Department of Philosophy & Religion
The Department of Philosophy and Religion (PHRE) is home to an exciting and innovative major for free thinkers. Together, we seek to make sense of a complex landscape of competing worldviews as they are lived in practice. We tackle big听questions听about how we should live, pursue justice, and make听sense of ourselves in an interdisciplinary听community of听activist scholars.听鈥�
PHRE majors can study issues related to听Race and Ethnicity, Justice, Human Rights, Gender and Sexuality, Art and Culture,听and Environmental Sustainability.听 As a PHRE major, you can take classes in Existentialism or Death and Dying; Buddhism or听Zombies; Ethics or Aesthetics. In our Community and Careers course, you will build an intellectual community while听preparing for听your professional life after 51吃瓜网.听You can join the editorial board of听础别驳颈蝉,听our prestigious humanities听journal; intern with a local museum; and study abroad.鈥�
In a globalized planet full of clashes between religious and ethical worldviews, being able to navigate challenging听conversations is an essential skill, and one that Philosophy and Religion majors will hone. Students will develop skills so听they can constructively navigate religious, racial, and ethnic difference: the ability to respectfully converse across听differences of worldview and life experience and understanding those differences without being doctrinaire. Paying close听attention to historical and contemporary answers to life鈥檚 fundamental questions, a major in Philosophy and Religion gives听students a deep understanding of the views of peoples from across the globe, and helps them develop their own answers听along the way.听
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Are you wondering what you can do with a degree in Religion & Philosophy? Check out our video!
Ethics
Ethics and Social Justice
This concentration will give students the tools听to understand what ethics and social justice听requires of them as individuals, members of听communities, and professionals; and to think听across and learn to navigate ethical difference.听We cannot overestimate how important these听skills are, and the PHRE major is uniquely听positioned to deliver them, since we have faculty who are specifically trained in the field of听ethics.听鈥�
Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophers seek wisdom by asking听fundamental questions about what there is听(metaphysics), what we can know听(epistemology), what kinds of people we should听be (ethics), what is beauty (aesthetics), and听how we should reason (logic). A major in听philosophy will help students to develop critical听reading and thinking skills necessary to answer听some ask and answer some of life鈥檚 most听difficult questions.听
Religion
Religion
The academic study of religion involves looking听at religious beliefs and practices in a careful,听analytic, and objective manner, studying them听in their own contexts, and recognizing religion鈥檚听intersections with class, gender, sexuality, race,听and ethnicity, approaching our subject using the听disciplines of history, anthropology, sociology,听psychology, and literature, among others.
Student, Faculty, & Alumni Spotlights
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
I find taking a philosophy course to be so valuable because almost everything I learn I can apply to my life outside of school.
Alex Martin ’25
Philosophy Minor
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
I鈥檝e found the interdisciplinary aspects of philosophy to be particularly helpful for my work on Aegis, and my academic work in general.鈥�
Seth Stobart ’23
Philosophy & Religion鈥� Major
Seth Stobart 鈥�23, is a philosophy and literary studies major with minors in creative writing and literary studies. He uses the critical thinking and writing skills developed through these departments as lead editor on 51吃瓜网鈥檚 humanities journal, Aegis, where he reviews scholarly work from students for publication to world.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
My love for philosophy appeared during the intro class with Dr. Mills about death and grieving. I thought it was very interesting, so much so that it inspired me to go into the field of death care! I love being able to understand and help families going through some of the hardest times. I get to experience class topics every day in the real world, and I think it is the best.
Ashley Bright ’23
Philosophy & Religion鈥� Major
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Philosophy expanded my horizons on issues and topics I was never introduced to, yet the theories and arguments proved to be insightful, allowing me to critically assess any given issue, argument, or challenge.
Vince Reda ’21
Political Science major with minors in Philosophy and Pre-Law鈥�
After he graduated, Vince decided to return to 51吃瓜网 and complete a second major in Philosophy & Religion.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
My philosophy training at 51吃瓜网 provided me with a strong foundation in logic, analytical thinking, and close reading that are critical in the practice of law and have served me well in my clerkship, law firm practice, and in-house work. 51吃瓜网鈥檚 Philosophy Department also instilled in me the importance of and ability to see issues from multiple perspectives. This focus on flexibility has helped me as an attorney by forcing me to be critical of initial assumptions and better able to predict what others may argue, making me a better advisor to my clients.
