Department of Philosophy and Religion
Mission Statement
The department offers a combined major in philosophy and religion. Students may choose one of four concentrations: either philosophy, religion, philosophy with an interdisciplinary focus or religion with an interdisciplinary focus. Whether concentrating in philosophy or religion, students in the department acquire the following fundamental skills and knowledge: the ability to think critically and rigorously with increased capabilities for problem solving and analysis of arguments; thorough familiarity with the literature, major figures, issues and phenomena of the discipline and the ability to express themselves clearly, soundly and persuasively in oral and written form. These skill areas are the foundation and substance of a major in philosophy and religion. On the basis of this training, students should be prepared to express their own creative thought in a disciplined and effective manner.
Goals
Philosophy Program
Students completing a major with a concentration in philosophy are expected to know the major movements, problems, writings, concepts and terms in the history of Western philosophy. The program concentrates on major figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume and Kant; on problems arising in contemporary movements such as analytic philosophy, existentialism and American philosophy and on the major subdivisions of philosophy, including logic, ethics, aesthetics, philosophy and law, philosophy of science and philosophy of religion.
Religion Program
The study of religion by its nature includes different disciplinary approaches and critical methodologies. Students completing a major with a concentration in religion will gain experience in these approaches and will improve in the following skills and competencies:
- identify and describe key concepts of global religious traditions (e.g. Hinduism; Buddhism; Judaism; Christianity; Islam) and make accurate connections to their expressions in social, political and cultural contexts, historical and contemporary.
- demonstrate a specialized knowledge in at least one religious tradition or specialized area of comparative and issues-oriented study, and a broad competence in at least two others
use of this knowledge to reflect upon problems in interpreting religious texts. - develop practiced skill in the comparative and multi-disciplinary analytical methods used in the academic study of religion.
- articulate research and arguments effectively orally and in writing, including the ability to write correctly and clearly.
- evaluate different cultural perspectives on particular questions, to formulate persuasive arguments, and to examine claims for strengths and weaknesses.
All students who concentrate in religion take a 400 level capstone seminar during their senior year that will provide them extensive opportunity for research, critical and creative thought, and oral and written expression.
Career Opportunities and Marketable Skills
Many of the department's majors enter graduate school in philosophy or religion, law school or seminary. Alternatively, a departmental major graduating with a concentration in religion might move directly into work connected with religious service, into the human services fields or into teaching. A concentration in philosophy leads most directly into teaching or law school.
A student's opportunities are by no means limited to these more obvious options, however. While there is no direct path from philosophy and religion to many specific jobs, students who have majored in philosophy and religion successfully find satisfying employment. Employers seek many of the capacities that the study of philosophy and religion develops such as:
- problem solving
- effective communication in speaking and writing
- organization and analysis of ideas and issues
- assessment of the pros and cons of arguments and issues
- reduction of complex information to essential points
- persuasion
These capabilities represent transferable skills useful in almost every work environment. Many students of philosophy and religion ultimately find careers in business or industry, in government or public service, in law, human services and communications.
Students should work with the office of Career and Academic Planning for help in finding suitable employment.
Preparation for Law School
Students who plan to attend law school should seriously consider philosophy as an undergraduate major. Philosophy majors have historically scored very well on the Law School Admission Test. Philosophy courses emphasize the kinds of skills that prepare students for the LSAT and the law school curriculum: reading, comprehending and analyzing complex texts; organizing and synthesizing information and drawing reasonable inferences from it; analyzing and evaluating the reasoning and arguments of others and researching and writing essays and papers. Law schools recommend that students choose an undergraduate major that challenges them and provides them with an understanding of what shapes human experience. Philosophy does an outstanding job on both counts. The requirements of the major leave students plenty of opportunity to acquire a broad education by exploring other areas.
For more information on philosophy as a pre-law major, contact Dr. William Hawk by phone at
(540) 568-6546 or by e-mail.
Preparation for Seminary
The pre-seminary adviser will help majors and minors design undergraduate programs that will prepare them for further study in theological seminaries and university divinity schools. Academic counseling of students takes place within guidelines provided by the American Association of Theological Schools. The department offers rich opportunities for the study of the history, content and interpretation of the Bible; historical and modern theology; particular religious traditions and cross-cultural topics in religious studies. Class assignments require students to think critically about a variety of theological and ethical issues; to read original, classical expressions of religious thought and to become knowledgeable about specialized terms and the major spiritual and intellectual interpreters of the Hebrew and Christian traditions.
