Office of International Education and Development

Philosophy and Religion

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Planning
Planning your Program: 

The best time for a Philosophy and Religious Studies major to go abroad will be a combination of their concentration, credits they have transferred in, whether they have a dual major or a minor, whether they plan on taking any summer classes, and obviously their personal situation.  Listed below are some suggested time frames for each concentration. Students looking to go abroad during a different period are encouraged to work closely with their department advisor and the Education Abroad Office.

For all concentrations short-term study abroad opportunities are normally fairly easy to fit into a student’s degree plan.  Students are able to start participating on short-term programs (winter break, spring break, and summer) as early as their first year.  Students participating on short-term faculty-led programs often fulfill General Education, Major Free Electives, Major Concentration courses, Language requirements, or 2nd Major/Minor requirements.  Students participating on partner summer programs or semester programs may be able to fulfill major requirements in addition to the above options. 


Course Considerations: 

Philosophy and Religion majors may not able to complete Capstone requirements abroad, although this is up to the discretion of the department. Other courses that students may want to plan to take before or after their abroad experience are _______. 

Students also can look to satisfy General Education and/or Minor requirements.  It is suggested that students save 1 or 2 LSE requirements for their study abroad program.  It may be possible to satisfy an ILE, Science Inquiry, or Quantitative Literacy course but this requires more advanced planning.  Students can also participate in a summer or semester language program to satisfy their Intermediate language requirements.  

Advising: 

Students should contact their departmental advisor to schedule an advising appointment.

Key questions to ask?

  • What are my remaining degree requirements?
  • How many upper-division credits do I still need to complete for my degree?
  • How many elective credits (lower vs. upper division) do I have left to complete my major?
  • What remaining prerequisites must I fulfill, and how will study abroad impact my progress?
  • Which of my remaining degree requirements could I complete abroad? Are there any that I cannot take abroad?
  • Can I receive academic credit for an internship abroad?
  • Are there any in-residence requirements I need to be aware of before I go abroad?
Programs

Philosophy and Religious Studies majors are able to participate on department faculty-led programs,  summer partner programs, and on semester programs.  Listed below are some possible options.

Program Type Information

Faculty-led

All faculty-led programs for fall 2021 have been suspended due to the ongoing pandemic. Please check back beginning in summer 2021 for updates about faculty-led programs for Spring Break and Summer I & II 2022.

Below are examples of previous faculty-led programs.

 

Love, Sex and Power

  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: France and Italy
  • Standing: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: PHL, REL
  • Unique Feature: This study abroad course will examine the themes of Love, Sex, and Power, and the Meaning of Life, and will consist of three components: (i) PHL 3535: Philosophy of Love and the Meaning of Life (3hr); (ii) REL 3535: Love, Sex and Power in the History of Christianity (3hr), (iii) 3 weeks abroad. The main objectives are to provide students with the opportunity to examine some of the central philosophical problems related to the nature of love, sex and power, and to the meaning of life.

Short-term

Students should use the advanced search feature to locate summer partner programs.  Several options are available for Language Study, major elective, minor, general education and free elective opportunities. 

Semester

La Trobe University 

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Australia
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: PHL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Ethics and Political Theory, Plato, Nietzsche: Justice and Rebellion, Critical Thinking and Innovation, Knowledge, Individual and Society, Minds, Brains and Machines, Descartes to Kant

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Spring
  • Country: Chile
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: PHL
  • Unique Feature: Students with advanced Spanish may be able to take Philosophy classes taught in Spanish alongside local students.

Veritas 

  • Program Type: Partner
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentration: REL
  • Unique Feature: Students can take intensive Spanish language coursework along with English taught electives.  Students with upper level Spanish can take courses taught in Spanish. Religion offerings include Habits and Attitudes for Emerging Christian Leadership, Revolution Spirituality and Religion in Latin America, and Major World Religions. 

University of Bamberg 

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Spring
  • Country: Germany
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  LIT
  • Unique Feature: Students can take German language alongside electives taught in English. 
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Metaethics, Introduction to Formal Logic, Theory of Science: The Concept of Substance

USAC Ghana 

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Ghana
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior

ISEP The Chinese University of Hong Kong 

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL
  • Unique Feature: Students can take Chinese language in addition to courses taught in English.
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Methodology & Argumentation, Topics in Western Philosophy, Interp, Understand & Dialog, Sem: Iss in Hist of Chi Phil

Madras Christian College

  • Program Type: Full Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: India
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Foundations of Indian Philosophy, Outlines of Greek & Medieval Philosophy, Outlines of Indian Philosophical Systems, Outlines of Modern Western Philosophy, Outlines of Ethics, Traditional & Symbolic Logic, Existentialism & Phenomenology, Saiva Siddhanta, Bioethics

USAC University College Cork 

  • Program Type: Affiliate 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Ireland
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL, REL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Philosophy of Art, Chinese Philosophy, Ethics, Roman Political Thought, Philosophy of Language, Moral Psychology, Reasoning and Argument, Japanese Philosophy, and more….
  • REL: Buddhism, Indigenous Religions, Contemporary Islam, Contemporary Religions in Ireland, Authority and Community in Contemporary Christianities, and more…

USAC University of Haifa

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Israel
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL, REL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Athens and Jerusalem in Jewish Philosophy, Spiritual Practices
  • REL: Islamic Fundamentalism in the Arab World, Modern Jewish Identity, Rabbinic Stories