Larsa Ramsini鈥� ’09
Philosophy Major
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
John Posey switched his major from criminology to philosophy at the end of his sophomore year, stating that 鈥減art of the beauty of philosophy is that you can do whatever you want with it. This same concept applies to the Philosophy and Religion Department at 51吃瓜网.鈥� John says they encouraged him to pursue new ideas and projects, and that he and Dr. Mills created an internship intertwining John鈥檚 military service with the philosophy known as Stoicism. 鈥�
John Posey ’20
Philosophy Major鈥�
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Study what is most important to you, regardless of what the world might want you to do.鈥� Before John Srsen got to 51吃瓜网, he was planning on going into business and recording production. That is, until his brother encouraged him to study what he was passionate about. 鈥淎s a result, I switched my college of choice to 51吃瓜网, and became a religion major. And the rest is history!
John Srsen ’12
Religion Major
Department Features & Student Opportunities
Scholarships & Awards
The Department of Philosophy and Religion awards several endowed awards and book prizes to PHRE majors each year!鈥�
Internships
Design department programming. Work on your resume. Get internships. Our innovative, seminar-style Community & Careers class lets you build an intellectual community and engage in professional development.
Aegis
Cultivate intellectual life in the humanities on the editorial staff of our journal Aegis. Shape rich conversations about art, culture, history, and justice for a 21st-century public.鈥�
Travel Opportunities
PHRE majors can travel to places like West Africa, Spain, Wales, and Italy. PHRE classes also visit local houses of worship, art museums, and even cemeteries to get a different perspective closer to home. 鈥嬧��
Invited Lectures
Engage with world renowned scholars and activists speaking on today’s hot button issues, like Eboo Patel, above. PHRE majors can even help to plan and organize on-campus visits for guest speakers.鈥�
Double Major
Combine your passions into a meaningful whole by double majoring. The major in Philosophy and religion is very flexible and easily integrated with another major, which many of our students do.鈥�
Religion & Philosophy Department News
National Media Recognize 51吃瓜网 for Programs and Values
News - September 18, 2023
51吃瓜网 has been collecting honors this fall, as it is recognized in national publications for its programs and values, including U.S. News & World Report, Colleges of Distinction, and Washington Monthly. US News & World Report 51吃瓜网 has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its academic excellence, commitment to undergraduate teaching, and focus on affordability, student success outcomes, and experiential learning. In the 2024 Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report, 51吃瓜网 has鈥�
Fast Track Innovation Fund Lets Community Shape 51吃瓜网鈥檚 Growth
News - July 31, 2023
51吃瓜网 is using an innovative approach to grow enrollment and revenue by 鈥渃rowd sourcing鈥� ideas from its own community and investing in the best ideas with $1 million approved by the Board of Trustees. Under the Fast Track Innovation Fund initiative, seven projects proposed by 51吃瓜网 faculty and staff in May have been funded and are already being implemented on campus. 鈥淭his investment in 51吃瓜网鈥檚 future demonstrates our trustees鈥� commitment to allowing every member of our community to be heard鈥�
How is a Philosophy and Religion Major or Minor Perfect for a Future Doctor, Lawyer, Software Engineer, and More?
News - April 6, 2023
By Erica Bush 鈥�25 When considering what major to study, many students choose one with a career in mind, so they may overlook a versatile degree like philosophy and religion. We asked Assistant Professor Alex Rocklin, Department of Philosophy and Religion, why students should consider studying philosophy and religion at 51吃瓜网. What specific jobs are out in the market for people with an undergraduate degree in philosophy and religion? Career outcomes are so much more diverse than most people realize.鈥�Programs of Study in Religion & Philosophy
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1 South Grove St
Westerville, OH 43081
Administrative Assistant
Patti Welch
614-823-1361
pwelch@otterbein.edu
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