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Frequently asked questions and answers regarding administrative issues for undergraduate students of philosophy
General
Study Abroad
For Majors
Honors Program
Downloadable Forms
General
Q. Where can I make suggestions, air ideas, and make informal complaints, or participate otherwise in departmental life?
A. We have an electronic bulletin board that you can either access via your Blackboard-surface (when you are a philosophy major) or by simply clicking here. (For the time being, in case this link doesn't work, you have to log on to the Blackboard-system first, before you can use this link as a direct way of connecting to our discussion group. If you would like to log on now, please follow this link. Afterwards, close the window that popped up to let you sign in, and click again on the link above, and you will see our bulletin-board. )
In addition, we have set up an undergraduate liaison committee, consisting of several students who are committed to convey students' reactions to the philosophy faculty. For any concerns, you can send an email to a member of the undergraduate philosophy student liaison committee.
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Study Abroad
Q. What should I do to get departmental approval for courses I have taken abroad or at other universities?
A. Since the material of classes offered at different universities can differ significantly from those at our department, you need to get departmental recognition for the courses you have taken at other universities. In particular, the department's committee of undergraduate advisors has to decide whether a specific course can count as equivalent to one of the core requirements (History of Philosophy, Logic, Kant), and which level (200, 300) corresponds to a course that is not a core requirement. In order to get the departmental recognition, please hand in the following materials to your undergraduate advisor:
- FOUR copies (yes, 4!) of the syllabus and course description of the course you wish to have checked.
- If not specified in these materials, we also need a precise explanation of the assignments you fulfilled.
- A filled in form from the College called "Petition for Credit for Courses taken abroad" (to download, you need AcrobatReader).
- Please note ( not on the form, but on a separate piece of paper) which course you would like each of the courses taken abroad to be recognized as; this is the only way of avoiding that your abroad-courses are credited as a NU-philosophy course that you actually have already taken.
Once you have obtained the department evaluation, and the departmental committee for undergraduate advising has filled in the corresponding part of the form, you will be notified by your advisor to pick up the form and return it to the Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising, 1908 Sheridan Road , for further processing with the Registrar.
Top Q. Will courses taken abroad or at other universities be recognized that were offered at other departments than philosophy?
A. Generally no. In exceptional cases, the committee may decide otherwise, but the general policy is to honor only courses from philosophy departments.
Top Q. What should I do if I want to study abroad, but keep in touch with philosophy?
A. Wonder. Think. Work at becoming a good person. Read. Write. Email others in the philosophy community. In any event: Before you leave, see our study abroad expert, Mark Sheldon. In the event you plan to write an honors thesis: see below.
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For Majors
Q. What should I do to petition to graduate?
A. The person in the department who will take care of your petition to graduate is your undergraduate advisor. She or he is responsible for ensuring that you either already have or will be able to fulfill your requirements. For this purpose, please follow these steps:
- Go over the requirements for the major at our department, and check those classes you have already taken. Make sure you know exactly which requirements are still missing.
- Regarding the classes you plan to take in your senior year, make sure that these classes are offered, and when. In order to find out, either follow this link to the yearly planner, or ask Judith Kasen at the department office for help.
- Get a form to petition to graduate. You can get in on-line here
- Fill the form in as indicated; again, filling in the classes still missing is important.
- Print out a provisional transcript as a control of the classes recognized by the college.
- Make an appointment with your undergraduate advisor, or drop in during her or his office hours. To this appointment, please bring
- your transcript
- your filled-in form
- any evidence of the department's recognition of courses you have taken at other universities or abroad (see below for more on this).
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Q. How do I get specific course credits for courses I have taken at another university before coming to NU?
A. Generally, if your courses were taken at the philosophy department of another four-year degree-granting institution (i.e. College or University), there should be no problem to get credits. However, what specific course your credit will count for has to be determined by the department's Undergraduate Advising Committee. In order to get this evaluation, please bring the following to your advisor:
- FOUR copies (yes, 4!) of the syllabus and course description of the course you wish to have checked.