Lorenzo de’ Medici Florence

  • Program Type: Partner 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Italy
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL, REL
  • Unique Feature: Students are required to take an Italian language course while abroad.
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Intro to Ethics, Introduction to Western Philosophy: Ancient and Early Modern Thinkers, Logical, Critical, and Creative: The Power of Reason
  • REL: World Religions, Yoga: Breathing, Meditation, Spirituality, The Holocaust: Jewish and Christian Responses, Women in Religion, Ancient Religions 

Kansai Gaidai University

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Spring
  • Country: Japan
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  REL
  • Unique Feature: Students will study Japanese language in addition to elective coursework taught in English.
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • REL: Religion in Japan, Shinto, Zen Buddhism, Death in East Asian Thought

 ISEP Al Akhawayn

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Morocco
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  REL
  • Unique Feature: Students can take an Arabic language course along with their English-taught electives. 
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • REL: Special Topics in Islamic Studies, Contemporary Issues in Kalam, Mysticism and Sufism, Intro to Islamic Jurisprudence, Intro to the Quran, Intro to the Basics of Islam

Radboud University

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Spring
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL, REL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Political Philosophy, History of Medieval Philosophy, History of Contemporary Philosophy, Metaphysics and Philosophical Anthropology, History of Philosophy, Philosophy of Personal Identity, and more
  • REL: Buddhism, Coptic Christianity, Church and State in Eastern Christianity, Exegesis of the New Testament, New Religious Movements

USAC Maastricht

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL, REL

ISEP Massey and USAC Massey

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL, REL 

Adam Mickiewicz University

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Spring
  • Country: Poland
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Ethics in the Global World, Best of Contemporary Polish Philosophy, Poznań school of methodology in the context of postwar history of Polish philosophy

AIFS Stellenbosch

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: South Africa
  • Standing: 2nd semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL, REL
  • Unique Feature: Stellenbosch offers the opportunity to take specially designed courses for visiting students or to enroll directly in regular courses.  Students may select courses from the Philosophy and Theology faculty. 

 University of Johannesburg 

  • Program Type: Full Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: South Africa
  • Standing: 2nd semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL, REL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: UJ offers several themes in each course.  Students will be able to take courses focusing on topics such as African Philosophy, History of Modern Philosophy, 19th Century Philosophy, Animal Ethics, Political Philosophy
  • REL: Judaism and Islam, African Traditional Religion, Religion Politics and Society, Religion Gender and Sexuality, Religion and Environmental Justice

University of the Free State

  • Program Type: Full Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: South Africa
  • Standing: 2nd semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Classical Greek and Roman Philosophy, Church Fathers and the Middle Ages, Early Modern Thought, Kant and Hegel, Themes in Contemporary Continental Philosophy, Philosophy in Africa

Bilkent 

  • Program Type: Full Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Turkey
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: PHL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Offers a full range of PHL courses including Epistemology, Ethics, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Metaphysics, Consciousness, Medieval Philosophy, and more

ISEP Sharjah 

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange, ISEP DIrect
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Arab Emirates
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL, REL
  • Unique Feature:  Students can take an Arabic language course along with their English-taught electives. 
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Intro to Islamic Philosophy, Existentialism, Modern Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Law, Ethics and Environment
  • REL: Qur’anic Studies, Islamic Texts in Translation

ISEP University of Central Lancashire

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange, ISEP DIrect
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL, REL
  • Unique Feature:  Students can select courses from the Philosophy or Religion Culture and Society faculties amongst others.

Keele University 

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: PHL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Ancient Philosophy, Philosophy and Film, Politics of Sustainability, Epistemology and Metaphysics, Philosophy of Religion, Freedom and Equality, Life Death and Faith, Philosophy of Art, Philosophy of Language, and more

University of Roehampton 

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL, REL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Classical Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy, Critical Thinking and Logic, Contemporary Political Philosophy, Philosophy of the Social Sciences, Philosophy, Film and Literature, Philosophical Ethics, Metaphysics and Mind, Indian Philosophy and Religion, Love, Sex, Death and God
  • REL: Introduction to the Study of Religion, Theology, Personhood and Ethics, Sacred Myth, the Bible, and History, Contemporary Issues in Hinduism, The Book of Revelation: the End of the World, The Gospel of John, Myth, and Monotheism

 USAC Reading 

  • Program Type: Affiliate 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • Unique Feature: Offers a wide range of PHL courses including Radical Philosophy, Philosophy and How to Live, Ignorance Doubt and Relativism, Is Philosophy Nonsense, Reason and Argument, Hume Kant and Wittgenstein

USAC St Andrews

  • Program Type: Affiliate 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations:  PHL, REL
  • Course Samples (offerings may change)
  • PHL: Early Greek Poetry and Philosophy, Reasons for Action and Belief Philosophy of Logic, Moral and Aesthetic Value, Reasons for Actions and Belief, Virtue and Vice
  • REL: Christian Thought and Practice, Hebrew, Issues and History Analytic Theology, Book of Revelation and Apocalyptic Literature World Religions

Research

ISA Euroscholars

  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Europe
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Highlights: EuroScholars is a unique research abroad programme designed for advanced and talented undergraduate students from US and Canadian institutions looking for an international research experience. In this programme, students have the opportunity to undertake one course in the classroom and then work under the direct supervision of professors and other academic staff on a specific academic research project chosen by both the student and the faculty.