Department of Philosophy & Religion
Majors, Minors & Programs
Interfaith Studies (Minor)
The Interfaith Studies program will provide an understanding of faith traditions in most of their various historically significant forms. The minor provides a valuable perspective for understanding the significance of faith in the context of both world events and individual human life. It requires an appreciation of the role of various traditions in other educational areas such as sociology, politics, history, and the arts. The program will provide you with a reliable and detailed, but broad exposure to a variety of cultures across human history while requiring the consideration and critical analysis of the implications and entailments of both religious and secular behavior within those cultures. Reliable information from a wide variety of cultural studies and sacred scriptures must be analyzed in order to achieve these ends.
Students may pursue a major in Interfaith Studies through our Interdisciplinary Major. Additionally, if you want a career in the ministry, you may pursue our Bachelor’s Degree Plus Program with Pittsburgh Theological Seminary that offers a fast-track to a seminary degree.
Philosophy
Philosophy, a critical and reflective discipline, fosters transferable skills applicable to most careers, fields of study, and personal endeavors. Our Philosophy majors have gone on to have successful careers in a wide range of fields, including law, education, journalism, business, and government services. Students interested in a career in law or business may also be eligible for one of our Bachelor’s Degree Plus Programs.
Historically the most fundamental of the liberal arts, philosophy develops perspective, critical and creative thinking, rational standards of discourse, and sensitivity to value issues. Philosophy will also develop your sense of meaning and encourage the building of a coherent personal world-view. A Philosophy major or minor may be teamed with virtually any other major in order to add depth and breadth to another discipline.
Pre-Ministry Program
Westminster was founded by a group of Presbyterian ministers and has been preparing students for careers in the ministry since the very beginning. Coursework in philosophy, history, literature, psychology, speech and sociology will further develop your critical reasoning, communication skills, and foundational knowledge.
As a Pre-Ministry student, you can pursue any major program or use the Interfaith Studies minor as the base of an Individual Interdisciplinary major of your own design. Students interested in attending seminary can also apply to participate in our Bachelor’s Degree Plus Program, that could save you time and money by allowing you to begin seminary at the end of your junior year.
Interdisciplinary Programs
Peace Studies (Minor or Concentration)
The Peace Studies Program is an interdisciplinary academic program designed to prepare students for the challenge of living in an increasingly diverse and global community. Recent uncertainties about the nature of world security make this an especially opportune time for Peace Studies. In addition to understanding conflict and its resolution, coursework emphasizes global awareness, multiculturalism, public policy, ethics, and human rights. You can tailor your course selections to meet post-graduation goals, which will enhance your ability to secure jobs in an increasingly global economy and multicultural society. Through service learning at the local, national, or international level, you will translate your competencies into action.
If your academic plan does not have sufficient flexiblity to complete the courses required for a minor, you may choose to complete a concentration in Peace Studies, which requires fewer courses. You can also pursue a major in Peace Studies through our Interdisciplinary Major.
International Studies
International Studies program was designed for students interested in languages, travel, culture, and politics. As a major, you will take a designated core of courses in International Studies and modern languages, and then build on that foundation by selecting one of three concentrations of designated and elective courses.
The concentrations are Cultural Studies, International Politics, or Peace and Justice Studies. Students who select the Cultural Studies concentration can choose coursework to focus on either History or Modern Languages. All international studies majors also participate in an approved study abroad experience.
Environmental Studies
With this flexible interdisciplinary major, students combine environmental studies coursework with a second discipline of their choice to work on problems of the environment. For example, students could combine environmental studies with Interfaith Studies to work in fields related to environmental justice. Students interested in environmental law could also apply to start law school at the end of their junior year through one of our Bachelor’s Degree Plus Programs.
As an Environmental Studies major, you will benefit from hands-on, collaborative learning and partner with local and regional environmental organizations and businesses to work on real-world environmental problems. A required internship and team-based capstone gives our students the skills for success in careers and graduate school. As a bonus, we get to study the environment on our expansive and diverse 300-acre campus.
Individual Interdisciplinary Major
The individual interdisciplinary major allows students to design their own majors. Students identify a core of course work in one program of study (major or minor), and then add coursework from other disciplines to craft an educational experience as unique as their ambitions.
Recent real-life examples of Individual Interdisciplinary majors include:
- Environmental Science Project Management (Environmental Science and Business)
- Scientific Illustration (Fine Art and Biology)
- Film & Media Relations (Film Studies and Communication)
For more information, contact an Admissions Counselor today.
Bachelor's Degree Plus Programs
Bachelor’s Degree + Seminary Degree (3+3 Program)
Qualified Westminster students in our Pre-Ministry Program have the opportunity to enter Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program after only three years of undergraduate study, saving time and money. Students in the program complete all major, minor, and liberal studies requirements (including Capstone) by the end of the junior year at Westminster, then begin their seminary studies at PTS in their fourth year.
After completing all six years of the program, students earn both a bachelor’s degree from Westminster and an M.Div. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
Bachelor's Degree + Law Degree (3+3 Programs)
In addition to having access to our robust 4-year Pre-Law Program, students interested in law could start law school at the end of their junior year through our partnerships with Widener University Commonwealth Law School and Duquesne University School of Law. Through these partnership, eligible students earn both a bachelor's degree and a juris doctor (J.D.) degree in just six years, saving time and money.
Bachelor’s Degree + MBA (4+1 Program)
As a Westminster undergraduate student, you can get a headstart on your Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree by beginning your master's coursework during the second semester of your senior year.
Available to qualifying Westminster students with any major, our MBA program emphasizes real-world business issues integrating communication, accounting, finance, marketing, law, ethics, operations management and human resources in order to prepare you to thoughtfully and ethically lead in public and private sector organizations. The program offers students the choice of four concentrations: Management, Business Analytics, Healthcare Management, or Green MBA/Sustainability.
For more information, contact the Chair of the School of Business, Dr. Robert Badowski, badowsr@westminster.edu.
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