2006 - 2007 Philosophy/Religious Studies Program (PHIL, REL)

Faculty: Nicholas D. More, Bridget Newell, Michael A. Popich

Program Goals

To become effective analytical and critical thinkers, and to communicate such thinking orally and in writing.
To gain familiarity with philosophical or religious history and its central issues.
To think and write in the form and by the method proper to the discipline of Philosophy or Religious Studies, i.e., rational argumentation in support of a significant thesis.
To pursue in depth one field of philosophy, either theoretical or applied.
To produce a substantial piece of original scholarship in Philosophy or Religious Studies.
To become more reflective of the human condition, and the effect of globalization and diversity; to understand the relevance of philosophical thinking to public policies and practices.

Objectives

The Philosophy and Religious Studies Program offers an academic major in philosophy leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree, as well as an academic minor. It provides students with the critical and philosophical thinking skills necessary to examine human systems of value, knowledge, and belief, and to make rational analyses of ideas fundamental to living thoughtfully in the world. Philosophy is an excellent choice of study for pre-law students, as preparation for graduate school in philosophy, as a minor or second major for liberal arts students preparing for graduate school, and for anyone who would benefit from a discipline of clear thinking, writing, and problem solving in the pursuit of wisdom.

Religious Studies (available as a minor) is considered open to objective and scholarly investigation. Students learn to read religious literature intelligently and within context, and gain perspective on the religious impulse as it is expressed through the world’s religions. Students majoring in Philosophy who plan to pursue an M.A. or Ph.D. in the field should plan for graduate school, with the assistance of the Philosophy/Religious Studies faculty, no later than the second semester of their junior year. Students intending to pursue a degree in theology are advised to major in English, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, or any broad liberal arts program, or minor in Religious Studies. The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada recommends that students have a background in history, religions of non-western cultures, and a foreign language.

Students majoring or minoring in philosophy with a GPA of 3.5 overall and in philosophy coursework may be invited to become members of Phi Sigma Tau, the international undergraduate Philosophy Honor Society. Westminster College’s Utah chapter is the oldest in the state.

Program Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.3 GPA in courses required in the philosophy major.

For course prerequisites, please refer to the course description.

Academic Major in Philosophy-Bachelor of Arts Degree

Liberal Education Courses

Credit Hours

The following courses, which fulfill LE requirements, are required for the Philosophy major.

PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy, LE
PHIL 102 Critical Thinking, LE
PHIL 206 Introduction to Ethics, LE

3
4
3

Requirement Description		Credit Hours
I.	Foreign Language Requirement	8
	Philosophy majors must complete eight credit hours in a single foreign language.	8
II.	Lower Division Philosophy Courses	16
	PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy, LE PHIL 102 Critical Thinking, LE PHIL 201 History of Philosophy I PHIL 202 History of Philosophy II PHIL 206 Introduction to Ethics, LE	3 4 3 3 3
III.	Upper Division Philosophy Courses	6
	PHIL 390 Thesis Research Preseminar in Philosophy (Fall only) PHIL 490 Research Seminar in Philosophy (Spring only)	3 3
IV.	Electives	14
	Additional course work in Philosophy	14
V.	Required Courses from Other Programs	6
	300-level course work in History	6
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE ACADEMIC MAJOR		50

Academic Major in Philosophy-Bachelor of Science Degree

For a Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy, students must fulfill the same requirements as for the Bachelor of Arts degree, except that students are required to take eight credit hours of a laboratory science in lieu of the history requirement.

Liberal Education Courses

Credit Hours

The following courses, which fulfill LE requirements, are required for the Philosophy major.

PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy, LE
PHIL 102 Critical Thinking, LE
PHIL 206 Introduction to Ethics, LE

3
4
3

Requirement Description		Credit Hours
I.	Foreign Language Requirement	8
	Philosophy majors must complete eight credit hours in a single foreign language.	8
II.	Lower Division Philosophy Courses	16
	PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy, LE PHIL 102 Critical Thinking, LE PHIL 201 History of Philosophy I PHIL 202 History of Philosophy II PHIL 206 Introduction to Ethics, LE	3 4 3 3 3
III.	Upper Division Philosophy Courses	6
	PHIL 390 Thesis Research Preseminar in Philosophy PHIL 490 Research Seminar in Philosophy	3 3
IV.	Electives	14
	Additional course work in Philosophy	14
V.	Required Courses from Other Programs	8
	Two semesters of a laboratory science	8
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE ACADEMIC MAJOR		52

Academic Minor in Philosophy

Requirement Description		Credit Hours
I.	Required Courses	12
	PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy, LE PHIL 201 History of Philosophy I (3) or PHIL 202 History of Philosophy II (3) PHIL 206 Introduction to Ethics, LE PHIL 390 Thesis Research Preseminar in Philosophy (3) or PHIL 490 Research Seminar in Philosophy (3)	3 3 3 3
II.	Electives	6
	Additional coursework in Philosophy	6
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE ACADEMIC MINOR		18

Academic Minor in Religious Studies

Requirement Description		Credit Hours
I.	Required Courses	13
	REL 101 Religions of the World, LE REL 311 Philosophy of Religion REL 312 The Bible: Jewish and Christian Scriptural Traditions REL 490 Research Seminar in Religious Studies	3 3 4 3
II.	Electives	7
	Additional coursework in Religious Studies	7
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE ACADEMIC MINOR		20