Religion, Philosophy, and Social Change, BA

In the Religion, Philosophy, and Social Change major students have the opportunity to engage areas of study essential to the liberal arts. The major thereby prepares students to understand, analyze, and work with diverse systems of thought and practice that shape individual and public life. All majors will develop a broad methodological base from theology, ethics, history, philosophy, critical theory, sociology, literature, leadership, and material culture to explore the intersections and intimate connections between systems of belief and practices, ethical codes, narratives, and social and political structures across many cultures and centuries.

Students in the RPS major will also choose which of three subjects they are most interested in pursuing by declaring one of the following concentrations: religious studies, philosophy and critical theory, or leadership and social change.

• Religious Studies is the critical inquiry into cultural expressions - such as myth, ritual, symbol, and sacred texts - that address fundamental human concerns. Students on the religious studies concentration will gain a foundational understanding of Christianity, but will also study other religious traditions. Religious Studies uses a variety of methodological approaches (including philosophy, sociology, theology, and anthropology) to understand critically what religious people believe and do, what religion teaches us about the human condition, and how religion shapes public life.
• To engage in philosophical reflection and critical theory is to reflect on the fundamental nature and meaning of our very existence, the role power plays in such meaning making, and the role of critical thinking in constructing, deconstructing, and reconstructing such meaning. The study of philosophy and critical theory is thus at once both deeply personal (as the question of the meaning of my own existence) and communal (as the question of our shared historical human identity and responsibility).
• Social Change names the changes in human-driven interactions and relationships that transform cultural and social institutions. Students on the leadership and social change concentration will be exposed to interdisciplinary approaches to questions of power and identity, the principles of effective leadership, and the social change model of leadership. This path of study will prepare students for careers that require experience with advocacy, social change models, organizational change strategy, and service and nonprofit leadership.

The fields of religion, philosophy, and social change are essentially about critically engaging beyond the classroom and providing models to address questions of the ultimate, belief, and ethical life. The study of the historical, political, and sociocultural contexts of religious and philosophical traditions grounded in an ethos of social change provides an intellectual background for those interested in pursuing careers in social service, education, ministry, government, journalism and the arts.

Students majoring in Religion, Philosophy, and Social Change and concentrating in Religious Studies are not eligible to also receive a Religious Studies minor.

Students majoring in Religion, Philosophy, and Social Change and concentrating in Philosophy and Critical Theory are not eligible to also receive a Philosophy minor.

The student learning outcomes for the Religion, Philosophy, and Social Change major are as follows:

1. The student will develop more fully their knowledge of the diversity of the world’s religions, philosophies, and cultural expressions - such as myth, ritual, symbols, and sacred texts - that address fundamental human concerns;
2. They will develop a broad methodological base from areas such as philosophy, sociology, psychology, religious studies, and literature to address comprehensively and cross-culturally such issues as the origins and practices of religious communities; the nature of existence; the nature of justice; and how best to effect social change;
3. Through a grounding in constructive theological and philosophical thinking, they will strengthen their abilities to think critically, analyze cogently, organize and articulate thoughts clearly, and develop their own informed opinions;
4. They will learn to assess the influence the past has on contemporary issues in the study of religion, philosophy, and social change.
5. By engaging in one of three concentrations, the student of Religion, Philosophy, and Social Change will gain an in-depth knowledge of the theories and methods of religious studies, philosophy and critical theory, or leadership and social change. Such knowledge will result in:
   1. For the student in the religious studies concentration: a cross-cultural understanding of the origins of religious communities, their similar and divergent practices and beliefs, and their literature; and a grounding in the historical analysis of religious practices, communities, traditions, beliefs, and scriptures, as they learn to assess the influence the past has on contemporary issues in the study of religion.
   2. For the student in the philosophy and critical theory concentration: a cross-cultural and historical understanding of the methods and processes of philosophical reflection; a greater agility in their own reasoning process; the ability to critically engage questions of power and identity; and the ability to articulate more imaginative and thoughtful responses to life’s challenges.
   3. For the student on the leadership and social change concentration: an interdisciplinary understanding of theories of power, social change, and leadership; the ability to apply the social change model of leadership to real world problem solving; and the ability to articulate their own theory of leadership and social change.