Academic Departments and Programs

Philosophy and Religion

The Philosophy and Religion Department invites and provokes students to examine themselves and the world in ever more comprehensive ways, as well as to look at the most fundamental aspects of human reasoning and discourse. The Department also continues the College's heritage of insisting that examination of the religious dimensions of human existence is essential to a liberal arts education; all religion courses are taught in a non-sectarian manner.

The Department offers a major and a minor both in philosophy and in religion. A major in philosophy provides excellent preparation for graduate work in law, ethics, religion, philosophy and other fields in which reasoning and argumentation skills or the ability to work at a high level of abstraction are important. A major in religion is useful for those desiring to pursue a church-related vocation or as preparation for graduate work in any aspect of academic religious studies.

In addition, a major or minor in either religion or philosophy can serve as an excellent complement to other aspects of one's liberal arts education. As a result, double majors are common, with recent graduates successfully combining either philosophy or religion with fields as diverse as biology, history, music, chemistry, English or political science. The Department encourages such creative combinations. Internships in religion or philosophy often are cross-disciplinary with another field.

Philosophy majors can emphasize such areas as ethics, the analytic tradition, Continental philosophy and Asian philosophy. Independent studies can be arranged for in-depth exploration of special topics of interest. The religion curriculum permits majors to focus on either the Judeo-Christian tradition or the broader range of world religions; regardless of the emphasis chosen by the student, the Department affirms the wisdom of the maxim that "Those who know only one religious tradition know none."

Students interested in attending seminary to prepare for ordained ministry should confer with the appropriate church authorities and seminaries as early in their college program as possible. The Department will work closely with all concerned to provide the most appropriate college preparation. Academic counseling of pre-seminary students adheres to the recommendations of the Association of Theological Schools, which emphasizes breadth of training in the liberal arts. Regardless of one's major field (which need not be religion), those planning to attend seminary should include 12-18 credits of philosophy and religion courses in their undergraduate program.

Majors

Philosophy Major

Major Requirements:

Consists of 32 credits to include one upper-division course in non-Western philosophy or religion, an independent study or honors project in philosophy in which a major paper is produced and presented in philosophy seminar senior year, and the following required courses:

Students considering graduate work in philosophy are strongly advised to take PHI-413 Analytic Philosophy.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Read and write critically, particularly in the sense of being able to understand the argument of a text and respond to that argument in a critically informed manner
  • Understand the breadth of philosophical topics or understand historically diverse approaches to the same topic
  • Develop their own positions on philosophical questions in a thoughtful and carefully defended manner
  • Be conversant with the history of philosophy, logic, ethical theory, and at least one area of non-Western philosophy
  • Be conversant with diverse perspectives, both within and outside the Western tradition
  • Do research in philosophy
  • To read, write and discuss philosophical material without close supervision from professor
  • To succeed in graduate programs in philosophy and related disciplines

Religion Major

Major Requirements:

Consists of 32 credits (excluding foreign language credits), and must include the following elements.:

Foundations

Breadth

  • Fine Arts: Course(s) in Art, Music, Theatre and/or Creative Writing, approved by the student's Religion advisor. (3 cr)
  • Foreign Language: May be met by satisfactorily completing the first year of language study at the college level in either a modern or ancient foreign language, or by passing a first-year equivalency test. (0-7 cr)

Depth

Some courses may count toward more than one element; courses used as part of the Religion Major may not also be used for any other major or minor

Student Learning Outcomes

  • distinguish between devotional and academic approaches to Religion, and to read and write critically about Religion in accordance with the latter;
  • gain a critical framework within which to encounter, analyze and understand religious phenomena in both Western and Asian contexts, in conversation with other available models, and to become conversant with the major issues and problems in interpreting religion;
  • attain a substantive understanding of Christianity and of at least one other religious tradition, and of the diversity within each;
  • be critically aware of, and self-reflective on, their own ultimate values and commitments, the relationships of those values and commitments to those of others, and to be able to communicate and support those views in a coherent, understandable way;
  • formulate and conduct independent research in Religion, and present the results both orally and in writing in a clear, thoughtful, and carefully defended way;
  • possess adequate depth and breadth of religious knowledge and sophistication to be prepared for graduate work in religious studies or professional ministerial training.

Minors

Philosophy Minor

The philosophy minor invites and provokes students to examine themselves and the world in ever more comprehensive ways, as well as to look at the most fundamental aspects of human reasoning and discourse. A minor in philosophy provides excellent preparation for graduate work in law, ethics, religion, philosophy and other fields in which reasoning and argumentation skills or ability to work at a high level of abstraction are important.

Minor Requirements (15-19 credits):

  • PHI-214 Introduction to Logic (3 cr)
  • One course emphasizing ancient philosophy (3 cr)
  • One course emphasizing modern philosophy (3 cr)
  • Electives taken from: (at least 5 credits)
    • Any course listed as PHI
    • Non-PHI courses as approved by the department or minor supervisor
  • PHI-498 Philosophy Seminar (1 cr)
    • At least one credit of which must be taken after completing 9 credits of the minor.
  • Additional restrictions:
    • At least 9 credits must be upper-division.
    • At least 9 credits must be PHI courses
    • At least 3 credits must be from Art, Music, or Theatre

      Please see advising guide for:
    • lists of courses that will satisfy the categories above including pre-approved non-PHI courses

Information for approval of fine arts courses as philosophy electives (necessary for completing the minor with 15 credits).

