About the Major
Students majoring in Philosophy must take a minimum of ten semester courses in the discipline. They also must attend the monthly departmental colloquia which feature leading visiting scholars.
The following three courses are required for the major:
101: Historical Introduction to Philosophy: Ancient
201: Historical Introduction to Philosophy: Modern
In addition, majors must take at least one of the following:
212: Metaphysics, or
At least three other courses at the 300-level are required, one of which must concentrate on the work of a single philosopher or period of philosophy.
Senior majors have a required two-semester conference:
The Senior Conference provides the senior major with an opportunity to develop her ideas on a philosophical topic of her own choosing. This is an individualized research and writing course in which the student's work is presented the other senior majors. The work is done under the supervision of one or more of the faculty.
Honors
Honors are awarded by the department based on the senior thesis and other work completed in the department. As well, the Milton C. Nahm Prize in Philosophy is a cash award presented to the graduating senior major whose senior thesis the department the department judges to be of outstanding caliber. This prize need not be granted every year.
Professor Robert Dostal and a student in class.