Overview of Programs

The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies (PHRE) offers six programs of study:

Each of these programs satisfies various Areas of the REAL Curriculum general education plan.

All major and minor programs in Philosophy and Religious Studies satisfy various areas of the REAL Curriculum.

These programs are designed to help graduates become excellent critical thinkers and problem solvers ready to engage in a multicultural and global workforce. Whether you’re interested in finance, public service, law, healthcare, or another job field, our department can help you get there. The faculty members in PHRE work with students to hone real-world skills while developing understanding of diverse cultures and delving into questions of what it means to think and live well together.

Comprised of five core faculty members and a number of part-time professors, PHRE (our shorthand for the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies) is a tight-knit community of learners and practitioners who are focused on using our scholarship to increase knowledge and sharpen professional skills, to mentor our students and each other on paths to success in work and in life.

Join our community by declaring a PHRE major or minor, or by taking one of our courses!

To learn more about majoring or minoring in a PHRE program, get in touch with our department chair or visit us in CHBS 4202

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Faculty and students from Philosophy and Religious Studies--with colleagues from Sociology and Biology--at Bald Knob, during a recent Hike with Humanities Professors event.

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PHRE for General Education...and Beyond

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Between the department’s wide variety of course offerings and its major and minor programs, PHRE can help you prepare for a career and achieve academic success by meeting requirements in the REAL Curriculum.  Our courses and programs satisfy requirements in the area of Humanistic & Artistic Expression. By completing the PHRE major or one of our minors, you can hone your critical-thinking and cultural competency skills while also completing General Education requirements. 

But even after you complete the REAL Curriculum, our major, our minors, and our courses can enhance any area of study and career preparation. PHRE learning experiences help develop capabilities in complex problem-solving, independent thinking, careful communication, and expanded cultural literacy. These skills and abilites are vitally important now and in future careers and social contexts.

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PHRE for Personal Improvement

PHRE offers a number of courses, a major, and four minors that can help you cultivate professional skills and develop your curiosity about the world. These learning experiences can enhance your time at Radford University and Radford University Carilion by connecting your work in the classroom to what you will accomplish beyond our campuses. Whether you’re focused on healthcare, social services, environmental studies, or any number of other areas, PHRE makes it possible to achieve your goals. By taking PHRE courses, or declaring our major or one of our minors, you can improve your problem-solving and analytic skills while also increasing your cultural competency.

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Committed to Success

Through careful advising, PHRE professors and staff will help you design a path through your degree program to get you ready for life in work and society. Beyond experiences in the classroom, students in PHRE major and minor programs have access to a number of additional learning and personal-professional development opportunities:

  • Each semester, PHRE faculty lead extra-curricular mentoring workshops for students in our major and minor programs that help you translate academic work into professional contexts. 
  • The department sponsors a student research conference on campus every spring, where you can gain experience sharing knowledge with public audiences. 
  • Each student in PHRE’s major or minor programs can integrate internship experiences into their course of study.

To learn more about majoring or minoring in a PHRE program, get in touch with our department chair or visit us in Hemphill Hall 4202.