Philosophy

major

Program at a Glance

Degree(s)

Bachelor of Arts

College(s)/School(s)

College of Arts and Humanities

Department(s)

Philosophy and Religion

In our Philosophy program, you’ll join a community of students who like to ask hard questions—and who care about answering them well. You’ll develop your own voice through seminar-style discussion, close reading, and frequent writing with feedback. The philosophy major can be completed through philosophy courses only, religion courses, or a mixture of the two. You can tailor the major by:

Taking philosophy courses only
Pursuing a concentration in Pre-Seminary studies
Pursuing a concentration in Studies in Religion

Program Requirements

Philosophy

Students majoring in Philosophy who complete all requirements earn the degree of BA, Philosophy.

Core

PHIL 101 - Critical Thinking I
PHIL 205 - The Anatomy of Thought
PHIL 451 - The Great Philosophers
PHIL 490W - Senior Seminar
PHIL 201 - Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 202 - Modern Philosophy

Electives (18 credits)

Select one:
- PHIL 304 - Ethics and Current Value Questions
- PHIL 315 - Philosophy of Gender
- PHIL 319 - Philosophy of Love and Sexuality
- PHIL 337 - Radical Evil and the Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 376 - Environmental Ethics
- PHIL 384 - Medical Ethics
Select one:
- PHIL 305 - The Quest for Truth
- PHIL 317 - Existentialism
- PHIL 320 - Scientific Reasoning
- PHIL 308 - Philosophy of Religion
Select four:
- PHIL 304 - Ethics and Current Value Questions
- PHIL 305 - The Quest for Truth
- PHIL 306 - Search for Beauty
- PHIL 307 - Current Trends in Modern Thought
- PHIL 308 - Philosophy of Religion
- PHIL 312 - American Philosophy
- PHIL 315 - Philosophy of Gender
- PHIL 317 - Existentialism
- PHIL 319 - Philosophy of Love and Sexuality
- PHIL 320 - Scientific Reasoning
- PHIL 321W - Legal Reasoning
- PHIL 326W - Philosophy in the Movies
- PHIL 337 - Radical Evil and the Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 344 - Yoga: Philosophy and Practice
- PHIL 348 - Asian Philosophy
- PHIL 349 - Islamic Philosophy
- PHIL 370 - Philosophy Seminar Abroad
- PHIL 376 - Environmental Ethics
- PHIL 379 - Philosophy of Language
- PHIL 384 - Medical Ethics
- PHIL 386 - Values and Postmodernity
- PHIL 395 - Special Topics
- PHIL 425 - The Constitutional Theory
- PHIL 451 - The Great Philosophers
- PHIL 490W - Senior Seminar
- PHIL 491 - Practicum
- PHIL 495 - Special Topics
- PHIL 499 - Independent Study
- RSTD 310 - Myth, Symbol, and Ritual
- RSTD 312 - Religion and the Arts
- RSTD 318 - Interfaith Studies
- RSTD 319 - Religion and American Identity
- RSTD 321 - The Church and the State
- RSTD 326W - Religion in the Movies
- RSTD 330 - Christian Prayer and Spirituality
- RSTD 335 - Primal Religions: Myth, Ritual, and Oral Expression
- RSTD 337 - Religion and Ecology
- RSTD 338 - Pilgrimage on the Appalachian Trail
- RSTD 340 - Mindfulness, Meditation and Happiness
- RSTD 345 - Scriptures of the World
- RSTD 350 - Thinking About God
- RSTD 361 - Hebrew Bible
- RSTD 362 - New Testament
- RSTD 366 - Bhagavad Gita and Sacred Hindu Texts
- RSTD 370 - Religious Studies Seminar Abroad
- RSTD 395 - Special Topics
- RSTD 491 - Practicum/Internship
- RSTD 495 - Special Topics
- RSTD 499 - Independent Research

Pre-Seminary concentration

Students majoring in Philosophy with a concentration in Pre-Seminary Studies who complete all requirements earn the degree of BA, Philosophy.

