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Table of contents
Introduction
First, I would like to welcome you to the department
and to wish you the best in your philosophical studies. This handbook has
been designed to inform students about department and university policies,
procedures, requirements, and regulations. Although much of this information
is available in other sources, such as the American University Catalog, some
of the department information is not.
Therefore, I ask you to read this handbook carefully, as well as to familiarize yourself with the additional web sites listed in the table of contents now. If you have any questions while reviewing the material, please contact either the undergraduate advisor, the chair of the department, or myself, the administrative assistant, for clarification.
Remember, it is your responsibility to make sure that you successfully meet degree requirements and deadlines. Details and checklists are included in this handbook to help you keep organized. Again, welcome to the department. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask someone in the department for help. I look forward to working with you over the course of your studies here at AU.
Sincerely,
Shelley Harshe
Sr. Administrative Assistant
General
Education and Philosophy & Religion
The Philosophy and Religion department offers quite a few
general education courses. Many of these courses also meet requirements for
the major and minors. For example, PHIL-105 Western Philosophy is a foundation
course for the general education requirement in Curricular Area II, Cluster
2, which may also count toward the major or the minor in philosophy. RELG-185,
Forms of the Sacred: Religions of the East, is a foundation course for the
general education requirement in Curricular Area III, Cluster 2, and may count
toward the minor in religion or philosophy and/or the major in philosophy.
By taking advantage of this “double-counting,” the student may
free up credits in order to take more electives. This is also useful for students
with more than one major, allowing them to complete all their requirements
within the 120 credits required for a degree.
It is important to note that, to satisfy the requirements of General Education, no more than two courses in a single discipline may be taken to count for General Education credit. Since, however, we are a “joint” department of Philosophy AND Religion, you may take up to four courses (2 in Philosophy and 2 in Religion) to satisfy the requirements of both General Education and the major in Philosophy.
Consortium
Classes
American University is part of the Consortium of Universities
of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The other universities in the consortium
are Catholic, Gallaudet, George Mason, George Washington, Georgetown, Howard,
Marymount, Southeastern, Trinity College, UDC, and the University of Maryland.
With the appropriate approval, students may take courses, for residence credit,
at another consortium university as long as the course is not being offered
at AU during the same semester and there is room in the course. Payment and
rates for a consortium class are the same as if the course were an AU course.
Consortium registration is available during the first two weeks of AU classes only, unless the consortium university classes begin before those at AU.
If you decide to take a consortium course:
Independent
Studies
Independent Study will only be approved in special
cases for students whose projects require them and for which a course covering
that area is not being offered at AU or in the Consortium. Any student considering
an independent study must first receive approval from the following:
Upon receiving approval, fill out the Independent
Study Registration Form, also available in the Schedule of Classes,
and submit to the registrar’s office.
back to top
Latin Honors
To be eligible for AU graduation honors, the student must have completed at
least 60 credit hours in residence at AU. These honors are listed both on
the student’s diploma and permanent record. Latin Honors are based on
the student’s cumulative grade point average. The grade point averages
required are as follows:
summa cum laude: 3.90 +
magna cum laude: 3.70 – 3.89
cum laude: 3.50 – 3.69
University Honors in Philosophy
University Honors is based on a combination of honors course options and cumulative
grade point average, and is established through American University's Honors
Program (X6194, Hurst Hall 2nd floor). Students have two different honors
options: 1) University Honors or 2) University Honors in the Major. University
Honors is intended to provide an option for double majors or interdisciplinary
and specialized work. University Honors in Philosophy offers more specialization
in philosophy.
Requirements for University Honors in Philosophy
What is a Capstone?
According to the Honors Program’s website, “as the final component of the Honors Program, students complete a capstone project. Often, these capstones are completed in the students' major, but can be completed in any department of the University. Projects range from research papers to creative writing pieces, from web sites to art portfolios to recitals. The possibilities are truly unlimited!”
