Senior Capstone

For students who declared the Philosophy major in Spring 2022 or later:

 Take PHIL 4888/4888H Senior Capstone (4 credits) in your final Spring semester.

PHIL 4888/4888H Senior Capstone (4 cr) will culminate students' work in the major. It offers the opportunity to engage and combine skills in analysis, critical thought and clear and cogent expression developed throughout the course of undergraduate work in philosophy.  Students will identify a provisional paper or paper topic prior to enrolling in the capstone course and will spend the semester writing, expanding, and revising this paper under the supervision of the faculty teaching the capstone.  Finished capstone papers will be roughly 15 pages.  Students will also be required to give a presentation about their papers.  Students who serve on the editorial board of the undergraduate philosophy journal may seek permission from the Director of Graduate Studies to substitute their editorial work for the capstone paper, but must still give a presentation in the capstone course and complete all other course requirements.  The capstone course will incorporate career readiness elements, and overall will strive to provide students with a culminating shared experience as philosophy majors. 

PHIL 4888 / 4888H will be offered once a year in the Spring semester.  PHIL 4888H is the Honors version of the Philosophy Senior Capstone Course and will be offered concurrently with PHIL 4888. Honors students will complete an Honors thesis for their capstone papers as per the Honors thesis requirements, including a defense of the thesis in front of a three-member faculty committee.  Honors students will also present their Honors theses to the capstone course and complete all other capstone requirements, along with additional requirements as determined by the faculty teaching the capstone.  The capstone course will provide students with guidance focused on thesis writing and an opportunity to be part of a cohort of thesis-writers in philosophy.

To register for PHIL 4888/4888H Senior Capstone (4 cr):

1.  Pick up a Senior Capstone Contract in the main office, 831 Heller Hall.

2.  Complete the contract and return it to Judy Grandbois in the main office.  She will give you a permission number for PHIL 4888 / 4888H. 

3.  Use this number to register for PHIL 4888 / 4888H.

4.  You are ready to go!

In exceptional circumstances students may seek approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies to substitute PHIL 4893 Senior Capstone:  Directed Study (1 credit) for PHIL 4888/4888H, but must still meet the 33 credit minimum for the major by taking an additional 3 (or 4) credit philosophy course. 

There are four options for PHIL 4893 Senior Capstone:  Directed Study:  1) complete a research paper of about 15 pages in several drafts written in consultation with a faculty supervisor; 2) complete such a paper (15 pages and in several drafts recrafted in light of supervisor comments) concurrently with a philosophy course -- the paper must go beyond course requirements but may elaborate on a shorter or less rigorous paper written for the course; 3) complete all of the work for an 8xxx seminar (with instructor permission); 4) serve on the editorial board of the undergraduate philosophy journal and complete a writing assignment about this editorial work in consultation with a faculty supervisor.  Note: All references to page numbers assume double-spaced pages, one-inch margins, and 12-point font.

To register for PHIL 4893: Senior Capstone:  Directed Study (1 credit):

1.  Obtain approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies to substitute PHIL 4893: Senior Capstone – Directed Study (1 cr) for PHIL 4888 / 4888H.  Note that you must still complete the 33 credit minimum for the Philosophy major.

2.  Find a faculty supervisor.  Your faculty supervisor is usually someone with whom you have taken a  class.  Contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies for help if you are having trouble finding someone to supervise your senior capstone directed study. 

3.  Pick up a Senior Capstone:  Directed Study Contract from the main office, 831 Heller Hall. 

4.   Fill out the contract, after consultation with your faculty supervisor.    

5.  Ask your supervisor to sign the contract. 

6.  Return the contract to Judy Grandbois in the main office.  She will give you a permission number for PHIL 4893.

7.  Use that number to register for PHIL 4893. 

8.  You are ready to go!

 For students who declared the Philosophy major prior to Spring 2022:

There are two options:

Option 1: take PHIL 4888/4888H  Senior Capstone (4 cr).  See above for more information about the Senior Capstone Course.

Option 2: complete PHIL 4893 Senior Capstone:  Directed Study (1 cr).  If you declared the Philosophy major prior to Spring 2022 you do not need approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Directed Study option, and you do not need to complete an additional 3 credits for the major (i.e. you are still subject to the minimum 30 credit requirement).  Please see the above description of the Senior Capstone: Directed Study for more information about how to register for and complete the Directed Study.  Students who fall into this category have two additional options, in addition to the four listed above: 5) complete all of the work for an 8xxx workshop that includes at least one written assignment beyond those for the associated 4xxx course (with instructor permission); 6) complete a "non-traditional" project with a faculty member's permission and guidance.