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication
  • Students will show an understanding of the major figures in the history of philosophy

Religion Minor

A Religion Minor invites students to explore the ways in which humanity's deepest values and commitments shape society through stories, beliefs, rituals, behaviors and institutions.

Minor Requirements (16 credits):

Courses in the Religion minor may not also be used in other minors. At least 9 credits must be taken in the Humanities & Fine Arts Division.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking in Religion
  • Analytical Reasoning in Religion
  • Problem Solving in Religion
  • Written Communication in Religion
  • Religious literacy, consisting of
    • being able to articulate the nature, role and necessity of “symbols” for expressing ultimate commitments and values in society and the interpretive issues involved in dealing with them
    • being able to make meaningful and fruitful comparisons between the key historical developments, practices and beliefs of at least two religious systems/movements/traditions and of the diversity within each of them

Associated Minors

Asian Studies Minor

Home to over half of the world's population, Asia is a region of immeasurable significance to contemporary global society. The Asian Studies minor allows students to pursue a course of study that includes a variety of regional emphases across East, Southeast, and South Asia and disciplinary perspectives across English, Philosophy and Religion, History, and Political Economy. The minor consists of at least 16 credits.

This minor qualifies for either the Fine Arts & Humanities or the Social Science & History PEAK.

With approval of the Asian Studies faculty, students who complete study abroad coursework can appeal to substitute credits in the Humanities and Social Science from other disciplines not listed above.

Students are also encouraged to study abroad in Asia through internationally recognized programs or College of Idaho study tours. Credits from ASN-designated courses that include study tours to Asia are distributed according to the sponsoring discipline of the participating faculty. For example, a six-credit ASN course that includes Religion and Political Economy will count as three credits toward each discipline.

Minor Requirements (16 credits):

Humanities & Fine Arts PEAK

Social Science & History PEAK

*For ASN-494 Independent Study minors must expand a paper they have written for one of their ASN-related courses. These "starred papers" will be graded on a pass/fail basis by the faculty member who originally supervised the project and should constitute a polished piece of work that serves as the student's highest achievement in the minor.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication
  • Acquire a basic familiarity with major traditions and themes in the study of Asia across at least three disciplines
  • Think comparatively about at least three different regions of Asia
  • Demonstrate an ability to write thoughfully and persuasively about Asia's diverse cultures and history

Criminal Justice Studies Minor

The Criminal Justice Studies (CJS) minor offers a distinctly liberal arts approach to the burgeoning field of criminal justice studies. This program offers students the opportunity to investigate the field from a number of disciplinary perspectives. The Prison Experience capstone course, during which students visit a variety of adult and juvenile facilities, provides direct contact with prisons, insights into prison life, and the means by which students can enter the field. The internship option provides additional valuable experience in regional facilities, forging connections for future employment

Minor Requirements (18 credits):

 

*Six weeks before graduation, students will submit a portfolio of relevant work completed for the minor, such as exams and papers, including a two-page essay describing important academic lessons and skills acquired in this minor.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical thinking about the field from a number of disciplinary perspectives
  • Analytical reasoning applied to crime- and prison-related arguments
  • Problem solving in regards to social, political economy, and humanitarian issues
  • Written communication through intensive journals, research and response papers
  • First-hand experience visiting adult & juvenile correctional facilities
  • Opportunities to explore criminal justice-related professions

Classics Minor

The minor in classics combines academic work in the histories, languages, literatures, and cultures of the ancient Mediterranean world.

Minor Requirements (15 credits):

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication

Leadership Minor

Leadership is a specialized ability necessary for success in particular endeavors and for success in life in general. All the key institutions in our society -- arts, business, education, government, health care, human services, religious, scientific and social -- require effective leaders. The Leadership Studies minor is designed to teach students competencies in communication skills, problem solving, and decision-making and group or team development, using a creative, interdisciplinary approach.

The Leadership CORE is augmented by an interdisciplinary area of emphasis.

Minor Requirements (15 credits):

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Through core leadership classes students will gain skills and concepts that will contribute to their effectiveness as leaders in multiple settings. Through interdisciplinary study, students will gain skills and concepts that will contribute to their effectiveness as leaders in their area of emphasis. Students will gain other skills in:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication

Pre-Law Minor

The Pre Law Minor is meant to create a foundation in preparation for a career in law. As a professional enhancement minor, the Pre Law Minor is further designed to help prepare students to succeed in law school. Through the minor students will be introduced to the American political system, precedent-setting Supreme Court cases, and philosophical/ethical frameworks for judging legal questions.

Minor Requirements (18 credits):

*Particularly Recommended: ENG-299T.25, ENG-299T.4, and ENG-380.5.

Potential Options to Prepare for Law School

There are multiple pathways to law school. No particular major is recommended. Indeed law schools accept students who have majored in everything from Music to Environmental Studies. Regardless of the major, students would benefit from courses in several disciplines not required for the minor including: International Relations, History, Sociology, and Environmental Studies.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Help prepare students for a career in law by introducing them to the American political system, precedent-setting Supreme Court cases, and philosophical/ethical frameworks for judging legal questions
  • Help prepare students for law school by teaching them how to brief a constitutional law case and become comfortable and competent in reading and understanding constitutional jurisprudence
  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytic Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication