Department of Philosophy and Religion

Professors:  C. Pinnick, M. Seidler, J. Trafton
Associate Professors:   J. Samuels, L. Snyder
Assistant Professors:  P. Antolic-Piper, S. Girdner, I. Lilly, I. Mukonyora, A. Switzer
Instructor:  I. Lilly
Optional Retirees: A. Anderson, J. Garrett, J. Long, E. Schoen, A. Vos
Professors Emeriti: M. Curtis, D. Tuck, R. Veenker

As academic disciplines appropriate to a public university, philosophy and religious studies are concerned with basic questions about the meaning and purpose of human life.

The mission of the philosophy program is to use its faculty’s collective expertise and experience in the various philosophical disciplines to teach philosophy with the intention of enabling its students to become effective, self-critical leaders able to empower others, to solve problems in diverse social and professional settings, and to experience satisfactions that can only come from living the examined life. To serve this mission, the philosophy program is committed to providing courses that:

• foster ethical understanding, analytical reading, logical thinking and clear expression in our students;
• illuminate the assumptions, methods and foundations of other disciplines for students who also major or minor in philosophy;
• acquaint students with paradigms and perspectives from past philosophies that provide recurring thought patterns whose strengths and weaknesses an autonomous individual should know;
• prepare students to deal with problems for which there are neither simple nor obvious solutions;
• equip students for graduate and professional study in fields such as law, government service, management, medicine, the ministry, and philosophy.

The philosophy program is to aid students to draw out from within themselves the assumptions and beliefs—often unconsciously but nonetheless deeply felt and held—governing their thoughts and actions, to express these inner convictions fully and clearly, and to subject them to critical analysis. This is the birth into the examined life. It is also the first step toward awakening in the students the spirit of critical inquiry, encouraging them to question readily accepted ideas, to probe for and to expose all assumptions, and to subject all claims and all issues—personal or public, local or international—to close examination. Philosophy lays bare fundamental questions and instructs students in the methods for grappling with them. As students develop, they see how ideas drive the phenomena of daily life. Philosophy calls students to the responsibility of putting all ideas to the test to know their value.

The mission of the religious studies program is to promote the academic study of religion at Western Kentucky University and in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The academic study of religion provides the student with the methodological orientation necessary to comprehend the central beliefs, ethical practices, ritual systems, symbols, and social institutions of diverse religious traditions in their historic, their contemporary and their global contexts. Study in this field is multicultural and comparative, examining the life, ways, and moral worlds of societies past and present, our own as well as others. The student learns to probe for the structure, function and meaning of religion through those rites of passage, sacred narratives, faith communities, and codes of behavior that give meaning to human existence.

The department offers a major and a minor in philosophy and a major and a minor in religious studies. These majors prepare students for graduate work in philosophy and religious studies. Majors and minors in these fields also contribute to preparation for a variety of professional and vocational fields. In each case, the number of semester hours required is modest in order to encourage second majors and minors. The requirements are flexible enough to permit students to select courses which develop and extend their interest.

Major in Philosophy
The major in philosophy (reference number 745) requires a minimum of 30 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least 18 hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above. A minor or second major is required.

The thirty hours must be distributed as follows:

1. Introduction (3 hours):  PHIL 120, Introduction to Philosophy
2. Logic (3 hours):   PHIL 115, Elementary Logic
3. History of Philosophy (6 hours):  PHIL 302, Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, and  PHIL 303, Modern and Contemporary Philosophy
4. Ethics (3 hours):  PHIL 350, Ethical Theory
5. Metaphysics and Epistemology :  PHIL 404
6. Electives (12 hours)

The Department of Philosophy offers an honors program for superior students that provides opportunities for a challenging and intensive investigation of philosophical topics through a special Honors Introduction to Philosophy class and Honors enriched options available to qualified students in all classes. An Honors Thesis is required in addition to the 30 hours for the regular major. Full details of the program may be obtained by contacting the philosophy undergraduate advisor.

Major in Religious Studies
The major in religious studies (reference number 769) requires a minimum of 30 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least 15 hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above, with at least 3 hours at the 400-level. A minor or second major is required.

The thirty hours must be distributed as follows:

1. Religious Texts (3 hours)
   RELS 100, The New Testament, or
   RELS 101, The Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures, or
   RELS 300, The Life of Jesus, or
   RELS 301, Life and Teaching of Paul


2. Religious Traditions (9 hours)
   RELS 302, Buddhist Religious Traditions
   RELS 303, Hindu Religious Traditions
   RELS 304, Judaic Religious Traditions
   RELS 305, Christian Religious Traditions
   RELS 306, Islamic Religious Traditions
   RELS 307, Native American Religious Traditions
   RELS 308, East Asian Religious Traditions


3. Senior Seminar (3 hours):    RELS 496
   
   
4. Electives (15 hours):  Electives may be selected from among the total offerings in RELS, including additional courses in categories I-II and up to 6 hours of language courses and up to 6 hours of departmentally-approved study abroad courses.

Minor in Philosophy
The minor in philosophy (reference number 429) requires a minimum of 21 hours. At least 12 hours must be taken in courses numbered 300 or above.

The 21 hours must be distributed as follows:

1. Introduction (3 hours): PHIL 120, Introduction to Philosophy
2. Logic (3 hours): PHIL 115, Elementary Logic
3. History of Philosophy (3 hours): PHIL 302, Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, or PHIL 303, Modern and Contemporary Philosophy
4. Ethics (3 hours): PHIL 350, Ethical Theory
5. Metaphysics and Epistemology (3 hours): PHIL 404, Metaphysics and Epistemology
6. Electives (6 hours)

Minor in Religious Studies
The minor in religious studies (reference number 447) requires a minimum of 21 hours. At least 12 hours must be taken in courses numbered 300 or above.

The 21 hours must be distributed as follows:

1. Religious Texts (3 hours)
   
   RELS 100, The New Testament, or
   RELS 101, The Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures, or
   RELS 300, The Life of Jesus, or
   RELS 301, Life and Teaching of Paul
2. Religious Traditions (6 hours)
   
   RELS 302, Buddhist Religious Traditions
   RELS 303, Hindu Religious Traditions
   RELS 304, Judaic Religious Traditions
   RELS 305, Christian Religious Traditions
   RELS 306, Islamic Religious Traditions
   RELS 307, Native American Religious Traditions
   RELS 308, East Asian Religious Traditions
3. Electives (9 hours): Electives may be selected from among the total offerings in RELS, including additional courses in categories I-II and up to six hours of departmentally-approved language courses and three hours of departmentally approved study abroad courses.

Pre-Theology

Theological seminaries, accredited by the American Association of Theological Schools, require for entrance the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited four-year college or university. Pre-theological students should seek to attain a broad background in liberal arts subjects in their university studies. In selecting majors, serious consideration should be given to the fields of English, history, philosophy, and religious studies. Minors and free electives should be chosen from the areas of English, history, mass communication, philosophy, psychology, religious studies, sociology, and communication.

Entry requirements for specific theological seminaries and for different programs within these institutions vary. Students should consult seminary catalogs and the pre-theology advisor. Special attention should be paid to the language requirement made by some seminaries.

The courses recommended below to be taken in fulfilling Western Kentucky University’s general education guidelines are not mandatory but include every basic recommendation of the American Association of Theological Schools: ENG 100, 300; BLNG 382, 383, 384, 385; HIST 119, 120, 418; Natural Science (chemistry, physics, biology, or geology); PHIL 120; PSY 100; RELS 100, 101, 102, plus elective; COMM 145; Social Sciences (six hours from sociology, economics, political science, anthropology, political science); MATH (three hour elective).