Majoring in ESI

ESI 101

ESI 101 Syllabus

Related Departments

History of ESI 

TIMELINE-ETHICS AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Jeff Konz, ESI Coordinator 

August 1997--The idea of an interdisciplinary program like ESI arose in conversation between Jeff Konz and Bruce Larson, Chair of the Department of Economics.  The initial inspiration was Oxford University’s PPE program (Politics, Philosophy, and Economics)

September 1997--Informal conversations held with other faculty from various departments and with Academic Affairs

October-December 1997--Interested faculty convened to begin the planning process.  We clarified objective as the development of an interdisciplinary major, discussed the basic curricular structure, and drafted a catalog description of its concept and goals.  We researched similar programs at other institutions, but found very few  that fit our objectives.  We chose the title “Ethics and Social Institutions” for the UNCA program.

Spring 1998--Curricular structure and catalog description were completed.  It became clear to us that we needed to get approval from the UNC General Administration to establish a new degree program.

Fall 1998--We chose to ask that ESI be established as a program track within Interdisciplinary Studies, which was simultaneously applying for permission to be a degree program.  Judy Pulley at GA recommends track status rather than concentration within IST.  ESI planning process folded into IST planning process.

November/December 1998--Student survey conducted by Institutional Research to gauge interest in both an introductory course and a degree program in ESI.  Surveys were distributed to all undeclared students, majors in Econ, Pols, Soc, and Phil, and minors in interdisciplinary programs.  Results show strong interest in both components.

Spring 1999--UPC and Senate approve Request to Plan ESI.  

Fall 1999--GA recommends that ESI be reconceived as a concentration in IST rather than a distinct program track.  A small group of faculty began the planning process for ESI 101.

Spring 2000--GA grants permission to plan; we began to draft Request for Permission to Establish.

Fall 2000--UPC, APC, and Faculty Senate approve Request for Permission to Establish.  At suggestion of APC, ESI 101 is designated a General Education Social Science course.

March 2001--Final approval from Board of Governors to establish IST as a degree program, including a concentration in Ethics and Social Institutions.  ESI 101 committee finishes course design: Basic Ethics, followed by Capitalism, Democracy, and Punishment. 

Fall 2001--ESI 101 offered (as IST 173) with 21 students. 

Spring 2002--Three students declare major in Ethics and Social Institutions.

Fall 2002--Two sections of ESI 101 taught, with 15 and 13 students, respectively.

2003-04--The first three students graduate from UNCA with degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Concentration in Ethics and Social Institutions.

Fall 2004--There are currently nine students majoring in ESI.