PHL 1000:  Introduction to Philosophy (3 semester hours). Offered in Fall and Spring. A general introduction to the basic patterns and methods of philosophy as presented through representative thinkers. (CORE: HUMANITIES)

PHL 1040:  Critical Thinking Skills (3). Offered in Fall and Spring. An introduction to the art of critical thinking, including identifying problems, locating assumptions and analyzing their impact on the products of thought, assessing causal claims, learning problem solving strategies, and examining creativity. (WRITING) (CORE: HUMANITIES)

PHL 1100:  Logic I (3). Offered in Fall and Spring. This course is an introduction to logical reasoning. It will include the study of truth-functions, translations of English sentences into logical notation, truth-tables, deductions, and some fallacy identification. The concepts of validity, consistency, tautology, contradiction, and logical equivalence are introduced. Additional topics, such as category syllogisms, inductive reasoning, and quantification may be included at the discretion of the instructor. (CORE: HUMANITIES)

PHL 1501:  Everyday Philosophy: Historical and Social Perspective (3). Offered in Fall and Spring.  An introduction to the special problems, topics or issues in philosophy from historical and social perspectives.  The subject matter of this course will vary.  (CORE:  HUMANITIES; HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE -- Theme: "Mind")

PHL 1502:  Everyday Philosophy: Aesthetics Perspective (3). Offered in Fall and Spring.  An introduction to the special problems, topics or issues in philosophy from aesthetics perspectives.  The subject matter of this course will vary.  (CORE:  HUMANITIES; AESTHETICS PERSPECTIVE -- Theme:  "How We Tell Stories")

PHL 1503:  Everyday Philosophy: Local to Global Perspective (3). Offered in Fall and Spring.  An introduction to the special problems, topics or issues in philosophy from local to global perspectives.  The subject matter of this course will vary.  (CORE:  HUMANITIES; LOCAL TO GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE -- Theme:  "Identity, Culture and Media")

PHL 1504:  Everyday Philosophy: Perspectives on Science and Technology (3). Offered in Fall and Spring.  An introduction to philosophical approaches to special problems, topics or issues in science and technology.  The subject matter of this course will vary. 

PHL 1530 - 1549:  Selected Topics (1-4). On Demand.  Courses in philosophy that vary in content at the discretion of the instructor.

PHL 2000:  Philosophy, Society, and Ethics (3). Offered in Fall and Spring. An introduction to ethical reasoning and an examination of moral problems in contemporary social issues. (CORE: HUMANITIES)

PHL 2013:  Philosophy of Art (3). Offered in Fall. This course is an introduction to philosophical problems in our understanding and appreciation of the arts.  Topics covered may include the definition of "art", the philosophical underpinnings of art criticism, the role of experience in art appreciation, and the value of art. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY) (CORE: HUMANITIES)

PHL 2015:  Environmental Ethics (3). Offered in Fall. This course is an introduction to the ethical dimensions of environmental issues. Students will have the opportunity to study theoretical perspectives such as deep ecology, ecofeminism, Native American views of the land, and social ecology. The course will also consider environmental ethical issues such as the moral status of nature, pesticide use, environmental racism, the treatment of animals, deforestation, world population growth, and what it means to live an ecologically responsible life. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY) (CORE: HUMANITIES)

PHL 2100:  Logic II (3). Offered in Spring. A study of some major systems of logic, including a formal study of truth functions and quantification. The notions of proof, theorem and axiom are defined and some theory of logic is included. At the discretion of the instructor, additional topics may be included (for example, the Logic of Relations, Boolean Algebra Systems, Modal Logic, the Logic of Probability or Inductive Logic). Prerequisite: PHL 1100 or permission of the instructor.

