Philosophy Minor
The Philosophy minor nicely complements a number of traditional majors, such as political science, history, English literature, anthropology, and the arts, because philosophy deals with some of the deeper issues of these disciplines. Pre-law students often find philosophy's emphasis on reasoned argumentation and attention to moral and ethical issues useful to them in law school. Pre-ministerial students garner an understanding of the varieties of human religious experience and the ways theological systems are constructed. The philosophy minor is essential for those students wishing to pursue graduate studies in philosophy. In general, philosophy is an attractive minor for students who seek a broad liberal arts education, who are intellectually curious, and who find the exploration of alternative belief systems exciting.
The required courses in the minor give students a basic introduction to the problems and methods of philosophy, as well as the historical development of ideas and schools of thought—both ancient and modern—in the East and the West. To complete the 18-hour minor requirement, students can select additional courses that meet their vocational needs and appeal to their special interests. In recent years, student requests for new philosophy courses have led to the creation of courses on individual philosophers such as C. G. Jung, William James, Friedrich Nietzsche, and C. S. Lewis. Students have a variety of courses from which to choose.