Chair and Professor: C. Harvey (PhD), 450-3179
Professors: P. Mehl (PhD), J. Shelton (PhD)
Associate Professors: J. Butler (PhD), C. Crockett (PhD), J. Deitrick (PhD), J. Held (PhD)
Assistant Professors: N. Brasovan (PhD), T. Duncan (PhD), B. Rider (PhD)
Lecturer II: R. Novy (PhD), P. Spivey (MA)
Lecturer I: G. Thiher (PhD)
Instructors: J. Winden Fey (PhD), C. Springer (MA)
Professor Emeritus: N. Schedler (PhD)

[1] Purposes

The Department of Philosophy and Religion offers degree programs with majors in philosophy or religious studies. The department administers the interdisciplinary degree program in Religious Studies. The philosophy program serves all academic disciplines by the examination and analysis of the major ideas that have shaped our civilization and by the development of skills in critical thinking. The interdisciplinary religious studies program introduces students to the basic methods and subject matter of the study of religion. Philosophy and religion courses are designed both to contribute to a broad liberal education and to enrich more vocationally oriented programs. Both the major and minor in philosophy and religious studies are designed to provide the core of a liberal arts education for students interested in graduate, professional, or divinity school. They also provide broad, non-specialized degrees for those who desire career flexibility.

A student who majors in philosophy will acquire a fundamental understanding of philosophy, which includes an understanding of the central problems of philosophy, a comprehension of the various methods of philosophical inquiry and discourse, a knowledge of the historically significant philosophers and philosophical movements, a knowledge of the fundamental principles of logic and an understanding of the basic theories of ethics. A student who majors in philosophy will achieve a satisfactory level in the application of critical thinking skills and will be able to write a philosophical paper.

A student who majors in Religious Studies will gain a broad understanding of various religious texts, practices and traditions, as well as critical tools to interpret and assess these traditions, in the areas of theory and method; Asian religious traditions; Western religious traditions; sacred art, ritual and literature; religion, culture and society; and religious thought. A student who majors in Religious Studies will learn to examine and evaluate religious phenomena and ideas from several disciplinary and inter-disciplinary viewpoints, including philosophical, historical, anthropological, literary and theological perspectives.

[2] The Undergraduate Scholars Program in Philosophy

Students who major in philosophy and who demonstrate exceptional ability may request or may be invited to enter the undergraduate scholars program. In addition to or as one of the courses required for a major in the area, the student must

Complete PHIL 4301 Philosophy Honors Tutorial;
Maintain a minimum 3.25 grade point average overall, and a 3.5 grade point average in the major;
Complete an honors thesis in conjunction with PHIL 4301; and
Pass an oral examination on the thesis conducted by three faculty members.

[3] The Undergraduate Scholars Program in Religious Studies

Students who major in religious studies and who demonstrate exceptional ability may request or may be invited to enter the undergraduate scholars program. In addition to or as one of the courses required for a major in the area, the student must

1. Complete RELG 4300 Religious Studies Honors Tutorial;
2. Maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA overall and a 3.5 GPA in the major;
3. Complete an honors thesis in conjunction with RELG 4300; and
4. Pass an oral examination on the thesis conducted by three faculty members.

[4] Baccalaureate Degrees: Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science

[4.1] BA/BS in Philosophy

The degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, with a major in philosophy, requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements; (3) major requirements listed below; and (4) a minor as worked out with the student’s minor advisor.

Abbreviation Key – UCA Core Program

LD = Lower Division
UD = Upper Division

C = Effective Communication
D = Diversity
I = Critical Inquiry

R = Responsible Living
Z = Capstone Experience

[4.1.1] Major in Philosophy (33 hours)

Philosophy majors are recommended to take courses in the major to satisfy their upper-division Core requirements. Students must take three hours in courses designated in each of the four Core competencies, Critical Inquiry (I), Communication (C), Diversity (D) and Responsible Living (R). However, if they so choose, students are free to fulfill their upper-division Core requirements with courses from other departments. Philosophy majors are strongly encouraged to take either PHIL 4310 or 4340 to meet their Capstone course (Z) within the Philosophy program, but are able to fulfill their Capstone requirement from another program if necessary.

