Program Overview

Certificate in World Philosophies and Religions

The Certificate in World Philosophies and Religions examines philosophical and religious perspectives from around the world. In our course offerings, students will encounter many traditions, including Judeo-Christian, Buddhist, Islamic, Confucian, Daoist, Hindu, African, Aztec, Latin American, and Native American. Students will develop expertise in philosophical interpretation and evaluation of texts and ideas and gain a more nuanced awareness of the diverse viewpoints that shape the human experience. This certificate is open to students in any major or minor.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

1. Analyze the differences among a variety of philosophical traditions, and explain the claims and assumptions made within them.
2. Extract, analyze, and reconstruct arguments from major non-Western philosophical texts.
3. Explain the application of basic philosophical concepts and principles that occur within a variety of philosophical traditions.
4. Assess challenges to and conflicts within a variety of different philosophical frameworks.
5. Demonstrate skills in written and oral presentation, engaging in fruitful oral discussion, debate, and formal presentations that are logically coherent, clearly and concisely stated, and accessible to their peers on topics from within these philosophical traditions.

Program Requirements

• Effective Fall 2023
• Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.
• Course List:
  • Select one course from the following:
    • PHIL 170: World Philosophies (GT-AH3)
    • PHIL 171: Religions of the West (GT-AH3)
    • PHIL 172: Religions of the East (GT-AH3)
  • Select twelve credits from the following not taken above:
    • PHIL 170: World Philosophies (GT-AH3)
    • PHIL 171: Religions of the West (GT-AH3)
    • PHIL 172: Religions of the East (GT-AH3)
    • PHIL 173: Philosophy of Traditional Judaism
    • PHIL 270: Issues in the Study of Religion
    • PHIL 333: Latin American Philosophy
    • PHIL 335: Islam-Cosmology and Practice
    • PHIL 349: Philosophies of East Asia
    • PHIL 355: Philosophy of Religion
    • PHIL 360: Topics in Asian Philosophy
    • PHIL 370: Contemporary Western Religious Thought
    • PHIL 371: Contemporary Eastern Religious Thought
    • PHIL 372: Meaning and Truth in Religion
    • PHIL 375: Science and Religion
    • PHIL 379: Mysticism East and West
    • PHIL 455: Islamic Philosophy
    • PHIL 463: Seminar in Religious Studies
• Program Total Credits: 15
• At least 9 credits must be from upper-division (300- to 400-level) courses.