2024-2025 University Catalog
Philosophy and Comparative Religion Department
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College of Arts and Humanities
Ellensburg
Bouillon Hall, room 206L
Mail Stop 7555
509-963-1818
https://www.cwu.edu/academics/philosophy/
Faculty and Staff
Chair
Matthew Altman, PhD
Professors
Matthew Altman, PhD, applied ethics, philosophy of law (esp. punishment), Kant and 19th-century German philosophy, social/political philosophy, normative ethics, philosophy of art
Gary Bartlett, PhD, philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology and cognitive science, social epistemology, philosophy and childhood
Cynthia Coe, PhD, 20th-century continental philosophy, feminist philosophy, 19th-century philosophy, critical race theory
Jeffrey Dippmann, PhD, world religions, Chinese Buddhism, Daoism
Senior Lecturers
Lauren Nuckols, PhD, ethics, pragmatism, environmental philosophy
David Schwan, PhD, applied ethics, ethical theory, moral psychology
Karen Turcotte, MA, philosophy and world religions, women/gender and religion, philosophy of humor
Staff
Anna Lea Judah, secretary senior
Department Information
Philosophy is an ongoing process of critical and speculative inquiry into questions representing people’s deepest concerns, such as the meaning of existence, the nature of reality, and the evaluation of human conduct. The program includes the study of Western, Asian, and noncanonical philosophy, both historical and contemporary.
Comparative religion is an investigation into the nature of religion, its pervasive role in human life, and its contribution to understanding human existence. The program is comparative in nature but complemented by a philosophical component focused on religion and unique electives designed to accommodate student interests.
Students may choose either a 50- or 60-credit major. In order to graduate, a student who completes the 50-credit major must also have a minor or second major in another discipline. A student who completes the 60-credit major is not required to have a minor or second major.
Maximum Credit Overlap
No more than 10 credits of coursework counting toward any of the department’s major or minor programs may also be counted toward one of the department’s other programs.
Departmental Honors in Philosophy and Comparative Religion
The departmental honors program recognizes the exceptional scholarship of qualified students in either philosophy or comparative religion. To qualify, students must have completed at least 25 credits in their major and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and 3.5 in their major coursework.
In addition to their normal coursework, students seeking departmental honors must take one additional upper-division course in their program, complete a superior thesis (PHIL 497 or RELS 497: Honors Thesis) to be evaluated by a second reader from the departmental faculty, and make an oral presentation.
ProgramsBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Non-degree Undergraduate Minors or CertificatesCoursesPhilosophy (PHIL)Religious Studies (RELS)
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