Required Courses (12 hours):

PHIL 2310 Introduction to Logic or PHIL 3310 Symbolic Logic
PHIL 3320 Ethics or PHIL 3325 Political Philosophy [ UCA Core: I, R ]
PHIL 3300 Greek and Roman Philosophy [ UCA Core: I, C ]
PHIL 3302 Modern Philosophy

Elective courses (21 hours):

At least two courses from the History of Philosophy area (6 hours):

PHIL 3301 Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 3303 Nineteenth Century Philosophy
PHIL 3304 American Pragmatism
PHIL 4305 Continental Philosophy
PHIL 4306 Analytic Philosophy

At least one course from the Epistemology & Metaphysics area (3 hours):

PHIL 3310 Symbolic Logic
PHIL 3341 Theories of Knowledge
PHIL 3370 Metaphysics
PHIL 3375 Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 3380 Philosophy of Science [ UCA Core: I, C ]
PHIL 4306 Analytic Philosophy
PHIL 4330 Philosophy of Language

At least one course from the Social, Political, Values area (3 hours):

PHIL 2300 Existential Problems in Philosophy
PHIL 3320 Ethics
PHIL 3325 Political Philosophy
PHIL 3330 Philosophy of Law
PHIL 3331 Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 3340 Critical Theories of Race [ UCA Core: D, R ]
PHIL 3343 Philosophy of Sex and Love
PHIL 3345 Feminist Philosophy [ UCA Core: D, R ]
PHIL 3352 Asian Philosophy and Religion [ UCA Core: D, C ]
PHIL 3360 Philosophy of Art
PHIL 4340 the Meaning of Life [ UCA Core: Z ]
PHIL 4350/5350 Health Care Ethics

Students should select three additional elective courses (9 hours) from any of the groups. Courses at or above the 2000 level with the prefix RELG may also function as electives for the major with permission of advisor and chair.

The following are special courses, that, depending on content, may or may not substitute for a requirement or elective:

PHIL 3390 Internship in Philosophy
PHIL 3395 Topic in Philosophy
PHIL 4300 Readings in Philosophy
PHIL 4301 Honors Tutorial in Philosophy
PHIL 4310 Great Works in Philosophy [ UCA Core: Z ]

[4.1.2] Minor in Philosophy (21 hours)

Required Courses (6 hours):

PHIL 2310 Introduction to Logic or PHIL 3310 Symbolic Logic
PHIL 3320 Ethics or PHIL 3325 Political Philosophy [ UCA Core: I, R ]

Elective courses (15 hours):

At least two courses from the History of Philosophy area (6 hours):

PHIL 3300 Greek and Roman Philosophy [ UCA Core: I, C ]
PHIL 3301 Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 3302 Modern Philosophy
PHIL 3303 Nineteenth Century Philosophy
PHIL 3304 American Pragmatism
PHIL 4305 Continental Philosophy
PHIL 4306 Analytic Philosophy

At least one course from the Epistemology & Metaphysics area (3 hours):

At least one course from the Social, Political, Values area (3 hours):

PHIL 2300 Existential Problems in Philosophy
PHIL 3320 Ethics [ UCA Core: I, R ]
PHIL 3325 Political Philosophy [ UCA Core: I, R ]
PHIL 3330 Philosophy of Law
PHIL 3331 Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 3340 Critical Theories of Race [ UCA Core: D, R ]
PHIL 3343 Philosophy of Sex and Love
PHIL 3345 Feminist Philosophy [ UCA Core: D, R ]
PHIL 3352 Asian Philosophy and Religion [ UCA Core: D, C ]
PHIL 3360 Philosophy of Art
PHIL 4340 the Meaning of Life [ UCA Core: Z ]
PHIL 4350/5350 Health Care Ethics

Students should select one additional elective courses (9 hours) from any of the groups. Courses at or above the 2000 level with the prefix RELG may also function as electives for the major with permission of advisor and chair.

The following are special courses, that, depending on content, may or may not substitute for a requirement or elective:

PHIL 3390 Internship in Philosophy
PHIL 3395 Topic in Philosophy
PHIL 4300 Readings in Philosophy
PHIL 4301 Honors Tutorial in Philosophy
PHIL 4310 Great Works in Philosophy [ UCA Core: Z ]

[4.2] BA/BS in Religious Studies

[4.2.1] Major in Religious Studies (33 hours)

See the Religious Studies page, in Interdisciplinary Programs.

[4.2.2] Minor in Religious Studies (24 hours)