Philosophy and Religious Studies Become Separate Departments

By Stephanie Hay

Last November, the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies faculty voted to approve a motion separating the department’s two disciplines into two independent departments. The Board of Visitors approved the request at its January 2005 meeting, and the change will become effective July 1.

The development of the religious studies major and the initiation of the MA in interdisciplinary studies concentration in religion, culture, and values, as well as the creation of the MA in philosophy, reflect the will and the capacity of each discipline to develop as separate academic units. The units are conducting separate internal searches for chairs.

A department memo notes that “decisions on personnel, curriculum, and other matters in each discipline must be made with an eye to the other and with the risk that involves. Once independent, each discipline will, in its own particular way, be able to present creative programs that contribute to the overall mission of the university and enhance its intellectual vision for the future.”