Core

PHIL 101 - Critical Thinking I
PHIL 205 - The Anatomy of Thought
PHIL 451 - The Great Philosophers
PHIL 490W - Senior Seminar
RSTD 361 - Hebrew Bible
RSTD 362 - New Testament
RSTD 491 - Practicum/Internship

Electives (18 credits)

Select one:
- RSTD 220 - The Vision of Hinduism
- RSTD 232 - Visions of Christianity
- RSTD 260 - The Vision of Buddhism
- RSTD 265 - The Vision of Judaism
- RTSD 270
Select one:
- RSTD 319 - Religion and American Identity
- RSTD 335 - Primal Religions: Myth, Ritual, and Oral Expression
- RSTD 350 - Thinking About God
- PHIL 317 - Existentialism
- PHIL 348 - Asian Philosophy
- PHIL 349 - Islamic Philosophy
Select one:
- RSTD 312 - Religion and the Arts
- RSTD 326W - Religion in the Movies
- RSTD 337 - Religion and Ecology
- RSTD 338 - Pilgrimage on the Appalachian Trail
- PHIL 304 - Ethics and Current Value Questions
- PHIL 306 - Search for Beauty
- PHIL 308 - Philosophy of Religion
- PHIL 315 - Philosophy of Gender
- PHIL 319 - Philosophy of Love and Sexuality
- PHIL 337 - Radical Evil and the Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 376 - Environmental Ethics
Select one:
- RSTD 236 - Sacred Communication, Sacred Journeys
- RSTD 310 - Myth, Symbol, and Ritual
- RSTD 318 - Interfaith Studies
- RSTD 330 - Christian Prayer and Spirituality
- RSTD 340 - Mindfulness, Meditation and Happiness
- RSTD 345 - Scriptures of the World
Select two:
- PHIL 101 - Critical Thinking I
- PHIL 195 - Special Topics
- PHIL 201 - Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
- PHIL 202 - Modern Philosophy
- PHIL 205 - The Anatomy of Thought
- PHIL 207 - Ethical Issues in Business: A Critical Thinking Approach
- PHIL 215 - Philosophy and Literature
- PHIL 252 - African Philosophy
- PHIL 295 - Special Topics
- PHIL 304 - Ethics and Current Value Questions
- PHIL 305 - The Quest for Truth
- PHIL 306 - Search for Beauty
- PHIL 307 - Current Trends in Modern Thought
- PHIL 308 - Philosophy of Religion
- PHIL 312 - American Philosophy
- PHIL 315 - Philosophy of Gender
- PHIL 317 - Existentialism
- PHIL 319 - Philosophy of Love and Sexuality
- PHIL 320 - Scientific Reasoning
- PHIL 321W - Legal Reasoning
- PHIL 326W - Philosophy in the Movies
- PHIL 337 - Radical Evil and the Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 344 - Yoga: Philosophy and Practice
- PHIL 348 - Asian Philosophy
- PHIL 349 - Islamic Philosophy
- PHIL 370 - Philosophy Seminar Abroad
- PHIL 376 - Environmental Ethics
- PHIL 379 - Philosophy of Language
- PHIL 384 - Medical Ethics
- PHIL 386 - Values and Postmodernity
- PHIL 395 - Special Topics
- PHIL 425 - The Constitutional Theory
- PHIL 451 - The Great Philosophers
- PHIL 490W - Senior Seminar
- PHIL 491 - Practicum
- PHIL 495 - Special Topics
- PHIL 499 - Independent Study
- RSTD 195 - Special Topics
- RSTD 211 - Religions of the East
- RSTD 212 - Religions of the West
- RSTD 218 - The Qur’an
- RSTD 220 - The Vision of Hinduism
- RSTD 232 - Visions of Christianity
- RSTD 236 - Sacred Communication, Sacred Journeys
- RSTD 260 - The Vision of Buddhism
- RSTD 265 - The Vision of Judaism
- RSTD 265 - Visions of Judaism
- RSTD 270 - The Vision of Islam
- RSTD 295 - Special Topics
- RSTD 310 - Myth, Symbol, and Ritual
- RSTD 312 - Religion and the Arts
- RSTD 318 - Interfaith Studies
- RSTD 319 - Religion and American Identity
- RSTD 321 - The Church and the State
- RSTD 326W - Religion in the Movies
- RSTD 330 - Christian Prayer and Spirituality
- RSTD 335 - Primal Religions: Myth, Ritual, and Oral Expression
- RSTD 337 - Religion and Ecology
- RSTD 338 - Pilgrimage on the Appalachian Trail
- RSTD 340 - Mindfulness, Meditation and Happiness
- RSTD 345 - Scriptures of the World
- RSTD 350 - Thinking About God
- RSTD 361 - Hebrew Bible
- RSTD 362 - New Testament
- RSTD 366 - Bhagavad Gita and Sacred Hindu Texts
- RSTD 370 - Religious Studies Seminar Abroad
- RSTD 395 - Special Topics
- RSTD 491 - Practicum/Internship
- RSTD 495 - Special Topics
- RSTD 499 - Independent Research