PHL 2500:  Independent Study (1-4). On Demand.  A course that is designed by the student.  This course could be thought of as an extended research project in philosophy that is chosen by the student.  Typically, students will identify an area of philosophy that they wish to study in more depth and will be guided in their studies through regular meetings with a philosophy faculty member.  Student projects must be proposed and approved by the relevant faculty member, the chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.  Interested students should contact a philosophy faculty member for further advice.

PHL 2530 - 2549:  Selected Topics (1-4). On Demand.  Courses in philosophy that vary in content at the discretion of the instructor.

PHL 2800:  Library and Information Research in Philosophy (1). Offered in Fall. This course focuses on developing skills in information-finding and other research techniques. These skills will be used to conduct research and to build a foundation for life-long learning. Students will become familiar with the scholarly and professional resources for philosophical research, both traditional and electronic. (COMPUTER)

PHL 3000:  Ancient Philosophy (3). Offered in Fall. A study of the major philosophers of Greece and Rome including the pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, the Epicureans, and the skeptics. Prerequisite: one course in philosophy or consent of the instructor. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL)

PHL 3013:  Philosophical Aesthetics (3). Offered in Spring. This is an advanced course in the theory of aesthetics in contemporary analytic philosophy.  Topics may include the nature of aesthetic experience, arguments for realism and antirealism for aesthetic properties, theories of beauty, evolutionary aesthetics, aesthetics and cognitive science, and the relationship between aesthetic judgments and ethical judgments.  (WRITING; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)

PHL 3015:  Medical Ethics (3).  Offered in Spring.  This course aims to introduce students from a variety of backgrounds with an interest in health care to the central issues and controversies in medical ethics. The goal is to prepare students to enter the growing fields of medical practice and research equipped with an adequate knowledge of the ethical developments and issues pertaining to health care practice and research as well as the appropriate capabilities to make intelligent and reasoned choices within their professional practices.  (WRITING)

PHL 3020:  Metaphysics (3).  Offered in Fall.  This course will provide an advanced introduction to metaphysics, a branch of philosophy concerned with questions and issues that arise out of the study of the nature of reality.  Issues discussed in this course may include:  What kinds of things exist in the world?  How is metaphysics related to the sciences, and other branches of philosophy?  What is the ontology of numbers and abstract entities?  What is the nature of the self?  How do we reconcile between free will and determinism?  We will draw on readings from both historical and contemporary sources in Western philosophy. (WRITING)

PHL 3030:  Feminist Philosophy (3). Offered in Spring. This course examines conceptual and normative issues in contemporary feminist theory. Issues to be discussed include power and the production of knowledge, resistance, violence against women, sex and gender, the interrelatedness of gender, race, class, and sexuality, body image, the personal as political, and the relation between feminist theory and activism. The class also considers western and non-western feminist discussion of these themes. The goal is for each student to gain an appreciation of the diversity and complexity of feminist thought, as well as insight concerning the relation between women's experiences and feminist theorizing. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL)

PHL 3040:  Social and Political Philosophy (3).  Offered in Fall, alternate years.  This course examines some of the major developments in Western political thought. Through a philosophical lens, students will examine the various and changing concepts that shape current political arrangements. (WRITING)

PHL 3050:  Philosophy of Race (3).  Offered in Fall.  What is race?  What is the relationship between the category of race and racism?  What is the relationship between race and personal identity?  How do multiracial identities race questions about the meaning of race and its relationship to identity?  What is the relationship between racialization and society?  What can philosophy help us to understand about race?  What are the relationships between race, gender, class, and sexuality?  How has the idea of race influenced the discipline and practice of philosophy?  This course will examine the metaphysical, epistemological, social, political, and ethical dimensions of race.  Class readings will include both historical and contemporary philosophical approaches to race and racism. 

PHL 3200:  Modern Philosophy (3). Offered in Spring. A study of views of eminent philosophers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, including Descartes, Hume, and Kant. Prerequisite: one course in philosophy or consent of the instructor. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL)

PHL 3300:  Recent Anglo/American Philosophy (3). Offered in Spring. This course is a study of recent American Philosophical Thought beginning with recent Anglo/European Philosophical movements which have led to American Philosophical movements including: pragmatism, philosophical analysis, behaviorism, scientific realism, and relativism. Philosophical writing may be drawn from such philosophers as: Carnap, Russell, Wittgenstein, Moore, Ayer, Ryle, Austin, Dewey, James, Quine, Goodman, Putnam, and Rorty. (WRITING)

PHL 3400:  Contemporary Continental Philosophy (3). Offered in Fall. This course examines some important philosophers and movements in continental philosophy. Philosophical movements such as Phenomenology, Existentialism, Critical Theory, Feminism, Postcolonial Theory, and Poststructuralism will be discussed. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL)

PHL 3500:  Independent Study (1-4). On Demand. A course that is designed by the student.  This course could be thought of as an extended research project in philosophy that is chosen by the student.  Typically, students will identify an area of philosophy that they wish to study in more depth and will be guided in their studies through regular meetings with a philosophy faculty member.  Student projects must be proposed and approved by the relevant faculty member, the chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.  Interested students should contact a philosophy faculty member for further advice.

PHL 3520:  Instructional Assistance (1). On Demand. A supervised experience in the instructional process of a philosophy course through direct participation in a classroom situation. Graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. May be repeated for a total credit of three semester hours.

PHL 3530-3549:  Selected Topics (1-4). On Demand. Courses in philosophy that vary in content at the discretion of the instructor.

PHL 3550:  Philosophy of Mind (3). Offered in Spring. This course will examine some fundamental questions that arise in the philosophy of mind: What does it mean to say that a person has a mind? Are mental states (such as beliefs and desires) nothing but brain states, or are they states of a different kind? Do robots or animals have minds? The course will also provide a historical survey of various philosophical theories of mind, including substance dualism, philosophical and methodological behaviorism, identity theories, functionalism and connectionism. (WRITING; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)

PHL 3600:  Philosophy of Science (3). Offered in Spring. An investigation of the foundations, structure, actual attainments, and ideals of the sciences. Prerequisite: one course in science or science education or philosophy or consent of instructor. (WRITING) (CORE: HUMANITIES)

PHL 4000:  Nature of Knowledge (3). Offered in Spring. A study of the traditional problems of the origin, nature, and limitations of knowledge. What do we know and how do we know it? Prerequisites: PHL 2800 and one additional course in philosophy or consent of the instructor. (WRITING)

PHL 4300:  Ethical Theory (3). Offered in Fall. An examination of some major ethical theories and issues raised in relation to epistemology and language, such as the status of knowledge in ethics and the function of ethical language. Prerequisites: PHL 1000, 2000, and PHL 2800, or consent of instructor. (WRITING)

PHL 4510: Senior Honors Thesis: Philosophy (3). On Demand. Independent study and research, directed by a member of the Philosophy faculty in the Department of Philosophy and Religion and a member of another department appropriate to the topic selected by the student. Prerequisites: PHL 2800 and completion of six semester hours of Honors work below the 4000 level. (WRITING)

PHL 4549:  Philosophy Seminar (3). Offered in Fall. An intensive study of special problems, topics, or issues related to the study of philosophy. The subject matter of this course will vary and barring duplication of subject matter, a student may repeat the course for credit. Prerequisites: PHL 2800 and one course in philosophy or consent of the instructor. (WRITING; SPEAKING )  [Dual-listed with PHL 5649.]

PHL 4700:  Senior Research: Philosophy (3). Offered in Spring. Designed for majors in Philosophy. Development and completion of an independent research project in the context of a seminar in which the student's ideas, drafts and thesis are questioned and defended. In addition to the discussion of each student's work, issues regarding the nature of philosophy will be discussed. This course provides an opportunity to utilize philosophical skills in a systematic analysis of a philosophical problem. Each student will develop a thesis to be presented and defended in a public forum. Prerequisites: PHL 2800 and one additional course in philosophy. (WRITING; SPEAKING)

PHL 4900:  Internship: Philosophy (3-6). On Demand. Field work in applied philosophy. Proposal must be approved by the philosophy faculty. Graded on an S/U basis. Prerequisite: PHL 2800

For graduate courses (5000 and above) refer to the Graduate Bulletin.

REL 1010:  Introduction to Religion and Literature (3). Offered in Fall. This course introduces the sacred texts and other writings of religious significance that contribute to the major religions of the world. (MULTI-CULTURAL) (CORE: HUMANITIES/LITERATURE)

REL 1110:   Religions of the World (3). Offered in Fall and Spring. This course introduces the major living religions of the world. (MULTI-CULTURAL) (CORE: HUMANITIES)

REL 1530 - 1549:  Selected Topics (1-4). On Demand. Courses in religious studies that vary in content at the discretion of the instructor.

REL 1539:  Beginning Biblical Hebrew I & II (every other year, alternating with Intermediate Biblical Hebrew).  An introduction to reading biblical Hebrew (Old Testament/Hebrew Bible).

REL 1540:  Intermediate Biblical Hebrew I & II (every other year, alternating with Beginning Biblical Hebrew).  Second-year level course in reading and translating the Hebrew Bible that qualifies for the BA language requirement.

REL 2010:  Old Testament:  The Jewish Scriptures (3). Offered in Fall and Spring. An analysis of Old Testament literature as the product of the Hebrew people, students will have the opportunity to examine selected documents in terms of their literary structure, historical context, and religious perspective. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL) (CORE: HUMANITIES/LITERATURE)

REL 2020:  Biblical Literature: The New Testament (3). Offered in Fall and Spring. An analysis of early Christian literature as the product of the lives of the first followers of Jesus Christ. Students will have the opportunity to examine selected documents in terms of their literary structure, audience, historical context, religious perspective, and their relation to the broader Christian community and Western culture. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL) (CORE: HUMANITIES/LITERATURE)

REL 2030:  Islamic Literature (3). Offered in Spring. An exploration of the Qur'an and of works that have shaped, illustrated, or supplemented Islamic beliefs and practices. (MULTI-CULTURAL) (CORE: HUMANITIES/LITERATURE)

REL 2110:  Judaism (3). Offered in Fall. An examination of the history, literature, and faith of post-exilic Judaism, with concentration on selected topics and periods. (MULTI-CULTURAL; WRITING) (CORE: HUMANITIES)

REL 2120:  Christianity (3). Offered in Spring. An exploration of Christianity from the early period through the Enlightenment and rise of contemporary Christian movements, students will explore the history of the church, its doctrinal emphases, and its practice in a variety of locations and time periods. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL) (CORE: HUMANITIES)

REL 2130:  Islamic Religion and Culture (3). Offered in Fall. A selective survey of the religion and its expression in Islamic civilization from the time of the prophet Muhammad to the contemporary Islamic revival. (MULTI-CULTURAL) (CORE: HUMANITIES)

REL 2140:  Hinduism (3). Offered in Fall. An interdisciplinary examination of complex Hindu religious and philosophical traditions from Vedic culutre to the contemporary period, covering such topics as deity, guru, cosmos, body, ritual, karma, dharma, and yoga. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL) (CORE: HUMANITIES)

REL 2150:  Buddhism (3). Offered in Spring. An interdisciplinary examination of the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana systems of Buddhist thought and practice, charting their development on the South Asian subcontinent and eventual emergence as a religio-cultural force in East Asia, Europe, and North America. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL) (CORE: HUMANITIES)

REL 2160:  Daoism (3).  Offered in Fall, alternate years.  An interdisciplinary examination of the development of Daoism, from Laozi to the contemporary period, in terms of the ways Daoists experience themselves and the world, attempt immortality-oriented self-cultivation practices, and work toward their various individual and socio-political goals.

REL 2170:  The Confucian Way (3).  Offered in Fall, alternate years.  An examination of the intellectual history, development, and propagation of the important ideas, practices, and major schools of the Confucian tradition and their influence on Asia and the world.

REL 2500:  Independent Study (1-4). On Demand. A course that is designed by the student.  This course could be thought of as an extended research project in religious studies that is chosen by the student.  Typically, students will identify an area of religious studies that they wish to study in more depth and will be guided in their studies through regular meetings with a religious studies faculty member.  Student projects must be proposed and approved by the relevant faculty member, the chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.  Interested students should contact a religious studies faculty member for further advice.

REL 2530 - 2549:  Selected Topics (1-4). On Demand. Courses in religious studies that vary in content at the discretion of the instructor.

REL 3000:  Minds, Brain, and Religion (3). Offered in Spring. An introduction to the psychological study of religious belief, experience, and behavior through a survey of various sub-disciplines within psychology: e.g., Freudian psychoanalysis, existential psychology, object relations theory, attachement theory, cognitive psychology, and evolutionary psychology. Prerequisite: REL 1110 or permission of the instructor. (CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)

REL 3010:  Prophecy in Ancient Israelite Literature (3). Offered in Spring. A study of the prophetic movement and its literature in the Hebrew Scriptures. Prerequisite: REL 2010 or permission of the instructor. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL)

REL 3020:  The Life and Letters of Paul (3). Offered in Fall. A study of Paul's life and his role in shaping early Christianity. Prerequisite: REL 2020 or permission of the instructor. (WRITING; MULTI-CULTURAL)

REL 3030:  Women in the Biblical Tradition (3). Offered in Fall. This course provides an extensive inquiry into women's stories and images in the Hebrew Bible, New Testament and Apocrypha. Feminist biblical criticism will be emphasized along with a careful study of what we can know about the lives of women in the periods in which these texts were composed. Prerequisite: REL 2010 or REL 2020 or permission of the instructor. (WRITING; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)

REL 3110:  Religion in America (3). Offered in Fall. An examination of religious beliefs and practice in the United States. Prerequisite: REL 1110 or permission of the instructor. (WRITING)

REL 3120:  African Thought (3). Offered in Spring. A selective survey of insights, systems of thought, and cosmologies of traditional folk religions, of African versions of global religions and of contemporary intellectuals. Prerequisite: REL 1110 or permission of the instructor. (MULTI-CULTURAL)

REL 3140:  Chinese Medicine (3).  Offered in Spring.  An interdisciplinary exploration and analysis of Chinese medicine, its fundamental theories, and its range of health-oriented and religious applications. Practical experience with the concepts and traditions discussed in this course is strongly encouraged.

REL 3150:  Religion, Culture and the Body (3).  Offered in Spring.  A cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary exploration of the body as a malleable and multi-faceted locus of contested ideals that are informed by religion, medicine, and popular culture. We utilize academic studies, religious perspectives, Western viewpoints, global comparisons, and experiential learning to discuss and analyze various perceptions of the human body and the implications these have for personal and social identity creation. (WRITING; MULTI -CULT URAL; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY )

REL 3160:  Life and Teachings of Jesus (3).  Offered in Spring, alternate years.  An examination of the historical Jesus of Nazareth, his life, message, and teachings, using the various methods of Biblical Criticism. The class will focus on what can be known about the historical Jesus and different methodologies used in that pursuit.

REL 3170:  Religion and Violence (3).  Offered in Spring, alternate years.  Why does the history of world religions admit to several moments of violence? Why do the religious commit acts of violence not only against others but against themselves as well, for example, through acts of sacrifice and penance? Employing a multi-disciplinary approach, the course will address not only the historical, and what could possibly be perceived as the accidental, nature of violence in religion, but also and provocatively the structural role of violence in religion. (WRITING; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY )

REL 3180:  American Judaism (3).  Offered in Spring.  A study of Judaism in the American environment since 1654, focusing on its unique adaptation to the religious, social, political, and geographic environment of the United States.

REL 3500:  Independent Study (1-4). On Demand. A course that is designed by the student.  This course could be thought of as an extended research project in religious studies that is chosen by the student.  Typically, students will identify an area of religious studies that they wish to study in more depth and will be guided in their studies through regular meetings with a religious studies faculty member.  Student projects must be proposed and approved by the relevant faculty member, the chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.  Interested students should contact a religious studies faculty member for further advice.

REL 3520:  Instructional Assistance (1). On Demand. A supervised experience in the instructional process of a religious studies course through direct participation in a classroom situation. Graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. May be repeated for a total credit of three semester hours.

REL 3530-3549:  Selected Topics (1-4). On Demand. Courses in religious studies that vary in content at the discretion of the instructor.

REL 3700:  Research and Methods in Religious Studies (3). Offered in Spring. An introduction to major issues and the methods employed in the academic study of religion. Students will focus on acquiring the skills necessary to accomplish research in the field of religous studies. Prerequisite: REL 1010 or REL 1110. (WRITING)

REL 3710:  Nature of Religion (3).  Offered in Fall.  This course introduces the student to what is generally understood to be “the biology of religion.” The course specifically considers the extent to which evolutionary theory illumines the origins, functions, and continuing vitality of religious belief, behavior, and experience. From individual to multilevel selection theory, from questions concerning the origins of the moral life to the possibility that certain genes code for religious participation, the course pursues the exhaustively natural conditions out of which the religious life emerges.

REL 3720:  Study Tour Abroad (3-6). On Demand. An intensive course exploring religious ideas and expression at a remote site. Locations have included, but are not limited to, Israel, Jordan, Greece, France, and Italy.

REL 3730:  Nature-Oriented Religions (3).  Offered in Fall, alternate years.  A cross-cultural examination of religious groups - such as Australian Aborigines, Native American traditions, Shinto, and Contemporary Paganism - that are focused primarily on the natural world for their concept of the divine, and which provide conceptual resources for understandings of a healthy relationship with the earth. The theoretical foundations of the course use anthropological theories of religion and critical analytic methods for studying religion.

REL 3740:  Religion and Social Theory (3).  Offered in Spring, alternate years.  An examination of the different explanations of the role of religion in the world and its function within human society. The class will focus on the specific application of such theory to real world religious phenomena.

REL 4015:  Biblical Interpretation (3). Offered in Spring. An intensive examination of methods and issues in biblical interpretation, with extensive experience in the interpretation of specific biblical texts from both testaments. Major issues in the history of interpretation will be discussed, with emphasis on contemporary methods. Prerequisites: REL 2010 or REL 2020 and junior or senior status, or permission of the instructor. (WRITING)

REL 4115:  Religion and Cultural Forms (3). Offered in Spring. An examination of the way religious themes and issues have found expression in various types of cultural forms such as literature, art, myth, ritual, etc. (WRITING; CROSS-DISCIPLINARY)

REL 4510:  Senior Honors Thesis (3). On Demand. Independent study and research. Honors thesis directed by a faculty member in Religious Studies and a member of an affiliated department appropriate to the topic selected by the student. Prerequisite: completion of six semester hours of Honors work below the 4000 level. (WRITING)

REL 4700:  Senior Seminar (3). Offered in Fall and Spring. An intensive study of special problems, topics, or issues related to the study of religion. The subject matter of this course will vary with the topic selected being focused on literature in the fall and culture in the spring. Prerequisite: completion of at least six semester hours of religious studies (REL) course work on the 3000 or 4000 level including REL 3700. (WRITING; SPEAKING)

REL 4900:  Internship (3-6). On Demand. Graded on an S/U basis.

For graduate courses (5000 and above) refer to the Graduate Bulletin.