University Catalogue: 2007-08

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, Steven Fink, Geoffrey Gorham, Robert Greene, Kathryn Kennedy, Claire Martin, Sean Mcaleer, Matthew Meyer, Jonathan Paradise, Jerry Richards, 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/Rels 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)

Twenty-four semester credits, including:

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

Topical/seminar course: Three credits taken in junior or senior year. Select from Rels/Phil 450; Rels 470, 490, or 491. Other upper-level courses also may be considered if given prior approval by the chair.