Philosophy and Religion

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The core and distribution requirements for a major in Philosophy and Religion are those listed for the baccalaureate degrees , with the exception that a course in history or literature is required to fulfill the core humanities requirement.

It may seem that more philosophy than religion is required, but the major assumes that students will be taking the required Bible and doctrine courses as part of their core requirements which amount to 12 hours. Further, we have a Biblical Studies Department and not a religion department, and the courses required below are in keeping with the religion courses the department does offer.

Requirements for Major

Core Curriculum Requirements 58 hour(s).
Electives 29-30 hour(s).

Major and Supporting Course Requirements

BIB 487 Modern Theology 3 hour(s).
MIS 302 World Religions 3 hour(s).
PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy 3 hour(s).
PHI 301 Moral Philosophy 3 hour(s).
PHI 304 Philosophy of Religion. 3 hour(s).
PHI 492 Senior Integration Paper Seminar 2 hour(s).
or BIB 492 Senior Integration Paper in Biblical & Theological Studies 3 hour(s).
Philosophical elective 3 hour(s). * (see list below)
Philosophy electives: any philosophy courses 6 hour(s).
Religion electives: philosophical electives that are BIB courses 6 hour(s). * (see list below)

History of Philosophy:

PHI 201 History of Philosophy I: Classical to Renaissance 3 hour(s).
or PHI 202 History of Philosophy II: Modern to 19th Century 3 hour(s).
PHI 253 History of Philosophy III: Contemporary Analytic Philosophy 3 hour(s).
or PHI 254 20th-Century Continental Philosophy 3 hour(s).

Total hours for the major: 38 or 39

Total degree hours: 126

*Philosophical electives:

Any PHI course and
BIB 302 History & Expansion of Christianity I 3 hour(s).
BIB 303 History & Expansion of Christianity II 3 hour(s).
BIB 372 Hermeneutics 3 hour(s).
BIB 373 Christology 3 hour(s).
BIB 374 Global Theology 3 hour(s).
BIB 376 Outreach to Contemporary Culture 3 hour(s).
BIB 386 Renaissance and Reformation 3 hour(s).
BIB 387 John Calvin and the Reformed Tradition 3 hour(s).
BIB 388 Awakenings in Christian History 3 hour(s).
BIB 486 Trinitarian Theology 3 hour(s).
BIB 487 Modern Theology 3 hour(s).
COS 425 Foundations of Computer Science 4 hour(s).
ECO 430 Labor Economics 3 hour(s).
EDU 370 History and Philosophy of American Education 3 hour(s).
ENG 266 Reading Film 3 hour(s).
ENG 380 Modern Literary Criticism 3 hour(s).
HIS 305 The History of Political Theory 3 hour(s).
HIS 399 Historiography 3 hour(s).
IDS 310 Darwin 3 hour(s).
IDS 335 The European Enlightenment 3 hour(s).
MAT 290 Proofs and Exposition 3 hour(s).
MAT 360 Modern Geometry I 3 hour(s).
MAT 410 Mathematical Logic 3 hour(s).
MAT 470 Topology 3 hour(s).
MIS 202 Theology of Missions 3 hour(s).
MIS 302 World Religions 3 hour(s).
MUS 372 History of Western Music 1700-1900 3 hour(s).
NSC 115 Science in Perspective 4 hour(s).
PHY 351 Quantum Mechanics I 3 hour(s).
PSY 306 Cognitive Psychology 3 hour(s).
PSY 360 Psychology of Religion 3 hour(s).
SOC 342 Sociology of Religion 3 hour(s).
SOC 402 Contemporary Social Thought 3 hour(s).

Requirements for Double Majors

Students double-majoring in Philosophy or Philosophy & Religion and another discipline MAY:

Count up to six (6) hours of philosophical electives in the other major discipline also as Philosophy electives in addition to the six hours of philosophical electives already required for the Philosophy or Philosophy & Religion major. (Philosophical electives with prefixes other than “PHI” are “philosophically rich” courses in that they devote significant attention to the metaphysical, epistemological and/or ethical foundations of another discipline. For the list of approved philosophical electives, please see above.)
Satisfy the Philosophy SIP requirement by completing the SIP requirements of the other major AND including a member of the Philosophy Department faculty in the process of formulating the thesis, bibliography and outline of the SIP for the other major.