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What is the study of Philosophy and Religion?Pursuing studies in philosophy or religion is timeless and classic. You're thinking, "Sure, it's a classic, but will it help me get a job?" The answer is, "yes!" Every other discipline depends on the basic abilities you develop while studying philosophy. Every job requires thinking, analyzing, and clear communication that the study of philosophy promotes and nurtures. Join in the debate and walk in the footsteps of the world's greatest thinkers, such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Hobbes, Marx, Kant, and Hegel. Ponder such questions as: What is truth? Do you begin your existence at birth and end at death? Is your mind identical to your brain? What makes some actions right and some actions wrong? What is the meaning of life? What is an ideal society? The Philosophy and Religion Department offers a major in philosophy, a minor in philosophy, and a minor in religion. Major in philosophy and you will build a strong foundation for a variety of professions or the pursuit of a master's or doctoral degree. Either major or minor in philosophy and you'll: - Learn to think critically to improve your ability to solve problems and analyze arguments.
- Express yourself clearly and persuasively in signed/oral and written forms.
- Increase your knowledge of the literature, major figures, and issues of philosophy.
Minor in religion and you will: - Gain a broad knowledge of the world's major religions.
- Focus on an in-depth study of certain religious traditions.
- Develop respect for traditions of all faiths.
The Department's faculty is devoted to providing students careful mentoring and guidance in their studies. The Department of Philosophy and Religions offers: Philosophy and Religion Department Mission Statement
Gallaudet University
Adopted September 2007 In short, our mission is to teach people how to think – about the most fundamental questions of human life, and about their own lives. To this end, the Philosophy and Religion Department of Gallaudet University holds the following goals: - To offer a quality undergraduate major and minor in philosophy that provide training in all the major areas of philosophy, including relevant arguments, ideas, and philosophical methods.
- To offer a quality minor in religion that familiarizes students with religious traditions, scriptures, practices and intellectual influences from a variety of theoretical perspectives.
- To offer courses in philosophy that help students achieve Gallaudet Undergraduate Learning Outcomes 1, 2, and 5. While introducing core issues in philosophy, these courses are designed to: (1) increase students' literacy and communication skills by having them read challenging texts and express their ideas in ASL and English (2) improve students’ critical thinking and logical analysis skills, and (3) provide instruction in ethical theories and decision-making.
- To offer courses in religion that help students achieve Gallaudet Undergraduate Learning Outcomes 3 and 4. These courses (1) introduce students to both major and minor religious traditions, (2) introduce students to core issues in the study of religion, (3) introduce students to theoretical frameworks for understanding religious belief and practice, (4) provide opportunities for interreligious dialogue in English and ASL that encourage respect for beliefs other than one's own, (5) encourage understanding of how the issues of race, ethnicity, and gender have an impact on religious teachings and practice, and (6) emphasize the influence of religion historically and in our world today.
- To collaborate with interdisciplinary programs and course clusters on campus such as the Honors Program, First Year Experience, Women’s Studies program, and General Studies Interdisciplinary Learning courses. The Department believes that it is in a position to provide significant contributions to these programs because philosophy and religion have had such a long and rich history of confronting the fundamental issues central to human existence and experience.
- To cultivate an attitude of Socratic humility. This attitude acknowledges that the one thing a person can know is what that person does not know. In the pursuit of knowledge and truth, a person ought to demonstrate both sensitivity to the views of others and critical inquiry. Another way of expressing this is that the person with Socratic humility understands that anything can be questioned, even this mission statement.
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