Honors in Philosophy

The Department’s Honors Program is designed to provide the most capable philosophy majors with enriched experiences in philosophy by providing for thesis work, which involves greater freedom and responsibility for the student.

Applying: The best time to apply to the Honors Program is during your junior year. You can apply up to the beginning of your senior year. If you seek entry to the Honors program, contact Professor S. Jack Odell, Director of the Honors Program. (Office: 1120A Skinner; Telephone: 405-5844). Full admission to the program does not normally occur until you have completed at least six courses in philosophy.

To be admitted, you should have a GPA 3.0 overall, and 3.5 in Philosophy. Talk to Professor Odell if there are special circumstances in your case, which explain why you do not reach these averages. Honors in Philosophy involve the standard Philosophy major, with our two 400-level courses subject to approval by the Director of the Honors Program. In addition, you complete a Thesis. This involves 6 credit hours of independent study: PHIL 498 Topical Investigations, taken over two consecutive semesters, normally in your senior year.

You write the Thesis under the supervision of a member of the faculty, and are examined orally on your thesis topic, toward the end of the second semester, by a panel of three faculty members.