A male philosophy student is pictured praying in the waters of the Bali Hindu sacred water temple.

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.

Effective Fall 2023

Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.

Select one course from the following:3
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: 112
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
1

 At least 9 credits must be from upper-division (300- to 400-level) courses.