- If not specified in these materials, we also need a precise explanation of the assignments you fulfilled.
- A short note (may be by email) what course of our program you would think these already taken courses to be equivalent to,
- A filled in form from the College called Application for credit for non-NU courses .
Once you have obtained the department evaluation, and the departmental committee for undergraduate advising has filled in the corresponding part of the form, you will be notified by your advisor to pick up the form and return it to the Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising for further processing.
Top Q. How do I get specific course credits towards my philosophy major for courses I have taken at another NU-department?
A. Our departmental rules for the major in philosophy allow you to have at most one course taken at another department recognized as a philosophy course. Obviously, this is only possible insofar as the course in question had an unquestionably philosophical content. However, what specific course your credit will count for has to be determined by the department's Undergraduate Advising Committee. In order to get this evaluation, please bring the following to your advisor:
- FOUR copies (yes, 4!) of the syllabus and course description of the course you wish to have checked.
- If not specified in these materials, we also need a precise explanation of the assignments you fulfilled.
- A short note (may be by email) what course of our program you would think this course to be equivalent to.
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Honors Program
Q. What are the pre-requisites for signing up for an honors thesis?
A. You must be a philosophy major of junior standing, and have a GPA in the major of at least 3.5.
Top Q. What exactly do I need to do to sign up for an honors thesis?
A.
Where to start:
- Make an appointment with a prospective supervisor to discuss possible topics. You could also consult with your undergraduate dept advisor at this time, who might have suggestions/ideas. Remember that most faculty are only able to accept one or two students in an academic year. You may need to discuss several options with different possible supervisors.
- Obtain the agreement of a supervisor with whom you would like to work, and in conjunction with doing this…
- Develop a proposal for a thesis topic in consultation with your prospective supervisor. In general, the proposal will be a means of informing your supervisor, your advisor and the DUS of your plans at the moment you are signing up; so, it doesn't involve having already acquired expertise, just your ideas and hunches at this point, and some rough location of the project in the philosophical landscape. Once you're done, type it up : suggested length: one paragraph (150 words).
- Print out an Academic Progress report, verifying that your GPA in the Philosophy major is 3.5 or higher. (Your Academic Progress report is your transcript downloaded from the web this does NOT have to be officially stamped by the registrar).
- Please download the application (pdf-file on-line, Acrobat reader needed) from the Philosophy web site or you can pick up an application in the Philosophy Department, from Judy Kasen. Fill it out, and attach both your topic proposal, and Academic Progress report to the application.
- Return the three documents to Judy Kasen: application form, accompanied by the GPA printout, and the topic proposal, AND ALSO SEND HER AN EMAILED VERSION OF THE LATTER, which will be forwarded to several members of the department. Even though you may have already discussed it with them, both your supervisor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies will need to sight and approve your final proposed topic, so don't leave this to the last minute. Most students take the proposal to the supervisor, discuss it with them several times, and personally obtain their signature on their application form: that is the best approach. Once she has confirmation from the supervisor and DUS, Judy Kasen will then give you a permission number so that you may register for 398-1, Honors, during the Spring Registration period. You MUST register for 398 in order to undertake Honors.
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Q. What should I do if I want to sign up for an honors thesis, but I am spending my junior year abroad (winter quarter included)?
A. This problem is currently handled on a case-by-case basis. For those students who plan to spend even the spring quarter of their junior year abroad, the following considerations are relevant:
We can sometimes make special arrangements for students who must be away on study abroad programs in spring of their senior year. But, all things being equal, you should try to start your study abroad program early enough, so as to be back for spring quarter. Most students undertake study abroad programs for one quarter or one semester rather than a full year. If you begin in July or September of your junior year, you should be able to return by spring. Students who wish to be away for a full year can sometimes begin a study abroad program in their sophomore year, with special permission of the department and support from the study abroad office.
As for further details of our procedures, the department's undergraduate advisory committee is currently working on more general policies.
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