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The major in Philosophy and Religion consists of ten courses, eleven if seeking Honors. Five of these must be in Philosophy, and five must be in Religion. No more than three of these courses may be at the 200 level. Only one of the ten courses may be an independent study, or two if seeking Honors. Of those ten courses, three are normally required as follows:
- Philosophy of Religion (PHIL 226), Introduction to the Study of Religion (RELIG 202), Introduction to Philosophical Problems (PHIL 201), or Ethics (PHIL 213), as an entry to the major;
- RELG 352 (Theory and Method in the Study of Religion);
- At least one 400 level seminar in either philosophy or religion, considered a capstone of the major.
At least five courses should be focused upon a particular area of interest, which a student enters into with a plan to follow through in an integrated manner. This approach is intended to give students several options while also giving them direction, so that the joint major brings disciplinary integrity to interdisciplinary study.
The department does not offer a minor in philosophy and religion.
Honors in Philosophy and Religion
In the spring of their senior year, candidates for honors normally take an independent study (PHRE 491), with a faculty member advising them. The honors thesis – a substantial piece of research, analysis, or critique -- is turned in to the advisor several weeks before the end of the term. If the advisor decides that the thesis can stand for honors, the student shall defend the thesis before a committee including faculty from both departments. The honors defense is intended to create a forum for intellectual exchange between the student writer and the faculty readers. A student is awarded honors on the basis of both the quality of the written thesis and the conduct of the honors defense. No student can be awarded honors, however, who does not have at least a 3.4 GPA in his or her PHRE major.