Academic Catalog - Virginia Military Institute Admissions

Virginia Military Institute
12-13 Catalogue
PE 320. DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS 3—0—3
A study of the substances being abused — the effects, prevention, diagnoses, intervention,
treatment, corporate strategies, laws.
PE 321. LEadership exercise and sport 0—1—0.5
This course will provide the student with an introduction to leadership theories and practices,
exercise physology and physical training. Basic concepts and components of leadership
within the exercise and sporting environment will be introduced so that the student may use
this knowledge for the promotion of his/her personal fitness benefits.
PE 401. GOLF 0—1—0.5
A beginning course. Offered during fall semester only.
PE 402. LIFEGUARDING 0—1—0.5
Successful completion leads to certification as a lifeguard. Prerequisite: PE 304.
PE 403. ADVANCED SWIMMING AND SURVIVAL 0—1—0.5
The course is designed for advance swimming and survival techniques. The course will
cover strokes, conditioning, surface diving, snorkel introduction, underwater retrieval of
gear, and advance survival techniques. Prerequisite: PE 101.
PE 404. C.P.R. 1—0—0.5
Successful completion confers American Red Cross certification. This course is a prerequisite
for PE 103, Lifeguarding.
PE 405. DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS 1—0—0.5
Provides information on the benefits and detriments of common physical performance
stimulants.
PE 406. HANDBALL/RACQUETBALL 0—1—0.5
A beginning course.
PE 407. VOLLEYBALL 0—1—0.5
A beginning course.
PE 408. GYMNASTICS AND TUMBLING 0—1—0.5
Instruction and practice in both activities will be provided during spring semester only.
PE 409. TENNIS 0—1—0.5
A beginning course. Offered during fall semester only.
PE 411. Fundamentals of Resistance Training 1—0—0.5
Fundamentals of weight lifting.
PE 412. WEIGHT TRAINING 0—1—0.5
This will be an activity course designed to give cadets “hands-on” exposure to various
types of resistive training programs. Cadets will actively participate in a variety of predetermined
functional lifting programs relative to all of the components (strength, power,
endurance) of muscular development.
PE 413. Cardiovascular Training Application 0—1—0.5
This is an activity course designed to expose cadets to various types of training programs.
A cross-training approach will be utilized requiring cadet participation on a weekly basis with
regard to a variety of aerobic and anaerobic training adaptations. This course is designed to
be physically demanding. It will not only help cadets attain a higher level of fitness, it will
also give them an opportunity to learn different training adaptations which they can utilize
beyond their VMI experience.
PE 414. BASKETBALL 0—1—0.5
This course will introduce cadets to the basic rules and skills of basketball as well as teach
offensive and defensive principles. Individual skills and team concepts will be covered. This
course will have a high activity/fitness component.
PE 430. HEALTH EDUCATION 3—0—3
Topics to be studied include: recognition and management of stress, intervention and
confrontation in drug/alcohol abuse, sexuality, AIDS, and other sexually-transmitted diseases,
and other subjects such as nutrition, genetic counseling, cardiovascular health, and cancer.
PHILOSOPHY
DEPARTMENT of PSYCHOlOGY and PHIlOSOPHY
department head: ColONEl GIRE
PH 201. HISTORY OF GREEK AND MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY 3—0—3
An introduction to philosophical thinking through the study of thought from the ancient
Greeks to the Renaissance. As well as learning the history of ethical, religious, political and
other ideas that continue to shape our civilization, cadets will learn to assess arguments
critically and to construct rational defenses of their own beliefs.
PH 202. HISTORY OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY 3—0—3
An introduction to philosophical thinking through the study of thought from the Renaissance
to the present day. As well as learning the history of ethical, psychological, political and
other ideas that continue to shape our civilization, cadets will learn to assess arguments
critically and to construct rational defenses of their own beliefs.
PH 204. APPLIED ETHICS 3—0—3
This elective course is an introduction to critical thinking about ethics through the examination
of real-life moral and political problems such as abortion, euthanasia, and the legalization
of drugs. It is less theoretical than Ethics (PH 304). Prerequisites: None.
PH 292 and PH 293. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH 3—0—3
These courses are for rising 2nd class cadets pursuing research during the summer.
Permission of instructor and department head required.
PH 301. LOGIC 3—0—3
A systematic study of the methods and structure of classical logic, beginning symbolic
logic, and scientific investigation. (This course is taught in the Mathematics Department.)
PH 303. Poverty and Human Capability 3—0—3
This course will focus on how best to understand what poverty is, what causes it, whose
responsibility it is to do something about it, and what courses of action might best be
pursued to reduce poverty.
PH 304. ETHICS 3—0—3
An introduction to critical thinking about moral concepts and issues, including why one
should be moral, major theories of what is right and wrong, and controversial social problems
concerning questions of justice, life and death.
PH 307. COMPARATIVE RELIGION 3—0—3
A survey of the history, doctrines, and sacred writings of the world’s major religions.
PH 308. MINDS AND MACHINES 3—0—3
Although it has no prerequisites, this course is intended primarily for students who have
taken at least one philosophy course before. Some knowledge of psychology, electrical
engineering, or computer science will also be helpful. The course will survey the major issues
and theories involved in the philosophy of intelligence, natural and artificial. Participants will
examine the major current, competing ideas about what the mind is, what consciousness is,
and whether a machine could have a mind. In doing so, cadets will be guided to address such
questions as: Is the mind the soul Is the brain the mind What is the connection between
mind and behavior Is the brain a kind of computer Could any machine have a real mind
PH 309. PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION 3—0—3
This elective course surveys some of the major analyses, criticisms, and defenses of
religion. We will examine such questions as: What is religion Why does it exist Is it
rational Is genuine faith possible anymore, and, Is religion something we could ever do
without This is not a course on world religions or comparative religion. The emphasis will
be on philosophical questions about the rationality of belief in the existence of God, and the
main examples of religious belief used will come from the Christian tradition. Prerequisites:
Successful completion of a prior PH course or permission of instructor.
PH 390 and PH 391. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH 3—0—3
These courses are for 2nd class cadets pursuing research during the fall and/or spring
semesters. Permission of instructor and department head required. Prerequisite: Permission
of instructor and department head required.
PH 392 and PH 393. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH 3—0—3
These courses are for rising 1st class cadets pursuing research during the summer.
Permission of instructor and department head required.
PSYCHOLOGY
DEPARTMENT of PSYCHOlOGY and PHIlOSOPHY
department head: ColONEl GIRE
(C or better is required in PS 201 for all upper level PS courses-starting with the Class of 2014)
PS 201. INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY 3—0—3
Principles of human and animal behavior including brain function, motivation, learning,
thinking, perception, emotions, personality, attitudes, and aptitudes. This course is a
prerequisite for all other courses in psychology.
PS 203. BIOPSYCHOLOGY I 3—0—3
An introduction to the study of the biological bases of behavior, with an emphasis on
neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, biophysical research methods, and a survey of
theories and research concerning nervous system mechanisms underlying various aspects
of behavior. Pre-requisite: PS 201.
PS 204. BIOPSYCHOLOGY II 3—0—3
Builds on the foundation of knowledge gained from PS 203 with in-depth discussion
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