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Honors in Philosophy
First Things:
Requirements: To be admitted to honors, a student must have a grade point average of 3.5 or above in the philosophy major and should, except in exceptional cases which require a petition, declare candidacy during the Winter Quarter of the junior year. Declaration of candidacy involves approval of the project by a faculty adviser and notification of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Sequence: The candidate then usually takes 398 in the two successive quarters: spring of the junior year, and fall of the senior year. Although this is not the sequence recommended by the department, it is possible for students to petition the Department of Philosophy in writing for permission to begin the senior thesis sequence in fall quarter of senior year. A statement must be clearly affixed to the application for honors stating the reasons why the applicant will not be able to begin in spring of the junior year. The grounds will then be evaluated by the DUS and supervisor when the application is reviewed. The student's absence from Northwestern in spring due to an international study abroad program is the common reason for the granting of departmental permission, but in all cases the department must be persuaded that the student could not commence the sequence in spring of junior year. For this reason, any students seeking this arrangement should make their application in winter, so that there is still time to begin in spring if the application for a late start is rejected.
Also, students may in very exceptional circumstances undertake honors in non consecutive quarters. Permission for this option must be gained at the time honors candidacy is declared.
NOTE: Students should note that Philosophy 398 cannot be used to fulfill the Department's requirement that majors take at least 4 courses in Philosophy at the 300-level.
Process: The student's supervisor will oversee the research and writing of the paper by meeting with the student, as well as by commenting on drafts to the final version of the thesis. The thesis supervisor alone determines, on the basis of the student's work in this time, the grade for the 398 sequence. At the end of the two quarter sequence, the student must submit a long paper or short thesis; the required length is between 25 pages (or 6250 words) and 50 pages (12500 words). This final piece of writing should demonstrate an appropriate level of research or reflection; a general rule of thumb is that the thesis be equal or better in quality to that of A level work in a 300-level course in order for the student to be granted honors.
Evaluation: The final paper is read by the supervisor and another faculty member. Their evaluative reports are submitted to the departmental Undergraduate Advisory Committee. This committee nominates approved candidates (i.e. those whose work was found excellent by both readers) for honors to the WCAS Committee on Superior Students and Honors.
For more information, please consult the director of undergraduate studies. For more detailed information, see this.
The Brentano Prize in Philosophy for Excellent Philosophy Essays (Awards)
The Brentano Prize is an award offered by the philosophy department for outstanding undergraduate essays. It will be awarded on the basis of an outstanding paper written for a philosophy department course or a senior thesis. Nominations can only be submitted by faculty members who received a paper of outstanding quality in one of their courses or from an honors candidate. The corresponding papers will be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, who appoints a committee of two department members (none of whom can be the instructor) to decide whether to award the prize.
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