As one of the oldest fields of study in the world, philosophy and religion go further in determining who we are as a people than any other academic discipline.

The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies offers a minor in philosophy and courses in religious studies. The Department familiarizes students with basic issues, problems, and methods of philosophy, as well as with the history of philosophy. Students pursuing courses in religious studies explore ideas and issues relating to religious experience, focusing on the intellectual, cultural, and personal dimensions of religion in human life. The Department also houses the College's liberal studies major, a program that incorporates the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences in ways that provide a heightened capacity for critical thinking and a fundamental understanding of human nature.

Faculty
Full-time faculty members teach all philosophy and religious studies courses; we do not use teaching assistants. Faculty bring to the classroom expertise in such areas as ethics and history of philosophy, feminist philosophy, social philosophy, aesthetics and ethics, ordinary language philosophy, philosophical psychology, Western religious thought, Biblical literature, and Eastern religious traditions and issues.

Hands-on Learning
Students in the liberal studies program are offered an individualized internship option that involves work experience combined with personal reflection and skill development. These internships take place in a wide range of professional and work settings and are structured as a three-credit internship courses.

Student Organizations
Many students in the Department participate in the Philosophy Club, which is coordinated by students and sponsors a variety of academic and social activities and events throughout the year. Some of these include evening dinner gatherings, movie nights, meditation group meetings, and special guest lectures on selected topics in philosophy and religion.