Graduating with Honors in Philosophy

The Department of Philosophy offers an honors program where qualified students can work closely with their chosen professor on philosophical problems. Upon completion of 6 units in PHIL 497 and PHIL 498, students will graduate with honors. The Department of Philosophy encourages eligible students to attend an Orientation Meeting to meet professors and learn about the benefits of the program.

Eligibilty
All undergraduate philosophy majors who have satisfied the following requirements are eligible:

1. 3.3 GPA in the major and 3.0 GPA overall.
2. Successful completion of all lower-division courses in the major (PHIL 203, 204, and 270 or 296)
3. Successful completion of at least 9 units of upper-division courses (with at least 6 units completed at CSULB)

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Orientation Meeting: Honors in Philosophy
(Date of meeting will be annonced soon.)
Fifth Floor Conference Room -- Main Library

All undergraduates eligible for the Honors in Philosophy Program for 2006-2007 are invited to meet with the full-time faculty to learn more about the program and meet faculty who are available to serve as advisors for the Honors Thesis Research.   Each faculty member will give a brief overview of their own specialties and research interests. Refreshments will be served.

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Completion of Program
The program has the following two curricular components:

1. A year-long, two-semester Directed Studies course (PHIL 498: Undergraduate Honors Thesis) in which you will write an undergraduate thesis under close supervision of any one of the full-time Philosophy Department faculty members. Thesis advisors will be selected by mutual agreement between student and faculty member.

2. PHIL 497: Undergraduate Honors Seminar in which you and the other students admitted to the Honors Program will present orally the ideas from your thesis in progress and then use the feedback you receive to revise and complete your thesis by the end of the term.

Students will typically enroll in PHIL 498 in fall and spring (3 units each semester), and in PHIL 497 in spring (3 units). Students who have been admitted to the Honors Program and have successfully completed these two requirements will graduate with Honors in Philosophy. You are strongly encouraged to apply. You have the opportunity to be part of this new and exciting program that could help shape your future and help prepare you for graduate study in philosophy, law, etc. and for careers in a variety of different fields.

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Contact Information
For more information, please contact:

Prof. Al Spangler
(562) 985-7675, MHB-917
spangler@csulb.edu

Prof. Larry Nolan
(562) 985-4452, MHB 906
LPNolan@csulb.edu


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