Philosophy
No brief definition fully expresses the richness and variety of philosophy, but it may be defined as: "a reasoned pursuit of fundamental truths about ourselves and the universe," or "a critical examination of unexamined beliefs." The study of philosophy develops one's capacity to evaluate ideas and arguments and to reflect on issues fundamental to any human life.
Religious Studies
Religion can be conceived as any human search for, or encounter with, the ultimate. It may be studied from several different disciplinary perspectives. In order to understand any cultural group, it is necessary to understand the religions of the group of that culture. The study of religion in a university endeavors to be objective and fair in presenting and evaluating each religion. Thus, it is an academic enterprise, not a religious one, and seeks to avoid promoting the ideals and values of any one religion over those of another. Students are asked to explore religion with an open mind.
Hear from our Students
I've had an interest in philosophy since first reading Sartre and Camus in high school, but I had initially declared a different major. I took a course on ethics to expand my horizons, and absolutely fell in love. I haven't looked back since, and I couldn't be happier with where I ended up. My philosophy courses provided me with challenges that invigorated me and fed into my need to question everything, and ultimately the fulfillment of those desires made me stick with philosophy. - Keith
I picked philosophy because I found the classes legitimately fun. It gave me a chance to know now just what the teacher thought, but what my classmates and peers thought. (It also helped that my philosophy classes almost always gave us the readings for free unlike my other classes). - Susanna
There is beauty in understanding the culture in which religion is born. And it's important to study the content of various ancient holy texts so we can better translate their meaning into today's day and age. What's most intriguing is how religious texts uniquely explain the "how's and why's" of the world. - Brianna
Frequently Asked Questions
Philosophy majors spend a great deal of time reading, writing, discussing, and above all, thinking. Many of the classes taken by philosophy majors help them to understand the historical development of philosophical thought. Other courses such as logic, teach proper reasoning and argumentation. Still, other courses explore philosophical concerns of certain subjects or topics, like Philosophy and Psychology or Philosophy of Art.
Through the study of Philosophy and Religious Studies, you will acquire skills that are applicable in a wide variety of careers such as:
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Analytical and reasoning skills
- Ability to formulate clear and persuasive messages
- Listening, clarifying, questioning and responding skills
- Creative problem-solving
Don't be deterred from the fields of Philosophy and Religious Studies by fear of finding a job after graduation. A major or minor in Philosophy or Religious Studies can be a major asset to a variety of career paths. In fact, the average starting salary for the Class of 2021 graduating with a Bachelor's degree was $52,600. Find out more on our Career Exploration page.
A philosophy degree is a great choice for those interested in pursuing a traditional career in academia or law. Or, with a concentration in religious studies, you could attend Seminary and learn how to offer religious guidance. But our majors go onto so much more! Since philosophy teaches you how to structure arguments correctly, any time you need to convince someone of something, this degree will help you do so. This includes policy, business, social services, NGOs, consulting, and a host of other opportunities.
Since both philosophy and religion can be viewed as overlapping social constructs that influence one another, it is best to study them together. Spiritual beliefs can affect moral beliefs and vice versa. These two areas of study influence how individuals perceive themselves and the world around them.
Most majors pair well with philosophy, since philosophy can be applied to any topic. They do not even need to be related in any way! Lots of students double major in women's & gender studies or political science, but we also see double majors from history, political science, psychology, speech pathology, pure math, environmental engineering, agriculture, and computer science, and we can imagine so many more!
- The general concentration takes the five core classes, logic, and any other (5) classes.
- The political and law concentration takes (5) core classes, logic, (2) classes from the political core, (2) from the political electives, and (1) philosophy elective.
- The religion concentration takes (5) core courses, (1) Islan course, (1) Judaism and Christianity course, (1) Asian religion course, and (3) electives.
Any (4) philosophy courses at the 300 or 400 level.
Any (4) Religious Studies courses at the 300 or 400 level.