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Welcome

Welcome to the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Indiana University Northwest.

Philosophy is the use of reason to gain insight into the questions that are most important to us. Does God exist? Is there an afterlife? Are we able to think, feel, remember, etc. because of physical processes going on in our brain or because we possess a non-physical soul? What kind of moral principles should we adopt in our life? What, if anything, can we know with certainty about the world? 

Our Department's curriculum is designed to contribute to the intellectual training of all undergraduates and to acquaint them with some of the most important developments in the history of ideas. Courses in the program emphasize clear and cogent thinking about fundamental problems, locate the origins of these problems in the writings of the great philosophers, and provide in-depth examinations of proposed solutions.

The study of philosophy is not only valuable in its own right, but has beneficial practical consequences as well. Philosophy teaches you how to read, write, and think critically, three abilities that are extremely valuable to employers. A background or degree in philosophy is excellent preparation for any career that requires clear thinking and strong analytical skills. This includes law, medicine, teaching, and the clergy, as well as work in corporations and industry.

Thanks to their excellent reasoning skills, philosophy majors tend to have an edge when taking standardized tests (such as the GRE, the MCAT, or the LSAT) to compete for admission to graduate school.