Students are encouraged to visit various seminaries and the department welcomes seminary representatives to the campus to discuss the possibilities for further theological education with students. Interested students may receive academic credit for practical supervised fieldwork with social agencies and churches in order to help them find the particular forms of ministry (pastoral, campus, youth, missions, social, counseling) for which they are best suited. Qualified students are also encouraged to undertake independent study and write an honors thesis in their junior and senior years.
For more information on pre-seminary study, contact Dr. Iain Maclean by phone at (540) 568-7059 or by e-mail.
Co-curricular Activities and Organizations
A student-led Society of Philosophy and Religion, a philosophy honor society (Phi Sigma Tau), a religion honor society (Theta Alpha Kappa) and the Religion Majors Club provide excellent opportunities for fellowship and student participation in the intellectual and social activities of the department.
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religion
Degree Requirements
| Required Courses | Credit Hours |
| General Education 1 | 41 |
| Foreign Language classes (intermediate level required) 2 | 0-14 |
| Philosophy course (in addition to General Education courses) | 3 |
| University electives | 26-43 |
| Major requirements (listed below) | 33-36 |
| 120 | |
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
2 The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student's chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign Language's placement test.
| Core Courses | Credit Hours |
| PHIL 250. Introduction to Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 330. Moral Theory | 3 |
| PHIL 340. Ancient Greek Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 341. Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| Choose one of the following History of Philosophy courses: 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 342. Medieval Philosophy | |
| PHIL 344. Existentialism | |
| PHIL 370. American Philosophy | |
| PHIL/REL 375. Nineteenth Century Philosophy and Theology | |
| PHIL/REL 377. Hermeneutics | |
| PHIL 430. Analytic Philosophy | |
| PHIL 466. Kant | |
| PHIL 468. Phenomenology | |
| Choose one of the following Metaphysics/Epistemology courses: 2 | 3 |
| PHIL/REL 218. Philosophy of Religion | |
| PHIL 300. Knowledge and Belief | |
| PHIL 311. Metaphysics | |
| PHIL 392. Philosophy of Mind | |
| PHIL 394. Self and Identity | |
| PHIL 395. Philosophy and Scientific Inquiry | |
| PHIL 420. Philosophy of Language | |
| Philosophy electives (nine credits must be at the 300 level or above) 3 | 15 |
| 33 | |
1 Depending on the manner in which they are taught, the following topics classes may be counted toward the history requirement if they are approved by petition to the academic unit head: PHIL 390, PHIL 391, PHIL 460, PHIL 465,
PHIL 470 and PHIL 475.
2 Depending on the manner in which they are taught, the following topics classes may be counted toward the metaphysics/epistemology requirement if they are approved by petition to the academic unit head: PHIL 390, PHIL 391 and PHIL 475.
3 If the student takes GPHIL 101 as part of Cluster 2 in the General Education program it can double count as one course of this elective section. Neither GPHIL 120 nor GPHIL 150 can be used as an elective.
Interdisciplinary Philosophy Concentration
This option is designed for students who want to concentrate in philosophy but also apply philosophical ideas to work in other departments. Part of the requirements for this concentration is a cognate of 12 credit hours from a different but related discipline.
| Core Courses | Credit Hours |
| PHIL 250. Introduction to Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 330. Moral Theory | 3 |
| PHIL 340. Ancient Greek Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 341. Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| Choose one of the following Metaphysics/Epistemology courses: 1 | 3 |
| PHIL/REL 218. Philosophy of Religion | |
| PHIL 300. Knowledge and Belief | |
| PHIL 311. Metaphysics | |
| PHIL 392. Philosophy of Mind | |
| PHIL 394. Self and Identity | |
| PHIL 395. Philosophy and Scientific Inquiry | |
| PHIL 420. Philosophy of Language | |
| Philosophy electives (nine credits must be at the 300-level or above) 2 | 12 |
| Cognate of three courses from one or more disciplinary areas | 9 |
| outside of philosophy | |
| 36 | |
1 Depending on the manner in which they are taught, the following topics classes may be counted toward the metaphysics/epistemology requirement if they are approved by petition to the academic unit head: PHIL 390, PHIL 391 and PHIL 475.
