Religion is a collection of ideas, practices, and systems that are organized and shared.
It is most common for these ideas to refer to a belief and worship of an external
controlling force, such as a god or supernatural entity. Philosophy (from Greek, meaning
"love of wisdom"), in its simplest definition, is the study of existence, reason,
knowledge, values, and the mind.
About This Program
The B.A. program in Philosophy and Religion is designed to accommodate students who
want to concentrate in either philosophy or religion.
The program is designed to engage the student in an examination of the chief rival
philosophical and religious approaches to life (including their historical, cultural,
social, and practical imports); to develop within the student an enlarged capacity
for logical, reflective, and coherent reasoning; and to encourage the student to work
out a conceptual framework for their life commitment.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy and Religion requires 120 semester hours to complete.
The program is preparatory for advanced training in other fields, such as law, education,
international relations, statecraft, intellectual history, philosophy, religious studies,
and theology.
The Philosophy and Religion B.A. Major Requires:
Twelve (12) hours in a foreign language (French or Spanish).
The curriculum for the Philosophy & Religion Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is the
same as the requirements for the Philosophy & Religion Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.
The only difference lies in the foreign language requirement.
While B.A. students must complete twelve (12) credit hours in a foreign language,
B.S. students must fulfill this requirement by taking twelve (12) credit hours of
electives instead.
No grade below “C” will be accepted inanymajor course
A 'Philosophy & Religion' degree can equip students with valuable skills in critical
thinking, communication, cultural competency, and ethical reasoning that are applicable
across a wide range of professions and fields.
What Is Philosophy & Religion?
Philosophy literally means “the love of wisdom” and philosophers engage with a vast
range of subject areas such as metaphysics (the nature of reality) epistemology (the
study of knowledge), value theory (ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics), and
logic (reasoning and arguments).
Religion is a collection of ideas, practices, and systems that are organized and shared.
It is most common for these ideas to refer to a belief and worship of an external
controlling force, such as a god or supernatural entity.
A faith or belief system can usually be characterized by practices, sacred texts,
sermons, rituals, prayer, meditation, prophecies, and revelations, as well as holy
places, symbols, and feasts. In turn, these factors can significantly impact worldviews,
morals, and cultural norms and beliefs.
Students will study the origins, functions, techniques, and experience of religion
in a cross-cultural perspective.
Pursuing a degree in Philosophy & Religion can offer valuable insights into the human
condition and prepare you for a wide range of intellectually stimulating careers.
Philosophy & Religion Careers
When people ask, “What can you do with a philosophy or religion degree?”, they are
often surprised by the universe of career opportunities. In addition to the obvious
career of philosophy professor, philosophy majors excel in the fields of:
• Law • Business • Technology • Government • Public Policy • Teaching • Health Care • Social Work • Ministry • Non-Profits • And many more
Employment expectations for individuals with a degree in Philosophy & Religion can
vary depending on factors such as the level of education, specialization, additional
skills, and personal career goals.
Philosophy & Religion Employment Expectations
While philosophy and religion majors have long faced negative stereotypes about employment
opportunities, these are shattered by the facts.
The median wage for philosophy and religion majors is $60,000.
The employment rate for philosophy and religion majors is consistently high (for 2018-2019
there was a 95.7% employment rate).
Given the range of careers open to philosophy and religion majors, employment opportunities
exist in all U.S. states and worldwide.
The versatility of a Philosophy and Religion degree lies in the transferable skills
it offers, such as critical thinking, analytical reasoning, effective communication,
cultural understanding, and ethical reasoning.
Q: What can I do with a major in philosophy and religion? A: Almost anything. The skills developed in the major are broadly applicable to a
range of careers, including serving as the foundation for graduate and professional
programs. Q: What benefits does the study of philosophy and religion provide? A: Many. These include intellectual skills such as critical thinking and logic, the
development of open-mindedness, and an enhanced perspective. In addition to the value
of these benefits in philosophy and religion, they are also traits employers seek. Q: Do I need to be religious to study philosophy & religion?? A: No, you don't need to be religious to study this field. Many students approach
it from a secular perspective, examining religious phenomena objectively and critically.
Philosophy & Religion Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Fall 2018 (and beyond) Requirements
The curriculum presents the requirements for students who first enrolled in Fall 2018
or later. In addition to the requirements specified below, these students must complete
the civics literacy requirement. Students who enrolled prior to Fall 2018 are under
the requirements in effect when they enrolled.
Fall 2018 (and beyond) Requirements
The curriculum presents the requirements for students who first enrolled in Fall 2018
or later. In addition to the requirements specified below, these students must complete
the civics literacy requirement. Students who enrolled prior to Fall 2018 are under the requirements in effect when
they enrolled.
FRESHMAN YEAR 29 hours
Course Number & Name
Credit Hours
ENC 1101, ENC 1102 Freshman Communication Skills I & II*
6
Mathematics Courses (see GENED course list)
6
Philosophy or Religion Courses
6
Social Science Elective (see GENED course list)
3
SPN 1120 and 1121 Elementary Spanish (with labs) or
FRE 1120 and 1121 Elementary French (with labs)**
8
SOPHOMORE YEAR 31 hours
Course Number & Name
Credit Hours
Natural Science Course (see GENED course list)
3
Natural Science Course (see GENED course list)
3
Philosophy or Religion Courses
6
FRE or SPN 2220 Intermediate French or Spanish (with lab)**
4
AMH 2091 African American History or AFA course
3
Humanities Electives
6
GENED Electives (see GENED course list)
3
Social Science Elective (see GENED course list)
3
JUNIOR YEAR 30 hours
Course Number & Name
Credit Hours
Free Electives
12
Philosophy or Religion Courses
9
Courses in Minor
9
SENIOR YEAR 30 hours
Course Number & Name
Credit Hours
Religion Courses
9
Courses in Minor
9
Electives
12
* ENC 1121, ENC 1122 Honors Freshman Composition I & II can be substituted for these
classes.
** A student earning the Bachelor of Science degree replaces the language classes with
elective classes.
