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Philosophy and Religion: Requirements and Courses

Philosophy and Religion
 2009-2010 Faculty: Dr. Bradley and Dr. Meyer
Requirements
Requirements for a Minor in Religious Studies
PR 250, 271, 325, 350, 362 and one course from 201, 202, 212, 275, 303, 370, or 380.

TOTAL: 18 semester hours
Requirements for a Minor in Philosophy
PR 201, 202, 210, 232, 271 and one course from 212, 304, 325, or 380.

TOTAL: 18 semester hours
 

Courses

 201. Being Human (3 hours)
First Semester
Who am I?  Do I have a purpose?  What should I do?  By considering the thoughts of major philosophers, this course addresses the central questions about what it is to be human. 
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of the instructor.  (IAI H4 900)

202. Ethics (3 hours)
Second Semester
An introduction to theoretical and practical issues of ethics across a variety of Western and non-Western contexts.  Also examines the tension between ethical relativism and efforts to define a more universal ethics.  Includes evaluation of how different cultural and ethical systems treat various practical issues associated with biomedical advances, environmentalism, and social justice.  Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of the instructor.  (IAI: H4 904)

210. Human Worth and Work (3 hours)
Second Semester, alternate years.  Offered 2010-2011.
Provides students with the opportunity to reflect on the meaning and value of work through the examination of a variety of scholarly readings and popular works and media. 
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent.

212. Work Ethics (3 hours)
Second Semester
Business practices, economic trends and policies, personal deportment and interpersonal relations in the workplace invite many moral questions.  A combined application of the study of moral theories and applied ethics will address contemporary issues related to work. 
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent.

232. Logic (3 hours)
First Semester, alternate years.  Offered 2011-2012.
A study of the principles and methods used to distinguish valid from invalid arguments, with special emphasis upon the structure of sound reasoning, both inductive and deductive, and the recognition of fallacies, and critical thinking. 
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of the instructor. (IAI H4 906)

250. The Bible in the Modern World (3 hours)
Second Semester
The influence of the Bible in the modern world is ubiquitous.  This course considers the origins of the Bible (Old and New Testaments), a brief survey of its contents, methods of interpretation, and the presence of biblical themes in socio-political events and issues, popular culture, and scientific debates of the Twentieth and Twenty-first centuries. 
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of the instructor. (IAI: H5 901)

271. Asian Religions (3 hours)
First Semester
A critical study of selected religions originating in Asia including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, and variants of these major religions, through the study of primary sources and in a historical-comparative perspective. 
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of the instructor. (IAI: H5 904N)

275. Religions in America (3 hours)
Second Semester
Study of the major Christian denominations; indigenous American religious movements; revivalism; the fundamentalist-modernist controversy; missions, voluntarism, and the Social Gospel; African-American religion; ecumenism and pluralism; church-state relations; and civil religion. 
Prerequisite:  Sophomore standing or consent of the instructor. (IAI: H5 905)

303. War, Peace, and Christian Responses (3 hours)
First Semester, alternate years. Offered 2010-2011.
Examinations of historic and current Christian responses to the problems of achieving peace in a violent and divided world.  Individual research, readings, and class discussions will analyze scriptural and historical attitudes and apply them to current Christian responses to this issue.
Prerequisites:  Sophomore standing or consent of the instructor. (IAI: F2 901)

304. Political Philosophy (3 hours)
Second Semester, alternate years. Offered 2011-2012.
An examination of Western political thought from Plato and Aristotle to Marx and J.S. Mill.  Special attention to the concepts of political authority, legitimacy, obligations, political education, virtue, rights, justice, equality, liberty, harm, and political goods. 
Prerequisites:  Sophomore standing or consent of the instructor.

311. Philosophy of Leadership (3 hours)
First Semester, alternate years. Offered 2011-2012. 
A historical and philosophical examination of the concept of leadership, leadership skills and qualities, relationships between leaders and their environments and leaders and followers. Attention to views of such philosophers, social scientists, and commentators as Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Machiavelli, Nietzsche, Gandhi, Du Bois, Lippmann, Gardner, Burns and others.

325. Philosophy of Religion: GOD (3 hours)
First Semester
A consideration of the following areas in an attempt to better understand the breadth and depth of the human search for God: the classical arguments and refutations for the existence of Go; the nature of God as understood from the perspectives of major world religions; and an analysis of literature and theological writings reflecting individual understanding of God.  (IAI: H4 905).

342. Philosophy of Law (3 hours)
Second Semester, alternate years.  Offered 2010-2011.
This course introduces students to the major philosophical perspectives on the nature of law.  As such, it takes a critical look at what key philosophers and theorists have said about the law, its sources and purposes, and its relation to politics and morality. Attention is given to forms of reasoning and justifications peculiar to the practice of law.  Students are introduced to a variety of cases in the areas of contract, tort, property, and constitutional law.  In this context, students will examine assumptions and outcomes relating to the subjects of liberty, harm, justice equality, personal responsibility and punishment.

350. Psychology of Religion (3 hours)
Second Semester
An exploration of (1) the spiritual dimension of our humanity form the insights of psychologists and theologians; (2) biblical views of humanity and their interpretations; and (3) a phenomenology of religious experience.
Prerequisite: PY 101 and sophomore standing.

362. Christ and Popular Culture (3 hours)
First Semester
Christian conceptions of Jesus have influenced and been influenced by popular culture throughout history.  Examples of this mutual dependence, particularly in the first three centuries of the common era and in contemporary United States, will be examined through the considerations of popular fiction, TV shows, movies, music and other elements of popular culture. 
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent.

370. Topics in Religious Studies: (3 hours)
As needed
A detailed investigation of some significant theme or issue in religious studies.  Topics will change on an annual basis.  Course may be repeated with permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of the instructor.

380. Topics in Philosophy (3 hours)
As Needed
A detailed investigation of some significant theme or issue in philosophy.  Topics will change on an annual basis.  Course may be repeated with permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of the instructor.

390. Directed Study in Philosophy (1-3 hours)
As Needed
For advanced tutorial study.  Topics, readings, and meetings are to be arranged with the instructor.  Proposals involving three or four students will be given preference.
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

399. Directed Study in Religion (3 hours)
As needed
For advanced tutorial study.  Topics, readings, and meetings are to be arranged with the instructor.  Proposals involving three or four students will be given preference.
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

499. Independent Study (3 hours)
As Needed.
For students wanting to pursue independent research in philosophy or religion under the guidance of an instructor.
Prerequisite: Senior standing and consent of the instructor.