Phi Sigma Tau
Honor Society
General Information
Founded at Muhlenberg College in 1930, and subsequently incorporated as a
nonprofit corporation of Washington, DC, Phi Sigma Tau is a member of the
Association of College Honor Societies. The Society's central purpose is to
promote ties among philosophy departments in accredited institutions and students
interested in philosophy. Both at the national and local levels, the organization
of the Society is instrumental--a means for developing and honoring academic
excellence and philosophical interest, and for popularizing philosophy among
the general collegiate public.
DIALOGUE, the Journal of Phi Sigma Tau, is published twice annually (in October and April). Wholly devoted to the publication of articles by graduate and undergraduate students, it has a circulation of more than two thousand. The PHI SIGMA TAU NEWSLETTER appears at least three times annually and provides an informal means for chapter communication and information exchange.
Local chapters are located in private and public institutions throughout the United States and Canada. These chapters, numbering 148 in 2000, constitute the focal point of Phi Sigma Tau activities. Their officers are students at the host institutions, with faculty advisors serving as institutional and department liaisons; and each chapter enjoys a high degree of autonomy in its activities and by-laws.
Membership
Junior and senior philosophy majors, who have completed at least four
philosophy courses, and have an overall 3.75 GPA are eligible for
membership. Please contact the Faculty advisor for more details.
Prospective members pay a one-time initiation fee (currently $25) to the National Office. Following initiation, the new member receives a membership certificate and package containing a membership card and information on registering as a member of the NATIONAL ALUMNI CHAPTER (NAC) following graduation. Membership for the first year in the NAC is without cost, and a modest fee (currently $5) is required for subsequent years of membership. A student initiated into PST remains a member throughout her/his career as a student, and receives copies of both DIALOGUE and the PST NEWSLETTER as these are published (they are distributed locally by the chapter's faculty advisor). NAC members also receive personal subscriptions to these two publications.
Phi Sigma Tau keys and graduation stoles are also available for purchase (currently $13.60 per key and $21.50 per stole, plus shipping and handling). Contact the chapter officers for more details.
McDowell Conference
Every fall, the department hosts the McDowell Conference on
Philosophy
and Social Policy. This provides students with an excellent opportunity to
meet philosophers as well as meet with faculty, graduate students and other
undergraduate majors. Recent topics have included Philosophy and Tolerance,
The Philosophical Implications of September 11th, Philosophy and Democracy,
Philosophy and Race, Human Rights, Philosophy and Feminism, and The Morality
of Welfare for the Poor.
Hurst Lecture
Each spring, the department holds the Bishop Hurst Lecture.
Speakers
have included such prominent philosophers as Alasdair MacIntyre, Hugo
Bedeau, John Lachs, Lucius Outlaw, David Crocker, and Anthony Flew.
Click here for current event information.
The uses of Philosophy in Non-Academic Careers
" [The] value of a field of study must not be viewed mainly in terms
of its contribution to obtaining one’s job after graduation. Students
are understandably preoccupied with getting their first job, but even from
a narrow vocational point of view it would be short-sighted to concentrate
on that at the expense of developing potential for success and advancement
once hired. What gets graduates initially hired may not yield promotions or
carry them beyond their first position, particularly given how fast the needs
of many employers alter with changes in social and economic patterns. It is
therefore crucial to see beyond what a job description specifically calls
for. Philosophy need not be mentioned among a job’s requirements in
order for the benefits derivable from philosophical study to be appreciated
by the employer, and those benefits need not even be explicitly appreciated
in order to be effective in helping one advance.
"It should also be emphasized here that—as recent studies show—employers want, and reward, many of the capacities which the study of philosophy develops: for instance, the ability to solve problems, to communicate, to organize ideas and issues, to assess pros and cons, and to boil down complex data. These capacities represent transferable skills. They are transferable not only from philosophy to non-philosophy areas, but from one non-philosophical field to another. For that reason, people trained in philosophy are not only prepared to do many kinds of tasks; they can also cope with change, or even move into new careers, more readily than others.
