SIFT 113 Logic and Critical Thinking

College of Critical & Professional Studies

3 credits 45.0 hours
100 level undergraduate course

This course aims to develop students’ reasoning skills through logic and critical thinking. Students will be introduced to logic as the systematic study of arguments. Using arguments found in everyday contexts, students will learn how to identify, analyze and evaluate the form of arguments. In doing so, students will also learn techniques for constructing good arguments to support claims and beliefs of their own. Beyond the formal study of arguments, students will also learn critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate the soundness or cogency of arguments. Students will learn to assess evidence, identify and challenge unstated assumptions, determine the relevance of claims and possible objections to such claims, and judge the reasonableness of individual claims in their proper context. The ethical and social significance of doing so will be emphasized throughout. Such skills will be developed through critically responding to arguments found in everyday contexts. Students will also learn the nature and norms guiding the scientific method, as well as skills for information and media literacy.

This course is not repeatable for credit.