2018-2019 Catalog

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Major: Philosophy and Religious Studies, B.A. (1599.10), 36 Credits

General Education: 42 Credits; Major: 36 Credits; Elective Credits: 42 Credits

Learning Goals for the Major in Philosophy and Religious Studies

Upon completing the Philosophy and Religious Studies major, students will be able to:

  • Identify (in speaking and writing) concerns at the heart of human experience, especially those pertaining to the fundamental nature of reality, knowledge, and values;
  • Investigate, understand, and articulate (in speaking and writing)the way great thinkers and religious communities have addressed these issues throughout history;
  • Explain (in speaking and writing) the nature and function of religion in individual life and human society, and historical and contemporary differences and similarities between religious systems;
  • Respond to and evaluate (in speaking and writing) these concerns themselves, building on a firm foundation of cultural literacy, analytic method, and critical intelligence.

Core Requirements (15 credits)

PHIL 101INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 322PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
PHIL 420PHILOSOPHY & RELIGIOUS STUDIE
RS 120INTRO. TO THE RELIG. OF ASIA
RS 346THEO & METH IN THE STUDY OF R

One of the following: (3 credits)

PHIL 103INTRO TO ETHICS
RS 115INTRO. TO JUDAISM, CHRISTIAN

One of the following: (3 credits)1

PHIL 201ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 203MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 305MODERN PHILOSOPHY

The remaining 15 credits should be earned by completing one of the following concentrations:

Philosophy Concentration (15 Credits)

Students must take at least 3 credits in the History of Philosophy group, and at least 6 credits in the Topics in Philosophy group. Students must take at least 3 courses at the 300/400 level. Classes taken as part of the major’s core requirement cannot count for the History of Philosophy requirement.

History of Philosophy (3-9 credits)
PHIL 201ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 203MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 211INTRO TO AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 305MODERN PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 307PHENOMENOLOGY
PHIL 317EXISTENTIALISM
PHIL 329INDIAN PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 33319TH-CENTURY PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 33420TH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 401PLATO
PHIL 403ARISTOTLE
PHIL 407MARX
PHIL 410CLASSIC PHILOSOHICAL TEXTS
PHIL 425

Topics in Philosophy (6-12 credits)
PHIL 109INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC
PHIL 206PHIL. OF LIFE, DEATH, & DYING
PHIL 228

PHIL 251AESTHETICS & CRITICISM
PHIL 261POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 287PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
PHIL 306ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
PHIL 308EPISTEMOLOGY
PHIL 310PHILOSOPHY OF ART
PHIL 320PHILOSOPHY OF MATHEMATICS
PHIL 324BUSINESS ETHICS
PHIL 325PHILOSOPH ISSUES IN LANGUAGE
PHIL 330METAPHYSICS
PHIL 331PHILOSOPHY OF MIND
PHIL 332POPULAR CULTURE & PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 336

PHIL 337

PHIL 340ETHICS AND LAW
PHIL 345VALUE THEORY
PHIL 347CONTEMPORARY ETHICAL ISSUES
PHIL 408FEMINIST THEORIES

Religious Studies Concentration (15 Credits)

Students must take at least 3 credits in the Themes and Methods group, and at least 6 credits in the Areas and Traditions group. Students must take at least 3 courses at the 300/400 level. Courses taken as part of the major core cannot count toward the concentration.

Themes and Methods in Religious Studies (3-9 credits)
RS 207RELIGION & PSYCHOLOGY
RS 216RELIGION & SEXUALITY
RS 220RELIGION AND POLITICS
RS 228RELIGION AND GENDER
RS 312THE BIBLE AS LITERATURE
RS 315RELIGION & EXPERIENCE
RS 318RELIGION AND LITERATURE
RS 333SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION
RS 340COMPARATIVE RELIGIOUS ETHICS
RS 344THE EXTREMES OF RELIGION
RS 352RELIGION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Areas and Traditions in Religious Studies (6-12 credits)
RS 115INTRO. TO JUDAISM, CHRISTIAN
RS 200WORLD'S MAJOR RELIGIOUS TEXT
RS 225THE HEBREW BIBLE
RS 226THE NEW TESTAMENT
RS 320ISLAM
RS 321CHRISTIANITY
RS 324MYSTICISM:EAST AND WEST
RS 326RELIG, RACE, & ETHNICITY
RS 329INDIAN PHILOSOPHY
RS 332JUDAISM
RS 337BUDDHISM
RS 339HINDUISM
RS 342DANTE'S DIVINE COMEDY