The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies is in the process of re-registering their major programs in Philosophy and religious Studies with the State of New York. It is anticipated that this will be completed by the Spring Semester of 2010. If necessary, beginning with the Class of 2011, students wishing to pursue a major in Religious Studies or Philosophy will technically pursue the Liberal Arts major, which requires 18 credits of Religious Studies courses and 18 credits of Philosophy courses as described herein and as will be added under the renewed registration.

Once the re-registration with the State is completed, the Religious Studies or Philosophy credits will be converted into a straight Religious Studies or Philosophy major with the credits from the other discipline applied to the a minor in that discipline, if the student wishes.

The department also offers Minors in Philosophy and Religious Studies. The department also offers Minors in Philosophy and Religious Studies.The program critically examines the feelings, ideas, rituals, values, ethics, patterns of community, and history of the major religious traditions of the world.


B.A. in Philosophy
The examined life is worth living. Philosophy, the mother of all disciplines, offers the opportunity to follow the quest for the best possible life. Students will encounter the questions of ultimate meaning and value in a dialogue with the great philosophers. They will be encouraged to consider the relevance of these questions in their own lives and to develop an enduring sense of wonder and love of wisdom. Faculty from the Department will work closely with all students to tailor a program of courses that will make this transition smoothly and in a manner that will suit their individual interests and backgrounds. Whatever the specific form of the finally approved program, it will require 24 credits in courses on the 300 level or above in addition to the required sophomore core and senior integrated courses described above for a total of 30 credits.

The Institute for Applied Philosophy serves as the vehicle through which Mount Saint Vincent raises the community’s awareness of critical issues in our culture. The aim is to provide a forum in which individuals from many fields can focus on shared problems and concerns.

Core Curriculum Requirement
All students must complete PHIL 212 by the end of their Sophomore year as a basic course in the Core Curriculum. This is paired with the core course in Religious Studies. Honor students must consult the Honors Program for their core requirements