B.A. Phil – RS Concentration

Program Map – Philosophy – Religious Studies

 

Philosophy B.A. (Religious Studies Concentration)

 

Degree Requirements: 124 Credit Hours

 

See Core Curriculum for required courses in Area A1 through Area E.

 

                                                                                                          Credit Hours  

 

Area A1 – Communication Skills

Select  6 credit hours from Area A1 of the Core Curriculum                6

Area A2 – Quantitative Skills

Select 3 credit hours from Area A2 of the Core Curriculum                 3

Area B—Global Engagement

Select 4 credit hours from Area B of the Core Curriculum                   4

Area C – Humanities, Fine Arts, and Ethics

Select 6 credit hours from Area C of the Core Curriculum                   6

Area D – Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Technology           

Select 11 credit hours from Area D of the Core Curriculum                 11

Area E – Social Sciences

Select 12 credit hours from Area E of the Core Curriculum                12

Area F – Courses Appropriate to Major (18 hours)                                      

Foreign Language – through 2002                                                        0-6

Select 3-9 credit hours from the following:                                           3-9

PHIL 2010              Introduction to Philosophy

PHIL 2020              Critical Thinking

PHIL 2030              Introduction to Ethics

Select 0-3 credit hours from the following:                                           0-3

RELS 2100             World Religions

RELS 2130             Introduction to Religious Studies

Select 3-12 credit hours from the following:                                        3-12

ANTH 1102            Introduction to Anthropology

BIOL 1130              General Biology

& BIOL 1110         General Biology Laboratory

BIOL 1230              Environmental Biology

& BIOL 1210         Environmental Biology Laboratory

INTS 2130              Introduction to International Studies

POLS 2101             Introduction to Political Science

PSYC 1101             Introduction to Psychology

SOCI 1101              Introduction to Sociology

 

Health and Physical Education Activities

HLTH 1520            Healthful Living                                                         2

Orientation

FYE 1220               First-Year Seminar                                                     2

 

Major Requirements (3000 level or above) (30 hours)                 

 

Specific Requirements:                                                                      

RELS 4890             Seminar in Religious Studies                                  3

 

Ancient and Modern Philosophy

Select 3-6 credit hours from the following:                                       3-6

PHIL 3100              Ancient Philosophy

PHIL 3130              Early Modern Philosophy: Rationalism and Empiricism

 

Philosophy of Religion

Select 3-9 credit hours from the following:                                       3-9

PHIL 3635              Existentialism

PHIL 4632              Philosophy of Religion

RELS 3234             Asian Religious Philosophy

 

 

 

Electives in the Major

Select 12-21 credit hours from the following:                                  12-21

ENGL 3431            Bible as Literature

HIST/RELS 3139   History of Religion in America

HIST/RELS  3233  The Early Church

HIST/RELS  3234 The History of Islam in Southeast Asia

HIST/RELS  3250 The Muslim World to Tamerlane

HIST/RELS  3251  The Muslim World Since Genghis Khan

HIST/RELS  3334  Christian Europe 450-1750

HIST/RELS 4336   Science and Religion

HIST/RELS  5332  The Reformation

HONS 4610            Honors Research Seminar

PHIL 3120              Medieval Philosophy

PHIL 3140              Nineteenth Century Philosophy

PHIL 3332              Contemporary Moral Problems

PHIL 3532              Metaphysics

PHIL 4130              Feminist Philosophy

PHIL 4533              Philosophy of Mind

PSYC 3231             Psychology of Religion

RELS 3030             Selected Topics

RELS 3134             Introduction to Asian Religions

RELS 3135             Introduction to Hinduism

RELS 3136             Introduction to Islam

RELS 3137             Introduction to Christianity

RELS 3138             Introduction to Buddhism

RELS 3235             Religion, Sex, and Gender

RELS 3238             The Hebrew Prophets

RELS 3330             Introduction to the Hebrew Bible

RELS 3335             Introduction to the New Testament

RELS 3430             Religion and Politics

RELS 5030             Selected Topics

SOCI 4133              Sociology of Religion

 

 

Electives                                                                                                           

Select 15 credit hours of Electives                                                       15

 

Minor – Required

Select 15 credit hours of Minor (Must be approved by advisor)           15

 

At least 9 hours of the elective or minor credits must be at the 3000 level or higher, so that the students will graduate with at least 39 hours of upper division credits.

 

                                              

Total Credit Hours                                                                            124

 

Prerequisite(s)

 

• For RELS 4890, the prerequisite is at least two courses within the major.

Program Admission Criteria

• Majors must acquire from their advisors a copy of “Requirements for the Major in Philosophy (Religious Studies Concentration).”

Other Program Requirements

• Must have earned a minimum grade of “C” in each of the required courses in Philosophy upper division.

Honors in Philosophy (Religious Studies Concentration)

To graduate with Honors in Philosophy (Religious Studies Concentration), a student must:

• be admitted to the University Honors Program;
• successfully complete at least three credit hours of Honors Research Seminar HONS 4610) over three semesters;
• successfully complete and present an Honors Thesis or Capstone Project;
• be in good standing in the University Honors Program at the time of graduation.

Advisement

 

All Philosophy majors, including students in the UHP, are advised by the Philosophy advisor located in the Newton Building, (912) 478-7740.

 

From Overview page of the Major in Catalog

 

A strong Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies is central to a liberal arts education because it helps students to become incisive in their critical thinking, effective as communicators, aware of cultural diversity, and skillful as interpreters of the written and spoken word in all areas of life. We are committed to academic excellence, innovative instruction, and collaborative service to the community.

The disciplines of philosophy and religious studies – the traditional core of the humanities – ask the big questions: What does it mean to be human? How do we make meaning in this world? What is the relationship of individuals to society? Today these questions are complicated by topics such as class, race, ethnicity, and gender – all of which are addressed by classes in the Department.

Studying philosophy and religious studies provides excellent preparation for professional employment in any area where the close examination of written texts and the ability to communicate well are important. The Department takes pride in working with students to connect their immediate studies with their long-term goals.

 

A student graduating with a B.A. degree in Philosophy will be able to demonstrate the following:

 

1. Present and explain the thought of a philosopher or philosophical theory accurately and clearly, demonstrating a strong background in discipline-specific knowledge, including the history and major periods of Philosophy, major thinkers, and major fields of study and theories of Philosophy.
2. Critically evaluate philosophical positions, identifying central arguments and their support, demonstrating an ability to think through complex issues with clarity.
3. Present an independent evaluation of or response to the material.  Support one’s own philosophical positions with well-reasoned argumentation, providing a thesis that is properly stated, focused, and clear, and defending this thesis in a way that is well-organized and well-supported.

 

A student graduating with a B.A. degree in Philosophy with a Religious Studies Concentration will be able to demonstrate the following:

 

1. Demonstrate knowledge of beliefs, practices, and institutions that have been classified as religious.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts and major theorists in the study of religion.
3. Analyze religious data by critically assessing relevant primary and secondary texts.
4. Utilize theories and methods from different disciplinary approaches to the study of religion.
5. Synthesize relevant data to support an argument that explains some aspect of religion.

Last updated: 10/5/2018