Arts and Sciences Division

Courses

Philosophy and Religion

Welcome

You’re welcome here.

Yes, you.

Whoever you are, welcome.

Maybe you aren’t really sure about this, what philosophy is. Or you’re pretty sure you know what religion is, but can’t imagine why or how to study it in college. Maybe you’re pretty smart, you hope, and want to do the most, the best, you can here before going somewhere else. Why should an El Centro education be anything less than you could get anywhere else?

Maybe you’re a bit angry, and with good reason, that people like you, people with views like yours, aren’t represented in our country right now, or in the schools, the way they should be.

The Program in Philosophy and Religion at El Centro meets more than distributional requirements. It meets some people’s desire to know why people in the world do such awful things to each other. It tries to help others in their search to figure out the Big Questions in life. It meets some people’s drive to excel in academics. It meets others’ need for a diversity of views, as well as ways to handle a diversity of views.

How? What do we do, exactly? Sit around and…think?

We emphasize appreciative but critical thinking about stuff that matters. We emphasize getting your facts straight before you make up your mind. We teach you to express your own views in a very diverse environment. And we raise the question of what it would be to have an ethically-alert, locally-relevant, global perspective on America and on your place in it.

Welcome.

Program Paths


Courses


Class Schedules


People

  • Dr. Betty Moran, Dean, Division of Arts and Sciences
  • Vicki Buford, Administrative Assistant, Arts Area
  • Victoria Wheaton, Departmental Assistant
  • Mark Thames, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar, Instructor in Philosophy and Religion, Coordinator of the Program in Philosophy and Religion
  • Melanie Ferrari, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty. Instructor in Philosophy
  • Kurt Friederich, M.Div., Adjunct Faculty. Instructor in Religion
  • Frank Garrett, M.A., Adjunct Faculty. Instructor in Philosophy
  • Janet Jerrow, M.A., Adjunct Faculty. Instructor in Religion

Library Philosophy Webpage

Library Religion Webpage

Core Curriculum

Professional Organizations, Philosophy and Religion Departments at Area Universities