Philosophy & Religious Studies

Wade Dazey, chair
Department of Philosophy and
Religious Studies
White Hall 123
(262) 472-4775

Philosophy & Religious Studies Website
Faculty/Staff Directory

About the Programs

Curious students ready to tackle the big questions of life should look no further than the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department.

Students in the philosophy and religious studies program will graduate with a heightened capacity for critical thinking and a deeper understanding of human nature.

The department offers a major and minor in liberal studies as well as minors in philosophy, philosophy education and world religions. The liberal studies program incorporates the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences in a structured way that helps students develop their whole person.

Faculty members possess breadth as well as depth in research and teaching in the humanities. Their areas of expertise are wide-ranging and include: classical and social philosophy, ethics, classical Hinduism, feminism and lesbian studies, aesthetics and epistemology. Most are members of the American Philosophical Association or the American Academy of Religion.

Students in the liberal studies program will write a senior thesis on the topic of their choice. They also have the option of creating an individualized internship that combines work experience with personal reflection and skill development.

Students can also join the Philosophy Club and participate in lively discussions about current events and timeless philosophical questions through the Socrates Cafe.

Graduates in liberal studies go on to a wide range of careers. Some attend graduate school or law school; others pursue jobs in government or industry. Many find social service careers in such areas as health, counseling and law enforcement.

Suggested Course of Study

Liberal Studies Major (54 Credit Option with No Minor. In practice students will choose from a wide range of courses in each category.)

Freshman year

• General Education and Proficiency courses

Sophomore Year

• Complete the General Education courses
• Introduction to Liberal Studies
• One ethics course such as: Contemporary Moral Issues
• One creative expression course such as: Creative Writing
• One analytical thinking course such as: Logic
• One Western cultural heritage course such as: Western Civilization

Junior Year

• One oral communication skills course such as: Cross Cultural Communication
• One society and identity course such as : Social Psychology
• One global studies course such as: Politics of Development
• One Non-Western culture course such as: Eastern Religious Thought
• One American studies course such as: American Indian History
• One science, society and the environment course such as: Human Environmental Problems
• Possibly one travel study course

Senior Year

• Possibly one internship
• One contemporary culture course such as: The Contemporary Novel
• Electives in various categories to bring the number of credits to 54
• Liberal Studies Senior Thesis

Philosophy Minor

Freshman year

• Introduction to Philosophy

Sophomore Year

• Logic
• Contemporary Moral Issues

Junior Year

• Classical Philosophy
• Social Philosophy

Senior Year

• Contemporary Philosophy

World Religions Minor

Freshman year

• Introduction to Western Religions

Sophomore Year

• Introduction to Eastern Religions
• Critical Issues in Modern Religion

Junior Year

• Eastern Religious Thought
• Women and Religion

Senior Year

• Contemporary Islamic Thought and Practice