Religion/Philosophy

Why study religion/philosophy?

Religion/philosophy explores how the methods and concepts of philosophy assist in the examination of theology.

  • Combining philosophical theories with religion broadens students鈥 intellectual horizons and helps them question custom, prejudice and dogmatism.
  • Students think about life鈥檚 deepest religious questions and use philosophy to take positions and support them in respectful debate.
  • The department teaches from within the Christian tradition, while still questioning dogma and learning from others.
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Religion/Philosophy at AU


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Joe Gebel 鈥26 is a government & international affairs and religion/philosophy double major from Mitchell, South Dakota. This summer, he interned at Dailey Law, an attorney鈥檚 office in Mitchell, where he undertook legal research, drafted court briefs, and edited and adapted contracts.

Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, more than six weeks before Easter, is a 鈥渕eaningful season to so many Christians.鈥 So meaningful that Augustana鈥檚 campus pastor decided to build programming around the season 鈥 programming now known as .

果冻传媒 has added a gender, sexuality & women鈥檚 studies (GSWS) minor as of Aug. 30. The minor is another offering within the university鈥檚 list of interdisciplinary academic programs developed as part of Augustana鈥檚 strategic plan .

Highlights

Religion/Philosophy

Careers

Graduates pursue vocations as clergy, spiritual directors, mission workers, hospital chaplains, church music directors or camp coordinators. Religion/philosophy also prepares students for careers that require thinking, writing and communication skills, including education, law, government, communications and social services. 

Hands-On Learning

Internship opportunities include:

  • Greenpeace
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Chaplaincy at Avera or Sanford Health
  • Bioethics at Sanford Health
  • Bible or book studies at Touchmark at All Saints Retirement Community

Service learning opportunities include:

  • Lutheran Social Services (LSS) mentoring
  • Good Shepherd Center
  • Prison ministries
  • The Banquet

Many religion/philosophy students choose to present their academic research at Augustana鈥檚 Arthur Olsen Student Research Symposium.

Religion/philosophy students study away in:

  • Germany and Scotland  鈥 focusing on pilgrimage with AU faculty
  • Alaska 鈥 focusing on nature writing with AU faculty
  • Spain and Morocco 鈥 focusing on Arab, Christian and Jewish legacies with AU faculty

Courses & Organizations

Students can complement the religion major with studies in these areas:

  • Medical humanities & society (minor)
  • Environmental studies (major and minor)
  • Visual arts

Students in this major are required to complete a senior thesis.

Religion/philosophy students often participate in:

  • Campus Ministry
  • Better Together
  • Muslim Student Association
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
  • Augie Worship Night