2024-25 Undergraduate Catalog

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree in Religion and Philosophy

(SLO) Expected Outcomes:

Graduates of the department of Religion and Philosophy will demonstrate

1. Knowledge of critical skills for the study of religion, philosophy, and religious traditions, including a) an understanding of the major methods and interpretive theories in the field of biblical studies, b) the ability to read and discuss complex philosophical and religious texts from sources across a range of historical periods and from a variety of traditions, and c) proficiency in the conventions of academic written and oral forms, including developing high-quality written research products.
2. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, including the ability a) to engage with cultural diversity when analyzing the interaction of religious and philosophical views with institutions and cultures in which the traditions find themselves; b) to discern accurate and credible knowledge about diverse religious traditions and expressions; c) to thoughtfully consider ethical problems and propose a defendable moral position, and d) to distinguish confessional or prescriptive statements about religion from descriptive or analytical statements.

Degree Requirements (Semester Hours)

General Education Core

The Core should include:

REL 241Introduction to Philosophy

3

PSY 113General Psychology

3

Required Related Course (3)

SOC 211Principles of Sociology

3

 

Religion and Philosophy Core (21)

REL 101History and Literature of the Hebrew Bible

3

REL 102History and Literature of the New Testament

3

REL 201World Religions

3

REL 202Archaeology and the Biblical World

3

REL 325Concepts of Ethics

3

REL 330Philosophy of Religion

3

REL 495Religion and Philosophy Capstone

3

Upper-Level Religion and Philosophy Electives (choose from the following) (21)

 
REL 342The Bible as Literature

3

REL 370Christianity and Unbelief

3

REL 371Concepts of Being Human

3

REL 372Social Ethics

3

REL 375Faith & Popular Culture

3

REL 380The Battle for God: Fundamentalism in Religious Life

3

REL 399/BIO 399Bioethics

3

REL 401History of Christian Thought

3

REL 41220th Century Continental Philosophy

3

REL 440Religion in America

3

REL 450The Holocaust in Historical Perspective

3

REL 498Internship

3

REL 499Selected Topics & Readings in Religion

1-3

For the Bachelor of Arts Degree: Foreign Language or Upper-Level English Requirement

For the Bachelor of Science Degree: Computer Literacy

General Electives (at least 12 hours must be upper-level) (28-31)

Total Credit Hours: 120

Recommended Four-Year Plan for Religion and Philosophy