University Catalogue: 2006-07

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Hibbard Humanities Hall 632
(715) 836-2545
http://www.uwec.edu/Lists/Acad.htm

Scott Lowe, Chair

Edward Beach, Charlene Burns, Geoffrey Gorham, Robert Greene, Kathryn Kennedy, Claire Martin, Sean Mcaleer, Matthew Meyer, Jonathan Paradise, Jerry Richards, Lori Rowlett, Kristin Schaupp, Steve Spina.

To Philosophy Course Descriptions

To Religious Studies Course Descriptions

Student Organizations:

The Philosophical Association of Eau Claire (The Philosophy Club)
Talisman Society (The Religious Studies Club)
Theta Alpha Kappa (Honor Society in Religious Studies)

Philosophy is the disciplined and critical inquiry into fundamental questions of human existence: What is the nature of reality? What is knowledge? Does God exist? Is my will free? What is the difference between right and wrong? What is the relation between the mind and the body? What is the meaning of life?, etc. Philosophers use reason and argument in the attempt to answer these questions. Philosophy is at the very heart of a liberal education. Students of philosophy learn to think critically and clearly, argue forcefully, and read carefully. They also learn how the history of philosophy has shaped modern thought and culture. A major in philosophy is excellent preparation for advanced study in a wide range of fields, including law. A minor in philosophy will enrich and complement any major field of study.

Religious Studies is the multi-disciplinary exploration of the phenomena of human experience commonly called "religious." This includes study of the genesis and interpretation of religious texts; the formation, history, beliefs, and practices of religious communities and traditions; the role of religion in society and culture; issues in religion and science, including the psychology of religious experience; religion in literature and the arts; religious morality; philosophy of religion. The academic study of religion provides an excellent "window" into other cultures, while enhancing students' understanding of their own society and its history. A degree in Religious Studies provides an excellent foundation for a wide range of careers as well as preparing students for demanding graduate programs.

MAJOR: PHILOSOPHY, Liberal Arts (Code 400-200)

Thirty-six semester credits, including:

Eighteen credits from core courses:
Phil 235	Ancient Philosophy
Phil 250	Symbolic Logic
Phil 316	Metaphysics or
Phil 317	Epistemology
Phil 331	Philosophical Ethics
Phil 335	Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Philosophy
Phil 485	Seminar in Problems of Philosophy
Eighteen elective credits, including nine credits to be selected from:
Phil 236	Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy
Phil 316	Metaphysics or
Phil 317	Epistemology*
Phil 336	Kant
Phil 338	Nineteenth Century Philosophy
Phil 339	Contemporary Continental Philosophy
Phil 340	Contemporary Anglo-American Philosophy
Phil 343	Philosophy of Mind
Phil 355	Philosophy of Science
Phil 365	Existentialism
Phil 371	Postmodernism
*Whichever was not taken to fulfill the above requirement.

The remaining nine credits for the major will be selected from philosophy courses with the following restraints and exceptions:

1. Phil 101 is disallowed for major credit if taken after the student has earned nine credits in philosophy.

2. No more than six credits of Phil 397, Teaching Apprenticeship in Philosophy, and Phil 498, Internship in Philosophy, are allowed toward the major.

3. No more than three credits of Phil 397, Teaching Apprenticeship in Philosophy, can be earned from apprenticing in any one course.

4. Upon approval of the department up to six credits from courses other than philosophy may be applied to the major.

5. Phil 150 is disallowed for major credit if taken after Phil 250.

Capstone: All philosophy majors shall complete a capstone experience, usually during the senior year. This requirement can be fulfilled by the satisfactory completion of a seminar course, an independent study, a directed study, or a research project, provided that the department has designated such a course or project as appropriate for the capstone experience prior to its completion by the student. Alternative methods of completing the capstone experience will be considered by the department upon the specific request of the student (e.g., publication of an article in the student journal Prism).

