Philosophy

Do you want to live fully and fearlessly?

Philosophy and Religious Studies are THE ORIGINAL college subjects, taught worldwide across millennia. Why would universities teach about topics that do not lead directly to practical things like building roads or dressing wounds? Because human beings are not merely practical things—we are complex creatures who seek to understand ourselves and the world around us. Philosophy and Religious Studies help us to develop coherent understandings of ourselves and the world so that we can live fully and fearlessly.

To help you develop your own coherent understandings, the Philosophy program at WCU will introduce you to ideas from ancient Greece and China, the medieval Middle East, early modern Europe, contemporary Africa, and much more. We will give you practice, with both decoding and creating logical arguments, as you consider a variety of perspectives on perennial human questions such as:

• What is the nature of God?
• Do I have free will?
• Can humans know anything with certainty?
• What makes an action the right one?
• What is Justice?

Engaging with such questions develops your creativity and your critical thinking, listening, speaking, and writing skills, all of which transfer well to ANY professional pursuit. Our majors typically go on to graduate school, seminary, law school, become entrepreneurs or writers for television and film.

We offer a BA in Philosophy or Religious Studies, an MA in Philosophy, along with a variety of minors and certificate programs. Click around to find out more. We’d love to have you join us!