Religious Studies concentration

Students majoring in Philosophy with a concentration in Religious Studies who complete all requirements earn the degree of BA, Philosophy.

Core

PHIL 101 - Critical Thinking I
PHIL 205 - The Anatomy of Thought
PHIL 451 - The Great Philosophers
PHIL 490W - Senior Seminar
RSTD 211 - Religions of the East
RSTD 212 - Religions of the West

Electives (18 credits)

Select three:
- RSTD 220 - The Vision of Hinduism
- RSTD 232 - Visions of Christianity
- RSTD 260 - The Vision of Buddhism
- RSTD 256
- RSTD 270 - The Vision of Islam
- RSTD 318 - Interfaith Studies
- RSTD 319 - Religion and American Identity
- RSTD 330 - Christian Prayer and Spirituality
- RSTD 335 - Primal Religions: Myth, Ritual, and Oral Expression
- RSTD 340 - Mindfulness, Meditation and Happiness
- RSTD 350 - Thinking About God
Select three:
- PHIL 304 - Ethics and Current Value Questions
- PHIL 305 - The Quest for Truth
- PHIL 306 - Search for Beauty
- PHIL 307 - Current Trends in Modern Thought
- PHIL 308 - Philosophy of Religion
- PHIL 312 - American Philosophy
- PHIL 315 - Philosophy of Gender
- PHIL 317 - Existentialism
- PHIL 319 - Philosophy of Love and Sexuality
- PHIL 320 - Scientific Reasoning
- PHIL 321 - WI - Legal Reasoning
- PHIL 326 - WI - Philosophy in the Movies
- PHIL 337 - Radical Evil and the Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 344 - Yoga: Philosophy and Practice
- PHIL 348 - Asian Philosophy
- PHIL 349 - Islamic Philosophy
- PHIL 370 - Philosophy Seminar Abroad
- PHIL 376 - Environmental Ethics
- PHIL 379 - Philosophy of Language
- PHIL 384 - Medical Ethics
- PHIL 386 - Values and Postmodernity
- PHIL 395 - Special Topics
- PHIL 425 - The Constitutional Theory
- PHIL 451 - The Great Philosophers
- PHIL 490 - WI - Senior Seminar
- PHIL 491 - Practicum
- PHIL 495 - Special Topics
- PHIL 499 - Independent Study
- RSTD 310 - Myth, Symbol, and Ritual
- RSTD 312 - Religion and the Arts
- RSTD 318 - Interfaith Studies
- RSTD 319 - Religion and American Identity
- RSTD 321 - The Church and the State
- RSTD 326 - WI - Religion in the Movies
- RSTD 330 - Christian Prayer and Spirituality
- RSTD 335 - Primal Religions: Myth, Ritual, and Oral Expression
- RSTD 337 - Religion and Ecology
- RSTD 338 - Pilgrimage on the Appalachian Trail
- RSTD 340 - Mindfulness, Meditation and Happiness
- RSTD 345 - Scriptures of the World
- RSTD 350 - Thinking About God
- RSTD 361 - Hebrew Bible
- RSTD 362 - New Testament
- RSTD 366 - Bhagavad Gita and Sacred Hindu Texts
- RSTD 370 - Religious Studies Seminar Abroad
- RSTD 395 - Special Topics
- RSTD 491 - Practicum/Internship
- RSTD 495 - Special Topics
- RSTD 499 - Independent ResearchC

undergraduate catalog

Career Options

College/University Professor
Ethicist
Writer/Author
Legal Professional
Policy Analyst