Religion & Philosophy FAQs

What should you know when you get out of college?

Yourself. And there is no better way to know yourself than to learn from those great traditions and thinkers who have searched for self-understanding. Majors in the Department of Religion and Philosophy encounter those who sought to understand the purpose of human life, and they are challenged to form a view of their own. In this way you too will come to a better understanding of the subject at the heart of a liberal arts education - yourself.

What can I do with a degree from the Religion and Philosophy department?

Graduates with a degree from the Religion and Philosophy department are able to read carefully, think clearly, and write convincingly. These abilities are fundamental for all vocations. Indeed, our graduates have gone on in fields from government to business to non-profit organizations to education. Some have gone on to graduate and professional schools in law, business, philosophy, and religion. Currently, church vocations offer increasingly attractive career options for men and women.

But will some other major help me to get a better job?

Consider this study done by the University of Pittsburgh in 1994:

Liberal arts students need have no fear of being disadvantaged in the labor market by their choice of major...this study suggests that the liberal arts college may focus comfortably on producing "pure" liberal arts graduates; it does not need to promote careerism and vocationalism to improve the employability of its students.

How will a degree from the Religion and Philosophy department continue to be valuable to me after I graduate?

Our programs offer a unique window into human nature and world events. Religion, for example, has been a major force in human history; people continue to define themselves by religious communities and their rituals, practices, and festivals; and we can understand major events and conflicts in the world today only if we know their religious background.