW 220 Business Law
• BLAW 200 Legal Environment of Business
• RCRJ 202 Introduction to Law and Criminal Justice
• RCRJ 302 Punishment and Corrections
• RCRJ 353 American Criminal Courts
• RCRJ 401 Crime Deviation and Conformity
• RCRJ 424 Introduction to Substantive Criminal Law
• AJRL 225 (= ADOC 225) Media Law and Ethics
• RPOS 326 Introduction to Public Law
• RPOS 328 Law and Policy
• ASOC 203 Criminology
• ASOC 385 Sociology of Law

Requirements: A minimum of 18 graduation credits (9 or more of which must be in coursework at or above the 300 level and/or in courses requiring at least one prerequisite course) from coursework with an A PHI prefix, including at least two of the following: A PHI 110 or 111, 210, 212, 310, 312.