St. Charles / St. Louis
Philosophy and Religion (BA)

The St. Louis Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Philosophy & Religion at Lindenwood University requires 36 credit hours of Philosophy and Religion courses, including core classes in religious traditions and a senior thesis project. Students also have flexibility to choose Philosophy and Religion electives at the 200, 300, and 400 levels to complete the degree.

Like every Lindenwood student, you must also complete the General Education requirements of the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts.

See a list of Philosophy and Religion Course Descriptions to see the range of possible courses you might be taking.

Studying philosophy and religion at Lindenwood University prepares you for a wide variety of careers by familiarizing you with the world's major intellectual traditions, both philosophical and religious. Philosophy explores what is real, what we know, how we should think, and how we should act, while religion reflects on the many ways that communities have constructed and articulated the meaningfulness of human life. As a philosophy and religion major, you will study the ideas and beliefs that make our world what it is today, and you will learn to better understand yourself, your neighbor, and your world. 

Why Philosophy and Religion?

Our religion and philosophy degree program and its faculty represent a variety of scholarly interests in philosophy and religion. Philosophy and religion majors develop valuable skills in thinking carefully and communicating clearly about complex issues, and they tend to score higher in standardized exams for graduate school and professional programs. Studying philosophy and religion can also lead to greater personal fulfillment.

Socrates once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living," and Jesus noted that "the truth will set you free." The philosophy and religion bachelor's degree program offers a number of different curricular options for you to examine your life, pursue the truth, and meet your educational and professional goals. Career opportunities with a Philosophy and Religion degree, fall into many different categories. These include teaching, research, clergy, government, legal professions, policy development, diplomacy, humanitarian services, and many more.

The Philosophy and Religion BA degree program prepares you for success in any career by helping you analyze and evaluate the most important questions humanity has asked.  What is it to be human, natural, or divine?  Can we discover or achieve purpose, knowledge, and meaning?  How ought we to think, act, and organize ourselves together?  These are the sorts of questions explored within our program, which involve a multi-disciplinary engagement with the basic beliefs grounding a wide range of subject matter, including the historical, social, psychological, economic, legal, and scientific. 

Our program is designed to help you achieve the following important advantages:

• Sought-after Durable Power Skills. You will acquire critical reading, writing, and thinking skills, as well as oral communication and team building skills, which are essential to success in other disciplines and the workplace.
• Personal Fulfillment. According to Aristotle, all people "by nature desire understanding," and in seeking understanding, we seek the "kinds of causes and principles whose science is wisdom." Therefore, the study of philosophy and religion is a natural, rewarding, and even necessary part of human existence.

Life as a Philosophy and Religion Student

Tanner Cook, B.A. Philosophy

The Philosophy and Religion program offers many opportunities to get involved, acquire real experience, and achieve real success. Learn more about our students, alumni, and extracurricular Philosophy & Religion events and groups.

Making a career out of what you love: Jobs in Philosophy and Religion

Philosophy & Religion prepare you for a wide variety of careers that are fulfilling, engaging, and influential.

• Philosophy Careers
• Religion Careers

What can you do with a BA in Philosophy and Religion? You can find careers in many areas of the business and academic worlds. Majors often move on to post-graduate study and become teachers or lawyers. Other graduates pursue careers in politics or medicine.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Semester-long, short term, and summer opportunities are available for those who would like the excitement and challenge of studying outside of the U.S.

Learn more about study abroad opportunities for Philosophy & Religion.

Our Philosophy & Religion Faculty

Our program includes faculty that represents a variety of scholarly interests in philosophy and religion.

Learn a bit more about who your teachers are, and what they've been up to lately.