2 If the student takes GPHIL 101 as part of Cluster 2 in the General Education program it can double count as one course of this elective section. Neither GPHIL 120 nor GPHIL 150 can be used as an elective.
| Core Requirements | Credit Hours |
| GREL 101. Religions of the World | 3 |
| One philosophy course | 3 |
| (GPHIL 101. Introduction to Philosophy recommended; cross-listed courses do not satisfy this requirement. Neither GPHIL 120 nor GPHIL 150 can be used as an elective.) | |
| One course in western religious traditions | 3 |
| One course in eastern religious traditions | 3 |
| One of the following courses: | 3 |
| REL 218. Philosophy of Religion | |
| REL 270. Religious Ethics | |
| REL 313. Hindu Ethics | |
| REL/SOCI 322. Sociology of Religion | |
| REL 360. History of Western Religious Thought | |
| PHIL 330. Moral Theory | |
| Capstone (choose one of the following): | 3 |
| REL 420. Cross-Cultural Philosophy of Religion | |
| REL 460. Topics in Ancient Jewish and Early Christian Literature | |
| REL 475. Inter-Religious Dialogue | |
| Electives (see description below) | 15 |
| 33 | |
Electives
The electives requirement allows students to design a course of studies that develop their special interests beyond the core requirements for the major and that advances their professional goals. The three options of specialization are: Western Traditions, Eastern Traditions and Comparative Studies (electives selected from any course in the religion program). Thus, a student may focus upon a particular religious tradition or configuration of traditions (for example, Hinduism and Buddhism; Islam and Judaism) or upon a particular topic area (for example, biblical studies, ethics or religious thought), or a student may maximize breadth by choosing any five courses of interest. Religious studies majors are encouraged to consult their adviser to ensure that their course selections correspond to a coherently designed program of specialization.
| Eastern Traditions | |
| GHUM 252. Cross-Cultural Perspectives: East Asian Humanities | |
| REL 310. Hindu Traditions | |
| REL 312. Religions of East Asia | |
| REL 313. Hindu Ethics | |
| REL 316. Topics in Hinduism | |
| REL 317. Exploring Gandhian Philosophy of Nonviolence | |
| REL 318. Exploring Contemporary India | |
| REL/PHIL 385. Buddhist Thought | |
| REL 386. Topics in Buddhist Studies | |
| Western Traditions | |
| GHUM 252. Cross-Cultural Perspectives: Islamic Civilization | |
| REL/HEBR 131-132. Elementary Biblical Hebrew | |
| REL/HEBR 231-232. Intermediate Biblical Hebrew | |
| REL 201. Introduction to Hebrew Bible/Old Testament | |
| REL 202. Jesus and the Beginnings of Christianity | |
| REL 240. Jesus and the Moral Life | |
| REL 305. Islamic Religious Traditions | |
| REL 320. Judaism | |
| REL 325. Catholicism in the Modern World | |
| REL 330. African and African-American Religion | |
| REL 332. Born Again Religion | |
| REL 334. New Religious Movements | |
| REL 336. African-American Religion | |
| REL 342. Historical Jesus and the Roman Imperial World | |
| REL 344. Christianity in the Roman Empire | |
| REL 346. Religions of Greece and Rome | |
| REL 348. Christianity in Global Context | |
| REL 350. Islamic Law and Society | |
| REL 360. History of Western Religious Thought | |
| REL/PHIL 375. The 19th Century: Age of Ideology | |
| REL 380. Contemporary Theologies | |
| REL 450. Religion and Society | |
| REL 460. Topics in Ancient Jewish and Early Christian Literature | |
| Comparative and Issues Oriented Courses | |
| GHUM 102. God, Meaning and Morality | |
| REL 200. Exploring Religion | |
| REL/PHIL 218. Philosophy of Religion | |
| REL 270. Religious Ethics | |
| REL 280. Religion and Science | |
| REL 315. Women and Religion | |
| REL/SOCI 322. Sociology of Religion | |
| REL/HIST 362. Introduction to U.S. Religious History | |
| REL/IA 363. Apocalypticism, Religious Terrorism and Peace | |
| REL 370. Mysticism | |
| REL/PHIL 377. Hermeneutics | |
| REL 420. Cross-Cultural Philosophy of Religion | |
| REL 475. Inter-Religious Dialogue | |
| REL 490. Directed Studies in Religion |
Interdisciplinary Religion Concentration
This option is designed for students who want to concentrate in religion but also integrate their work in religion with work in another, complementary disciplinary area. A student electing this option will fulfill the requirements for the regular concentration in religion, with one change: nine credits from one or more disciplinary areas outside of religion (must be chosen in consultation with the adviser) will substitute for six of the religion electives credits required for the concentration in religion. Accordingly, the total required elective credits for the interdisciplinary concentration will be 18 (nine religion elective credits, nine interdisciplinary elective credits), giving a total of 36 credit hours to complete the program.
