Overview
Prerequisites
Requirements for Major
Requirements in Related Areas
Requirements for Minor

Co-founder Samuel Silas Curry had a clearly conceived philosophy that emphasized the discovery and expression of one’s true, creative self, as distinguished from the collection of limitations with which people all too often identify themselves. While the philosophy area of the College endeavors to give attention to all major competing philosophies, it recognizes a special responsibility to examine and to present both critically and appreciatively the philosophy on which the institution was founded. This is part of the College’s commitment to helping students to discover themselves, to enable them to do what they dream, and to be responsibly creative persons in whatever fields they pursue.

Philosophy concerns itself with matters such as the basis of right and wrong, the nature of human knowledge, the underlying meaning of art, the assumptions of which underlie various forms of government, and the mystery of existence. Philosophy offers critical perspectives on the claims and presuppositions of areas such as science, psychology, art, and history. Regardless of what a student chooses as a major area of study, he or she will not have mastered that discipline fully without having subjected it to philosophical scrutiny.

Philosophy and religion have much in common. It is possible for a student to combine them, either in an individually initiated major or in a philosophy major that includes a significant number of religion courses in the related areas as part of the major.

Requirements for Philosophy Major:
27 credits in philosophy, usually including Beginnings of Philosophy, Modern Philosophy and Contemporary Philosophy.

Courses taken to fulfill the Central Liberal Arts Curriculum are excluded from courses taken for the major.

Courses in philosophy, religion, or related areas and, as a capstone course, PHIL 3980, the contents to be selected by student and instructor to include student’s reflections on:

1. the totality of the student’s study of philosophy
2. how the major comes together as a whole
3. how it is integrated into the student’s entire academic program
4. how it relates to the student’s life
   
   

Requirements for Minor:
12 credits in philosophy, excluding any course taken to fulfill the Central Liberal Arts Curriculum.