Philosophy and Religious Studies Major, BA

Prepares students for graduate school in philosophy or religious studies, for law school, or for employment or study in any field requiring strong analytical and interpretive skills.

Major Completion Summary

Major Completion Summary
Requirement	Credits
University Core Requirements	44-55
Major Requirements	39
Open Electives	37-42
Total Credits	120

University Core Requirements (44-55 Credits)

See complete University Core requirements.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
University Core
Complete University Core Requirements		44-55
Total Credits		44-55

Major Requirements (39 Credits)

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Major Courses ¹
PHI 113	Ancient Philosophy	3
PHI 116	Modern Philosophy	3
PHI 253	Logic	3
RES 202	Great Ideas in Eastern Religious Thought	3
Select one of the following:		3
RES 201	Great Ideas in Western Religious Thought
RES 231	The Bible: Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament)
RES 232	The Bible: Christian Scriptures (New Testament)
PHI 355	Ethical Theories
PHI 357	Philosophy of Religion
PHI 499	Senior Year Experience in Philosophy and Religious Studies ²
Required Major Electives
All courses with a PHI or RES prefix may be used as major electives. Students may use up to three courses from list below as major electives. Students are required to complete a total of five major electives using the guidelines provided.		15
AMS 200	Introduction to Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies
ANT 212	Magic and the Spirit World
ANT 296V	Topic: Anthropological Issues in Magic, Witchcraft and Religion
SOC 323	Social Theory
FSS 383	Theories of Film
HIS 206	European History: Witches, Wizards and the Rise of Scientific Thought
HIS 209	Israel and Palestine: The Heritage and the Challenge
HIS 223	Discrimination, Integration and Assimilation: Global Jewish Experience
HIS 296U	Topic: Bible and Gun: Christianity in China since 1500
LIT 211Z	World Mythologies
LIT 303	Introduction to Cultural Studies
LIT 304	Postcolonial Literature
LIT 329	Literary Theory and Criticism
PJS 203	Nonviolence: Theory and Practice
POL 241	Classical Political Thought
POL 242	Medieval Political Theory
POL 243	Modern Political Theory
POL 249	Feminist Political Theory
WS 369	Queer Theory
WS 380	Seminar in Feminist Theory
Total Credits		30

¹: At least 12 credits each in PHI & RES.
²: Student may substitute PHI 499 Senior Year Experience in Philosophy and Religious Studies with RES 395 Independent Study in Religious Studies.

Open Electives (37-42 Credits)

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Open Electives
Select 37-42 credits		37-42
Total Credits		37-42

In addition to the courses listed below, students are required to complete two courses with the Anti-Racism Education attribute attached. These courses may be taken during any semester of their education. See advisor for more information.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Credits
ENG 110	Composition	3
PHI 113 or PHI 116	Ancient Philosophy or Modern Philosophy	3
UNV 101	First-Year Seminar: Introduction to University Community	1
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course and Learning Community (LC) course		3
	Credits	16
Spring
PHI 113 or PHI 116	Ancient Philosophy or Modern Philosophy	3
ENG 120	Critical Writing	4
RES 201	Great Ideas in Western Religious Thought	3
MAT 102	Mathematics for Life	3
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
	Credits	16
Second Year
Fall
RES 202	Great Ideas in Eastern Religious Thought	3
One Civic Engagement (CE) course		3
First Second Language Course. See Advisor for guidelines		3
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
One elective course in subject PHI or RES		3
	Credits	15
Spring
ENG 201	Writing in the Disciplines	3
COM 200	Public Speaking	3
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
Second Language Course, if applicable		3
PHI 253	Logic	0-3
One elective course in subject PHI or RES		3
	Credits	15-18
Third Year
Fall
PHI 355 or PHI 357	Ethical Theories or Philosophy of Religion	3
CIS 101	Introduction to Computing (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	3
One elective course in subject PHI or RES		3
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
	Credits	15
Spring
One elective course in subject PHI or RES		3
One elective course in subject PHI or RES		3
Open Elective Course		3
One Lab science course		3
Open Elective Course		3
Open Elective Course		1
	Credits	16
Fourth Year
Fall
PHI 355 or PHI 357	Ethical Theories or Philosophy of Religion	3
Open Elective Course		3
Open Elective Course		3
Open Elective Course		3
	Credits	12
Spring
PHI 499	Senior Year Experience in Philosophy and Religious Studies	3
Open Elective Course		3
Open Elective Course		3
Open Elective Course		3
	Credits	12
	Total Credits	117-120