THE RELIGIOUS STUDIES PROGRAM: MISSION AND GOALS
The Mission of the Department of Religion and Philosophy is to administer programs in
the academic fields of Religion and Philosophy and to cooperate with other academic
departments in furthering the pursuit of Christian liberal arts education on our campus.
The Department maintains a Wesleyan commitment to unite intellectual achievement and
vital piety in ways that foster both academic excellence and mature Christian discipleship.
The Department intends for the program in Religion to serve the mission of McMurry
University by accomplishing the following goals:

1. Introduce all McMurry students to the academic study of Religion through general
   education courses such as Old Testament survey, New Testament survey, and Introduction
   to Christianity;
2. Offer advanced courses in Scripture, Christian theology and ethics, the history of
   Christianity, and other fields which prepare Religion majors and minors for graduate
   school and/or seminary, and provide students majoring in other fields the opportunity
   to supplement their studies through advanced work in Religion;
3. Offer a limited number of courses which introduce pre-ministerial students to the
   theory and practice of ministry in the United Methodist Church;
4. Provide Religion students with opportunities for independent research through the
   Religion departmental honors program;
5. Provide opportunities for McMurry students to participate in study abroad programs
   in Religion.

PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM: MISSION AND GOALS
The goals of the McMurry University Philosophy program are:

1. To prepare students majoring or minoring in philosophy to levels of competence
   that will allow personal satisfaction and, for those choosing to do graduate work in
   philosophy, acceptance and success in graduate programs of their choice.
2. To enable students taking philosophy courses to satisfy general education or
   elective requirements to gain adequate skills of analytical thinking and literacy in
   philosophical traditions, especially as related to personal and academic interests
   and to the reponsibilities of informed citizenship.
3. To assist and encourage every department or program of the university to
   implement the overall goals of church-related higher education, especially in
   relation to the university core, general education requirements, and interdisciplinary
   programs and courses.