/ Philosophy Department

Special Programs and Opportunities

Lead campus-wide conversations. Get up-close and personal with renowned philosophers. Prepare for graduate studies.

Speaker in a lecture

Speaker Series

  • An opportunity to address the ways philosophy touches on important issues of our time
  • View upcoming Speaker Series events
  • Past visitors include:
    • Alvin Plantinga on religion and science
    • Charles Mills on philosophy of race
    • Bertha Alvarez Manninen on abortion
    • Nicholas Wolterstorff on art
    • Meghan Sullivan on religious language

Honors Program

  • Challenges majors to go beyond the minimum requirements of the major in order to acquire a deeper and broader philosophical training
  • Designed to be of special interest to students considering graduate studies in philosophy
  • View requirements in the catalog
  • Detailed information and application forms are available from the department chairperson

Awards

  • The philosophy department gives out awards for excellence in philosophy
  • These Charles E. Lake Memorial Awards are available to first-year, sophomore, junior and senior students
  • James B. Allis Philosophia Award

Philosophy students present research.

Independent Study

  • Independent studies are research and writing projects studying a particular philosopher or topic in-depth. These lead to a piece of writing that demonstrates strong philosophical scholarship.
  • Recent topics for independent studies have included Kyoto School of Buddhist philosophy, applied ethics in mental health care, the philosophy of Kant, the philosophy of Kierkegaard, divine freedom and others.
  • Students should speak to the department chair or a faculty member with expertise in their chosen area for more information.

Faculty-Student Research

Student research