"[Finally] the long-range value of philosophical study goes far beyond its contribution to one’s livelihood. Philosophy broadens the range of things one can understand and enjoy. It can give one self-knowledge, foresight, and a sense of direction in life. It can provide, to one’s reading and conversation, special pleasures of insight. It can lead to self-discovery, expansion of consciousness, and self-renewal. Through all this, and through its contribution to one’s private life can be incalculable; its benefits for one’s public life as a citizen can be immeasurable." (quoted from The APA’s Brief Guide for Undergraduates pp. 6-8).
Graduate Study in Philosophy
The main reason for going on to graduate school in philosophy should be a
strong love of philosophy and a desire to make it a continuing part of your
life. Finishing a PhD in philosophy takes four to six years of concentrated
study, so it is a significant commitment of time and effort. But it is also
an extraordinary opportunity for pursuing a love of the subject in the company
of other equally dedicated students and faculty.
Many graduate programs in philosophy offer financial aid to accepted students, making it possible to go to graduate school without falling deeply into debt. This aid may be in the form of tuition waivers, fellowships, or opportunities to teach. Jobs in philosophy—i.e. jobs teaching philosophy at a college or a university—are scarce. Recently, there have been about 60 tenure-track positions advertised in the US each year, and there are hundreds of applicants for each job. On the other hand, graduates with good records from the best graduate schools have a fairly good chance of finding a job.
It is possible to earn an MA rather than a PhD in philosophy. Completing an MA in philosophy usually takes between two and three years of study, and it too can be a deeply rewarding experience. An MA will not enable you to teach philosophy at a college or a university, but it can be beneficial in pursuing various other careers, including careers in law, government, publishing, college administration, and high school teaching.
The competition for acceptance into graduate schools is very keen, and into the leading graduate schools extremely so. It is recommended that you apply to many schools and to schools ranked at different levels. The most important factor in determining whether you are admitted will be your overall record of achievement, as indicated in your college transcript (i.e. overall grades but also overall depth and seriousness of your studies) and in your letters of recommendation. Many graduate schools also ask for a sample of your writing and/or a written statement of purpose, which should be carefully crafted in consultation with AU faculty. Other factors, largely out of your control, include the strength of the competition in any given year, and the balance of interests or backgrounds a department seeks.
In order to determine which departments to apply to, you should do the following:
Am I ready for graduate school?
While some undergraduate students know for sure that they want to continue
their studies, many others simply do not know what it is they want to do after
graduation. Am I ready for the long-term commitment of graduate study? Is
graduate study for me? For some students, taking a year or two off to work
or travel may provide answers to these questions. During this time, you may
gain life and job experiences that were not possible during your undergraduate
studies. Many AU students who have decided to delay graduate school have stated
that it was a good decision for them. For some, it gave them time to develop
their interests, increase their skills, and find a grad school to meet their
interests. Others found work they enjoyed and decided that graduate study
wasn’t necessary to pursue particular career paths.
Philosophy majors and the GRE, LSAT and GMAT
Exams
The GRE (Graduate Record Exam), LSAT (Law School Admission Test) and GMAT
(Graduate Management Aptitude Test) are tests designed to test your aptitude
for graduate school, much the same way the SAT and ACT are designed to test
your aptitude for a bachelor's degree. Philosophy majors tend to score among
the very best of all majors on the GRE, LSAT and GMAT exams. The chart below
summarizes the percentage by which the average score of the test-takers from
various undergraduate majors differs from the average score of all test-takers
(as reported in The Chronicle of Higher Education).
