Florida Gulf Coast University seeks to develop in students the following learning outcomes: aesthetic sensibility, a culturally diverse perspective, ecological perspectives, effective communication, ethical responsibility, information literacy, critical thinking and problem solving abilities, technological literacy, and community awareness and involvement. This course addresses three of these outcomes.

Community Awareness and Involvement - There are two aspects to this outcome - awareness and involvement. Awareness will be developed at several levels. At the level of the nation state, we will consider the issue of national purpose. Is there some national purpose that links us as Americans in a common enterprise? Should there be? We also consider community awareness in terms of the dynamics of particular communities. Through various course readings and the photo essay (see assignments), students will become more aware of the nature of the built environment in their community and the kind of public life this facilitates. Course readings and the case study analysis (see assignments) will demonstrate the different ways in which community's organize themselves for change. Community involvement will be explored &endash; and assessed &endash; through a community involvement project (see assignments). Students will reports on these projects by linking their experiences to the major topics discussed in this course.

Ethical Responsibility - This course requires students to deliberate on the ethical dimensions of numerous public issues. What are the normative foundations of business in our society? In what sense is the growth of inequality in the United States problematic? In what sense is it not? What role should government play with respect to the global economy? Is more government spending on the least advantaged in order? Or should be rely on the market to dictate the manner in which resources are ultimately distributed. The midterm essay will require students to ponder these issues. This essay will require students not only to articulate their views, but also to defend their views against possible objections. This makes students responsible to understanding opposing perspectives, thereby promoting an ethic of mutual understanding that is vital to a democratic society.

Effective Communication - This course requires students to communicate in a variety of ways. Many web board assignments involve role-playing activities. The midterm will require students to defend and articulate a thesis. The photo essay will require students to interpret photos, which they have taken, in terms of the major ideas of the course. Throughout all of this, students will be required to adhere to the principles of effective composition. These include correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar, clearly written sentences, and focused paragraphs. Students will also be called upon to make several oral presentations to the class where they present their own work to the rest of the class. This class should enable students to make progress in terms of both their written and oral communication skills.