| Core Requirements | Credit Hours |
| GREL 101. Religions of the World | 3 |
| One philosophy course | 3 |
| (GPHIL 101. Introduction to Philosophy recommended; cross-listed courses do not satisfy this requirement. Neither GPHIL 120 nor GPHIL 150 can be used as an elective) | |
| One course in western religious traditions | 3 |
| One course in eastern religious traditions | 3 |
| Choose one of the following courses: | 3 |
| REL 218. Philosophy of Religion | |
| REL 270. Religious Ethics | |
| REL 313. Hindu Ethics | |
| REL/SOCI 322. Sociology of Religion | |
| REL 360. History of Western Religious Thought | |
| PHIL 330. Moral Theory | |
| Capstone (choose one of the following courses): | 3 |
| REL 420. Cross-Cultural Philosophy of Religion | |
| REL 450. Religion and Society | |
| REL 460. Topics in Ancient Jewish and Early Christian Literature | |
| REL 475. Inter-Religious Dialogue | |
| Electives | 18 |
| 36 | |
Electives
These elective requirements allow students to design a course of studies that permits integration of their interdisciplinary interests with additional course selections in religion. The three options for specialization are western traditions, eastern traditions and comparative studies (electives selected from any courses in the religion program). Thus, a student may focus upon a particular religious tradition or configuration of traditions (for example, Hinduism and Buddhism; Islam and Judaism) or upon a particular topic area (for example, biblical studies, ethics or religious thought), or a student may maximize breadth by choosing any six courses of interest. Religious studies majors are encouraged to consult with their adviser for approval of the interdisciplinary course selection and to ensure that course selections correspond to a coherently designed program of specialization.
Recommended Schedule for Majors
The following outline is a sample four-year program. The actual courses and sequence a student takes may vary.
| First Year | Credit Hours |
| Introductory courses in major | 6 |
| Foreign language courses 1 | 6-8 |
| General Education courses 1 | 6-18 |
| 30 | |
| Second Year | Credit Hours |
| Required courses in major | 6 |
| Choose from the following: | 6 |
| Foreign language courses | |
| Electives | |
| General Education courses | 18 |
| 30 | |
| Third Year | Credit Hours |
| Requirements and electives in philosophy or religion | 12 |
| Electives (may be outside of major) | 12 |
| General Education courses | 6 |
| 30 | |
| Fourth Year | Credit Hours |
| Requirements and electives in philosophy or religion | 12 |
| Electives (may be outside of major) | 18 |
| 30 | |
1 Students are advised to adjust General Education load to foreign language load to achieve 30 hours total.
Global Religion and Global Issues
The minor is intended for students who want to better understand the role played by religion in contemporary global events: from religious terrorism to nonviolence, from the suppression of women to the advocacy of civil rights. In this minor, students will study major global religions and their impact on real-world social and political issues. The minor may be of particular interest to students in the social sciences but all students with an interest in the subject are welcome.
| Required Courses | Credit Hours |
| GREL 101. Religions of the World | 3 |
| One Global Religious Traditions course | 3 |
| One Religion and Social/Political Engagement course | 3 |
| Three electives chosen from either group | 9 |
| 18 | |
| Global Religious Traditions | |
| REL 305. Islamic Religious Traditions | |
| REL 310. Hindu Traditions | |
| REL 312. Religions of East Asia | |
| REL 320. Judaism | |
| REL 330. African and African-American Religion | |
| REL 348. Global Christianity | |
| REL 385. Buddhist Thought | |
| Religion and Social/Political Engagement | |
| REL 314. Gandhi, Nonviolence and Global Transformation | |
| REL 315. Women and Religion | |
| REL 317. Exploring Gandhian Philosophy of Nonviolence | |
| REL 350. Islamic Law and Society | |
| REL 363. Apocalypticism, Religious Terrorism and Peace | |
| REL 380. Contemporary Theologies | |
| REL 450. Religion and Society | |
| REL 475. Inter-Religious Dialogue |
| Courses | Credit Hours |
| GPHIL 101. Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| Choose two of the following: | 6 |
| PHIL 340. Ancient Greek Philosophy | |
| PHIL 341. Modern Philosophy | |
| PHIL 342. Medieval Philosophy | |
| PHIL 375. 19th Century Philosophy and Theology | |
| Three electives, at least two of which must be above PHIL 300 1 | 9 |
| 18 | |
1 The department strongly recommends that students elect at least one 400-level course. Neither GPHIL 120 nor
GPHIL 150 can be used as electives.
| Foundational Courses | Credit Hours |
| GREL 101. Religions of the World | 3 |
| Choose one course in each of the three subject areas: (eastern, western, comparative and issues) | 9 |
| Choose two electives, one of which must be at the 300 or | |
| 400 level, from the three subject areas | 6 |
| 18 | |
