Wimberly School of Religion
& Graduate Theological Center

RELIGION / PHILOSOPHY MAJOR

The joint major in philosophy and religion is designed primarily for those students who want to undertake ethical and religious studies within a rigorous philosophical and theological context in preparation either for advanced academic study in philosophy or religion or for professional training for the ordained ministry.

The core requirements in the History of Philosophy (PHIL 3114, 3214, and 3314), the History of the Christian Church (3103 or 3113) and Contemporary Theology (REL 3423) are intended to provide students with systematic grounding in the major philosophical and theological resources of Western philosophy and the Jewish and Christian traditions. Students may then select one of four areas of emphasis (philosophical theology, ethics, religion-philosophy and culture or biblical studies) for more concentrated study. The culminating experience for all majors is the writing of a senior thesis (PHIL 4893 or REL 4893). The thesis is a major research paper, an original work in the student's area of emphasis, prepared under close supervision of one or more members of the philosophy department and/or the School of Religion.

Religion/Philosophy (B.A.) Major Requirements
Credit Hours: 39

1. History of Philosophy I-III (12)

PHIL 3114 - History of Philosophy I
PHIL 3214 - History of Philosophy II
PHIL 3314 - History of Philosophy III

2. History of Christianity (3)

REL 3013 - History of Christianity (Ancienté‚?edieval)
REL 3113 - History of Christianity (Reformationé‚?odem)

3. Theology (3)

REL 3423 - Contemporary Theology

4. Junior Seminar (3)

REL 3953 - Junior Seminar required of all majors

5. Senior Thesis (3)

REL/PHIL 4893 - Senior Thesis


Area of Emphasis (select one are)
I. PHILOSOPHICAL THEOLOGY (9)

REL/PHIL2413 - Philosophy of Religion
REL/PHIL4163 - Seminar in Philosophy and Theology
REL/PHIL4453 - Directed Readings

II. ETHICS (9)
1. Moral Philosophy (3)

PHIL 2213 - Moral and Social Philosophy or
PHIL 2613 - Political Philosophy

2. Christian Ethics (6)

REL 2703 - Introduction to Christian Ethics
REL 3613 - Problems and Issues in Christian Ethics

III. RELIGION-PHILOSOPHY AND CULTURE (9)

PHIL 2313 - Philosophy of Culture
REL 3313 - Religion in Contemporary America
REL 4103 - Seminar in Religion and Culture

IV. BIBLICAL STUDIES (9)

REL 2023 - Methods of Biblical Analysis (3)
Two of the following six:

REL 3103 - Psalms and Wisdom Literature
REL 3203 - Prophetic Literature
REL 3303 - Gospels and Acts
REL 3403 - Pauline Letters
REL 4143 - Seminar in Hebrew Bible
REL 3993 - Seminar in Religion (New Testament topic)

V. Elective Courses in Philosophy and/or Religion (6)

Additional courses outside of the major must be taken to equal a total of 124 hours