“...The philosophy department at Ithaca College is first rate. I was more than adequately prepared for new, more advanced material, and from what I can tell, much more prepared than most other first year philosophy graduate students. So...a thank you to everyone in the department... And congrats on such a great department.”
- Paul D. '06
The Department of Philosophy and Religion offers courses that develop critical and creative skills plus broad-ranging knowledge of fundamental beliefs and ideas. Such skills and knowledge are brought about (1) by training students in the analysis and clarification of concepts involved in all forms of thinking, whether legal, medical, political, scientific, or metaphysical; (2) by systematically analyzing and evaluating topics of perennial human interest, such as religion, art, and morality; and (3) by challenging students to articulate and develop their own ideas in the context of argumentation.
·The Introduction to Philosophy courses (314-10100 and 314-10200) are highly recommended as stepping-stones to all other courses in philosophy.
·The Introduction to World Religions courses (344-10500 and 344-10600) are highly recommended as stepping-stones to all other courses in religion.
Honors in the Department of Philosophy and Religion are offered for the purpose of encouraging, challenging, and honoring majors and minors who undertake advanced academic work.
Majors and minors in the department may apply for honors by submitting an honors thesis. Written application to the honors program must be made to the department chair early in the student's senior year. A minimum of a 3.50 GPA in the major or minor is required.
An adviser and a second reader are appointed by the chair in consultation with the student and members of the faculty. The adviser supervises the writing of the thesis, which should be at most 30 pages long and must be completed by March 31. The departmental faculty decides whether the thesis has earned honors designation. Then, if the student wishes, the adviser arranges for an oral presentation of the accepted thesis to the departmental faculty, guests, and other philosophy and religion majors and minors.
