Why study philosophy and religion?
The simple answer is that it is fun, interesting, and important to learn about the universe and our place in it.
There are more practical reasons, too, however.
Studying philosophy and religion helps students develop and master important transferable skills, such as critical reading and thinking, problem solving, creativity, written and oral communication, organization and management, and team building and collaboration. Philosophy and religion students are regularly exposed to broad areas of knowledge (historical, social, economic, cultural, ethical, and legal) that provide an excellent preparation for success in almost any career imaginable.
At Parkland, you'll have the advantage of small class sizes, taught by master faculty—never teaching assistants. Your success is our priority.
Classes
Philosophy Classes
Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking (PHI 100): covers both informal logic or “critical thinking” and formal logic (often called “symbolic logic”) and includes a significant problem-solving component.
Introduction to Philosophy (PHI 103): provides students with a general understanding of the nature of philosophy, and includes foundational readings ranging from the ancient Greeks to the 20 th century.
Introduction to Ethics (PHI 105): focuses on one important branch of philosophy, the study of values, or “ethics.” Questions such as “Is there such a thing as objective good and evil?” “Why should we be moral?” “What is human nature, if there is such a thing?” will be raised and potential answers proposed. The focus of this class is on ethical theories, and discussion of specific moral issues (such as euthanasia) will be minimized.
Religion Classes
Introduction to Religion (REL 101): takes an interdisciplinary approach to the nature and variety of religious beliefs and practices, with a focus on the issues common to all religions.
The World’s Great Religions (REL 102*): provides a survey of the teachings and histories of the world’s major religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Taoism, Judaism, and Islam.
The Bible: The Hebrew Scriptures [The Old Testament] (REL 104) and The Bible: The New Testament (REL 105): pursue the academic study of the history, text, and context of the Christian bible and its role in helping to form core Western concepts such as critical thinking and social justice.
*Satisfies Non-Western culture requirement
Will my classes transfer?
PHI 100, 103, 105 and REL 101, 102, 104, 105 will fulfill the Humanities and Fine Arts general education requirement at Illinois public universities. Parkland College classes with an even middle digit (such as ENG 101, MAT 128, and BIO 141) are accepted for transfer as general education classes, major courses, or electives as determined by the transfer institution.
For more information about transferring, speak with an academic advisor and visit the Parkland Course Matrix.
Curriculum
Learn more about how these courses fit into a transfer degree or the general education core curriculum (GECC).