MINOR: PHILOSOPHY, Liberal Arts (Code 400-400)

Twenty-four semester credits, including:

Fifteen credits to be selected from:
Phil 150	Logic and Critical Thinking or
Phil 250	Symbolic Logic
Phil 235	Ancient Philosophy
Phil 236	Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy
Phil 316	Metaphysics
Phil 317	Epistemology
Phil 331	Philosophical Ethics
Phil 335	Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Philosophy
Phil 336	Kant
Phil 338	Nineteenth Century Philosophy
Phil 339	Contemporary Continental Philosophy
Phil 340	Contemporary Anglo-American Philosophy
Phil 343	Philosophy of Mind
Phil 355	Philosophy of Science
Phil 365	Existentialism
Phil 371	Postmodernism
Phil 485	Seminar in Problems of Philosophy

The remaining nine credits will be selected from philosophy courses with the following restraints and exceptions:

1. Phil 101 is disallowed for minor credit if taken after the student has earned nine credits in philosophy.

2. No more than three credits each of Phil 396, Research Apprenticeship in Philosophy; Phil 397, Teaching Apprenticeship in Philosophy; Phil 498, Internship in Philosophy, are allowed toward the minor.

3. No more than six credits total of Phil 396, Research Apprenticeship in Philosophy; Phil 397, Teaching Apprenticeship in Philosophy; Phil 498, Internship in Philosophy, are allowed toward the minor.

4. No more than three credits of Phil 397, Teaching Apprenticeship in Philosophy, for apprenticing in any one course are allowed toward the minor.

5. Phil 150 is disallowed for minor credit if taken after Phil 250.

MAJOR: RELIGIOUS STUDIES, Liberal Arts (Code 411-201)

Thirty-six semester credits, including:

Rels 100, Introduction to the Religions of the World, or Rels 210, Religion and Morality, (to be taken by all majors/minors before the completion of six credits of Religious Studies coursework).

Capstone: Three credits to be taken in junior or senior year.
Prior approval of the chair required for capstone course designation. Select from Rels/Phil 450, Rels 470, 490, or 491. Other upper-level courses also may be considered. Students must submit a major paper produced for the course in order to fulfill the capstone requirement. (Publication of an article in the student journal Prism as well as appropriate research projects may also satisfy the capstone requirement.)

Western Religions
A minimum of nine credits from:
Rels 230	Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
Rels 240	New Testament
Rels 303	Early Christianity
Rels 304	Modern Christianity
Rels 307	Judaism
Rels 309	Islam

Non-Western Religions
A minimum of nine credits from:
Rels 312	Buddhism: Past and Present
Rels 314	Hinduism
Rels 323	Chinese and Japanese Religions
Rels/Phil 326	Asian Religious Philosophies
Rels/AIS 330	Indigenous Religions of the Americas

Critical and Thematic Approaches to Religions
The remaining coursework may be taken from the two previous categories and any of the courses listed below:
Rels 210	Religion and Morality
Rels 290	Sacred Earth: Religion and Nature
Rels 291	Special Topics
Rels 315	Psychology of Religion
Rels 348	Religious Themes in Literature
Rels 350	Modern Religious Thought
Rels/Wmns 353	Emancipating Eve and Adam: The Women's Movement in Religion
Rels/Wmns 355	Women and World Religions
Rels 378	The Holocaust, 1933-45
Rels 390	Religion in America
Rels 395	Directed Studies
Rels 396*	Research Apprenticeship in Religious Studies
Rels 397*	Teaching Apprenticeship in Religious Studies
Rels/Phil 450	Critiques of God
Rels 470	The Problem of Evil
Rels 490	Seminar in Religious Studies
Rels 491	Special Topics
Rels 498*	Internship in Religious Studies
Phil 345	Philosophy of Religion

*A maximum of six credits may be earned from any combination of Rels 396, 397, and 498, with a maximum of three credits from any one of them counted toward the major.

MINOR: RELIGIOUS STUDIES, Liberal Arts (Code 411-401)