Philosophy and Religious Studies Program

The Philosophy and Religious Studies program offers introductory and specialized courses that explore the development of human ideas and values. Philosophy and religious studies courses are based on the objective study of the history, literature, beliefs and cultural development of philosophy and religious systems, individually and comparatively. Faculty members relate course subjects to everyday issues.

Courses serve as a foundation for continuing study at a four-year college or institution, for meeting Humanities and International Studies General Education requirements for an Associate's Degree and for personal enrichment. The courses apply to all career fields that students might choose and provide background for any field of study that requires critical and creative thinking.

The basic philosophy course Introduction to Philosophy, introduces the study of knowledge, reality and human conduct. Ethics addresses principal moral theories, concepts and principles and logic deals with basic rules and systems of logic. Specialty philosophy courses offered at least once every two years include Biomedical Ethics, Business Ethics, Critical Thinking, Environmental Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, History of Philosophical Ideas and history and philosophy of education, science and art.

Comparative and World Religions covers the major ideas from the world's religions. Introduction to Religion examines a variety of cultural religious phenomena. Other courses include Introduction to the Old and New Testament, Asian Thought and selected topics in religious studies.

Determine Your Path

The Philosophy and Religious Studies program is for students interested in philosophy and want to transfer to a four-year school or students interested in law school.

You want to attend a credible college that stands out from the rest. At COD, you'll discover:

Small class sizes that ensure students receive personalized attention.
Dedicated instructors with years of professional experience.
Affordable programs to help students achieve success without creating overwhelming debt or draining a savings account.
Instruction utilizing top-notch facilities.
An enhanced 2+2 partnership between College of DuPage and Elmhurst College allowing you to earn your Associate in Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees at a significantly reduced cost.

Philosophy and Religious Studies Transfer Pathway

The Philosophy and Religious Studies Transfer Pathway, Associate in Arts represents a typical course schedule/sequence for a student planning to complete the Associate in Arts degree within two years, then transfer and major in a specific discipline.

The Philosophy and Religious Studies pathway is one possible combination of classes you can take to earn your degree in the concentration you choose.

Religious Studies Transfer Pathway

The Religious Studies Transfer Pathway, Associate in Arts represents a typical course schedule/sequence for a student planning to complete the Associate in Arts degree within two years, then transfer and major in a specific discipline.

The Religious Studies pathway is one possible combination of classes you can take to earn your degree in the concentration you choose.

Get Started Today

The first step to getting started in philosophy and religious studies is to apply for admission.

Academic and Career Pathways give you a roadmap to achieving your career goals. Follow a pathway based on your degree that outlines which classes you need to take and when so you graduate on time or move on to the next phase in your career.

Students who complete courses in the Philosophy or Religious Studies disciplines will:

Reading & Comprehending Philosophical and Religious Studies Texts

Grappling with primary texts
Grasping key terms and concepts
Attributing works/arguments to persons and eras

Constructing/Communicating Arguments

Recognizing argument structure
Constructing appropriate arguments
Clearly presenting arguments (especially in writing)

Critical Thinking

Identifying one's own assumptions
Showing awareness of breadth and diversity
Analyzing content and structure of materials
Evaluating merits of claims and ideas

College of DuPage has several philosophy and religious studies transfer agreements in place with four-year colleges and universities to save you time, money and make the transfer process easier.

Many of these agreements with other colleges and universities have specific course requirements and a pre-determined course plan that needs to be followed to be eligible to transfer. Contact a program faculty member or academic advisor to learn more as course requirements vary by institution.

COD Stories

“I had other options for college, but I knew that I wanted to get involved with clubs and organizations, be able to work and not sacrifice my academics. COD allowed me to do all of this as well as helped me grow and mature.” - Anna Gorman

Anna's COD Story