BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Western Kentucky University recently granted a motion to discontinue the Department of Philosophy and Religion as its own entity.
What You Need To Know
- WKU Department of Philosophy and Religion no longer its own entity
- Move made as cost-cutting measure for the school
- Philosophy department now under political science while religion falls under the history department
- Currently, there are about 30 philosophy majors at WKU
The move was made as a cost-cutting measure for the school, but it didn't come without some confusion.
“I think there was some miscommunication and misinformation, and I think people thought our department was disappearing entirely, which isn’t the case," said philosophy major Dalton Hodges. "We are just kind of shifting and merging with another department."
That merge will happen under the Department of Political Science while religion will be moved to the Department of History.
Hodges was disappointed about the move but does think some good can come out of it.
"It gives us philosophy majors a chance to last longer," said Hodges. "Merging with poly sci hopefully will bring more philisophy majors into the university."
Classes within the department will still be offered to students and will not have any effect on receiving a philosophy and religion degree; however, the biggest blow may be to students with on-campus jobs.
“The biggest direct effect will definitely be our student workers in the philosophy and religion department no longer having a job," said Hodges.
Currently, there are about 30 philosophy majors at the university.