The study of religion at ASU critically describes, interprets, explains, and evaluates the variety of religious phenomena across cultures while fostering essential skills for life-long success in the global marketplace.

To this end, our learning goals are:

• to encourage students to become self-reflective learners by:
  • carefully analyzing assumptions, presuppositions, and expectations about religion
  • closely examining various religious beliefs, behaviors, practices, texts, experiences, communities, institutions and worldviews
  • using multidisciplinary perspectives

• to enable students to develop adapatable skills for:
  • demonstrating sophisticated and critical understanding of the variety of religious phenomena across cultures
  • communicating clearly and persuasively
  • identifying problems and creating solutions by gathering, analyzing, and assessing data, sources, and arguments

• to promote global citizenship through:
  • recognizing the similarities and differences between worldviews
  • acquiring religious literacy by viewing religion as an integral part of the human cultural, literary, and artistic heritage
  • fostering understanding of the complexity of human behavior in a way that informs religious, political, and social lives

The Philosophy/Religion Department endorses the idea of a liberal arts education designed to teach communication skills, powers of reasoning, and intellectual traditions which undergird a society based on the principles of individual freedom, social responsibility, the advancement of knowledge, and the development of individual talents. Within the liberal arts tradition, the department focuses on the philosophical tradition and religious heritage which have been and continue to be vital to culture and society. Through teaching, advising, community service and research and critical assessment of the diverse philosophical, ethical, and religious perspectives found among different cultures and individuals. Special attention is given to those philosophical, ethical, and religious perspectives which have helped shape society and culture. The department encourages students to develop their ability for critical and creative thinking. It aims to enable them to evaluate the past and to be creatively oriented to the present and future.

From the "Self-Study for The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools" (January 1, 1971).

The purpose of the Appalachian State University Department of Philosophy and Religion is to provide a program of instruction in philosophy and religion characterized by the quality of teaching and scholarship which inspires students to achieve the highest degree of reflective discrimination and integrity and to offer preparation commensurable with the needs and demands of the best pre-professional students and graduate schools.

Specifically, the department seeks:

• to acquaint the student with, and to lead him into critical examination of, the religious and philosophical history of mankind
• to give special attention to those aspects of tradition having most to do with the shaping of the Western mind
• and to promote the desire to advance the skills and frontiers of knowledge in the disciplines of philosophy and religion and, thus, in every area of human endeavor where truth and the well being of persons is the goal.