School of History, Philosophy and Religion

The School of
HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY
AND RELIGION

Academic Programs

History

History student gain knowledge and skills that suit them for a wide variety of careers and pursuits and that enables them to bring historical and humanities-based perspectives to society’s “big problems,” from racial and social injustice to violence and war.

Philosophy

Our emphasis on engaged philosophy offers alternatives to the ways we currently understand ourselves and our relation to nature and each other in our technologically complex, global economy.

Religious Studies

Religious Studies at OSU is an inter-disciplinary field that combines history, philosophy, anthropology, ethics, textual analysis, art, literature and film.

Applied Humanities

In our complex world, employers need professionals who can dig deeply into a diverse range of cultural perspectives to gain a better understanding and communicate more effectively. That’s the spirit of Oregon State University’s B.A./B.S. in Applied Humanities online degree program.

Certificates and Minors

SHPR offers several Undergraduate Certificate programs: Medical Humanities, Peace Studies, and Yoga Studies and the Military History Minor.

SHPR Stories

June 9, 2025

Study reveals greater empathy in adolescents after Peace Literacy education

woman in graduation outfit leaning against a news desk

May 28, 2025

Nuclear dreams to media streams

woman wearing purple sweater and beanie looking at camera

Feb. 17, 2025

Pulling out all the stops

Feb. 20, 2025

Ph.D. student explores alternative post-Cold War reality

portrait photo of woman sitting wearing a blue jacket

Jan. 29, 2025

Meet Jenna Proctor: Data analyst and Oregon historian

VIEW ALL FEATURED STORIES

Student Spotlight

Uncovering the forgotten history of women in STEM

Kathleen McHugh discusses her unconventional experience at Oregon State University and how it shaped her path studying home economics

McHugh’s thesis focused on Ava Milam Clark, who served as Oregon State’s dean of home economics for over three decades after first coming to the school as a teacher in 1911.

“She was a fascinating figure,” McHugh remarked. Under Ava Milam Clark’s leadership, Oregon State’s home economics program grew into the third-largest in the United States. Clark has also been credited with developing and introducing home economics curriculums to several other countries including China, Syria, and Iraq.