Philosophy & Religion

Discover Ideas & Arguments, Diverse Career Paths, Ethics Bowl

The Philosophy & Religion program at Queens cultivates within students a broad awareness of deep philosophical and ethical questions and the relevance of religion to intersecting fields, such as politics, history, and social justice. Students in our program explore critical issues in solving ethical dilemmas posed by modern technologies, engaging across religious difference, and the role of human interpretation in conceptions of the divine.

Our program develops critical skills that are relevant to diverse career paths, such as interfaith competence in engaging with diverse religious communities, a deep understanding of the ethical dilemmas facing the fields of healthcare, technology, and government, and fluency with textual analysis. Our faculty has combined philosophy and religion into one thought-provoking track for you to discover ideas, arguments, and practices that allow you to see the world from different perspectives. Students who major in Religion and Philosophy will find broad application to other fields, including law, public policy, education, health care, and of course, religious vocational training.

Meet Joseph Hines ‘22, Reham Garash, & Emily Sears Hickman ’21

“Philosophy taught me to think programmatically, deconstructing concepts and worldviews the same way you break apart a computer program into its constituent parts. Communication is also important; it doesn’t matter how great your algorithms are if you can’t communicate why they matter.” – Joseph Hines ’22

“The ethical skills I gained in philosophy classes enabled me to become a leading figure in transforming healthcare in Saudi Arabia. As an integrative medicine physician and deputy director at a major hospital in the country, I have critically analyzed and challenged the existing reductionist economical model.” – Reham Garash

“Being in interfaith spaces taught me so much about the under-the-surface dynamics at play that impact partnerships. The national and international focus of the interfaith studies minor gave me unparalleled crash courses in negotiation, running meetings and conferences, dealing with translation and interpretation issues, and creating long-lasting partnerships.” – Emily Sears Hickman ’21

Program Highlights

• The Philosophy and Religion program can put your learning into action by fostering collaborations with the Belk chapel, participating in the annual ethics bowl, and serving on local medical ethics committees.
• Minors include Bioethics, Ethics, Interfaith Studies, Jewish Studies, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Philosophy and Pre-Ministry
• Co-curricular opportunities include the Ethics Bowl, Spiritual Life at Queens, Interfaith Summit, and the Davies Fellowship
• You’ll have opportunities to expand your horizons through study abroad experiences.
• The possibilities to analyze information, solve compelling problems, and hone communication skills are limitless, as students activate their learning in Charlotte, one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.

Your Degree in Action

Philosophy and religion graduates go on to careers in:

• Religious leadership
• Law
• Clinical ethics consulting
• Counseling
• Journalism
• Data science
• Business
• Medicine

Selected Courses

• Religions in a Global Context (REL 110) 
• Philosophy Through Film (PHL 120) 
• Faith and Feminism (REL 300) 
• Thinking Through Technology (PHL 365)

Program Contact

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