Philosophy and Religion

It emphasizes problem-solving, methods for resolving conflicting positions, and cultivation of the moral imagination and expansion of human sympathies. It also advances understanding and appreciation of relationships between the various disciplines and fields of study. It accomplishes these goals by means of a combination of historical, analytical, and synthesizing studies. This kind of philosophical work prepares students for a variety of positions that call for clear, rigorous, creative, and humane analysis and judgment.

Philosophy Major

Fifteen courses (45 semester hours) are needed to complete the major. At least five courses (15 semester hours) must be taken at the 300-level or above.

REQUIRED COURSES

All of the following (24 sem. hrs.):*

PHIL 100 Philosophy
PHIL 331 Mind
PHIL 402 Research and Thesis in Philosophy 

PHIL 114 Logic and Critical Thinking
   or PHIL 120 Creativity and the Irrational

PHIL 240 Ethics, Equality and Justice
   or PHIL 340 Ethics and the Environment

PHIL 300 Philosophy of Religion
   or PHIL 325 Belief and Knowledge

PHIL 329 Philosophy of Art
   or PHIL 251 Philosophy, Film and Popular Culture

* Each course listed above is 3 semester hours.

ELECTIVES

Seven additional elective courses (21 sem. hrs.)

Three of the seven courses must be in philosophy or religion (with course codes beginning with PHIL or RELG).

Students are encouraged to take courses related to philosophy in their remaining electives, subject to philosophy faculty approval.

Philosophy and Religion Minor

The minor in philosophy and religion is an integrated selection of courses designed to underscore the importance of free inquiry, critical reflection and reasoned discourse in the interchange of ideas and issues between these areas.

The total number of courses required for the minor is 7 (21 semester hours).

REQUIRED COURSES

All of the following (12 sem. hrs.)

PHIL 100 Philosophy (3 sem. hrs.)
PHIL 300 Philosophy of Religion (3 sem. hrs.)
PHIL 325 Belief and Knowledge (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 100 Gods and Creation: East and West (3 sem. hrs.)

Three additional courses from the following (9 sem. hrs.)

ANTH 222 Anthropology, Religion and Colonialism (3 sem. hrs.)
PHIL 240 Ethics, Equality and Justice (3 sem. hrs.)
PHIL 245 Meaning (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 269 History, Myth and Religion (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 275 Religions of Asia (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 321 Faith and Post-Modern Culture (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 375 Body and Soul: From Antiquity to Post-Modernity (3 sem. hrs.)
WGS 245 Body Politics (3 sem. hrs.)

Religious Studies Minor

The total number of courses required for the minor is 6 (18 semester hours).

REQUIRED COURSES

The following (6 sem. hrs.):

PHIL 100 Philosophy (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 100 Gods and Creation: East and West (3 sem. hrs.)

One of the following (3 sem. hrs.):

ANTH 222 Anthropology, Religion and Colonialism (3 sem. hrs.)
ANTH 250 Hawaii: Colonialism and Tourism (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 255 Islamic Civilization and Culture (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 263 The Hebrew Bible and Jewish Tradition (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 264 The New Testament and Early Christianity (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 275 Religions of Asia (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 330 Native Americans and the Environment (3 sem. hrs.)

One of the following (3 sem. hrs.):

PHIL 245 Meaning (3 sem. hrs.)
PHIL 300 Philosophy of Religion (3 sem. hrs.)
PHIL 325 Belief and Knowledge (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 321 Faith and Post-Modern Culture (3 sem. hrs.)
RELG 375 Body and Soul: From Antiquity to Post-Modernity (3 sem. hrs.)

An additional two courses in religion above the 100-level (including the philosophy and anthropology courses listed above.) (6 sem. hrs.)