Minor in Philosophy and Religion

The department welcomes students from other majors or programs who wish to examine their personal philosophy or religious beliefs, investigate the philosophies or religious views of others, or sharpen their skills as independent thinkers.

Many of the courses offered are not only appropriate as part of a philosophy and religion minor but are of special interest to students in other fields. These courses are designed to help students understand the theoretical frameworks, religious implications, and more abstract dimensions of the paramount areas of knowledge.

The flexibility of the philosophy and religion minor and the wide array of philosophy courses allows students to choose a course of study that best suits their interests and complements their major program. Students interested in either the philosophical and religious understanding of a field of knowledge, or in philosophy and religion for self-understanding, should feel free to consult the department chairperson or an advisor on appropriate courses.

Each student minoring in philosophy and religion must take at least 15 units in philosophy, at least 12 of these being upper-division units. Those courses must include PHIL 425: Existentialism, and either a 500-level PHIL course or a course from a related field on advisement.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Gain knowledge of philosophical issues that arise in some of the seminal texts of the major world religions.
2. Develop an understanding of issues and problems that arise at the intersections of philosophy and religion.
3. Develop a capacity to apply philosophical methods to religious ideas.