Major |
LSAT |
GMAT |
GRE verbal |
GRE quant. |
| Philosophy | +8.7% | +11.0% | +17.6% | +4.6% |
| Arts & Music | -.05% | -1.2% | +14.5% | -5.7% |
| English | +5.6% | +4.1% | +14.5% | -5.7% |
| Foreign Langs. | +5.7% | +3.3% | +7.9% | -4.2% |
| History | +2.9% | +4.6% | +10.8% | -5.5% |
| Gen. Humanities | +4.7% | +1.8% | +7.3% | -5.0% |
| Political Science | -1.6% | +0.6% | +3.5% | -5.0% |
| Psychology | +0.9% | +0.8% | +3.1% | -4.0% |
| Sociology | -7.0% | -5.0% | -5.0% | -15.0% |
| Education | -8.7% | -4.2% | -10.4% | -15.8% |
| Speech | -2.7% | not reported | -6.0% | -14.3% |
| Biology | +4.0% | +3.3% | +5.4% | +8.0% |
| Mathematics | +12.8% | +13.3% | +2.7% | +26.3% |
| Chemistry | +7.6% | +7.5% | +2.1% | +18.3% |
| Business Adm. | -4.5% | -0.8% | -9.1% | -2.3% |
| Management | -5.4% | -7.7% | not reported | not reported |
Planning ahead for the application process
Many alumni of our BA program go on to pursue graduate work not only in philosophy
but also in other fields such as history, psychology, linguistics, computer
science, anthropology, literature and law. Regardless of the field chosen,
the application process is similar. Application deadlines are usually at the
beginning of January or February. See below for a list of the most common
items required on graduate school applications:
Official transcripts
Universities are looking for solid grades, not only in philosophy courses,
but throughout your undergraduate studies. They are also looking for breadth
of study and diversity. For law school, it is recommended that students take
a course in logic before their senior year.
Letters of recommendation
Do not be bashful about asking faculty members to write a letter, or even
a large number of letters, on your behalf. (Remember: present faculty have
relied on their teachers in just this way.) You should, however, be as considerate
about time as you can be. Two weeks is the minimum amount of time that should
be given between the date of your request and the due date. Don’t be
hesitant about checking back to see if the recommendation has been written;
occasionally, something slips through the cracks. Finally, be sure to let
your recommenders know where you are accepted and your plans. They are interested.
GRE
Although the GRE is not necessarily a good predictor of a student’s
ability to do graduate work, it is the only constant measure available to
universities for comparing students. Because of this, most universities take
the GRE scores strongly into account when deciding fellowships and assistantships.
Therefore, high GRE scores are essential for securing funding for your graduate
work, so take them seriously and do well. The best source for information
on the GREs is the GRE website itself. This
site provides information about the test, as well as test site information
and a few practice tests.
Statement of purpose
The statement of purpose for graduate applications is quite distinct from
the one you wrote for your undergraduate application. It should include general
information about why you want to go to graduate school and what you want
to do once you are there. It should be a serious explanation of your interests
and why you chose the field of philosophy. You should also explain why you
feel that this particular university is the right fit for your interests.
In addition, be clear and concise. This is not the place for flowery writing
and flourishes. Remember, the admissions committee has to read many of these
statements and will appreciate a straightforward, clear, well-written statement.
As always, proof-read your statement, have others proof-read your statement
(especially a faculty member), and polish it to perfection. You want to make
a good first impression.
Writing sample
The writing sample is perhaps the most important part of the application.
Therefore, you should not choose a paper written during your senior year,
since this will not give you time to revise and polish the paper. This should
be a substantial paper, on average 10-15 pages.
Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
How
do I set up <my.american.edu> and e-mail accounts?
My.american.edu is
a password-protected web site giving students access to their records and
other useful university information. To set up an account, go to <my.american.edu>,
click on the Create A New Account link at the bottom right of the
page and follow the instructions. E-mail accounts are automatically created
for all students and are accessible through <my.american.edu>. In most
cases, the e-mail address is the student’s first and last initials,
followed by the last four digits of his or her AU ID number, followed by “a”.
The initial password is the student’s six-digit birth date (MMDDYY).
For example, the e-mail and password for a student named Immanuel Kant with
an AU ID number of 1234567 and a birth date of 01/23/1724, would be ik4567a@american.edu
and 012324.
Who
do I need to contact if I move or change e-mail accounts?
If your contact information changes while you’re a student
at AU, please fill out a university change of address form (available at my.american.edu
under “Student Snapshot” on the "Academics" link). In
addition, contact the philosophy office either by phone or e-mail with your
new contact information. As a courtesy, you should also provide this information
to the Undergraduate Advisor and Internship Coordinator, as appropriate. The
department office is here to help you and to provide you with updated information.
However, this is not possible without updated contact information from you.
Where
do I get information about course offerings?
Course offerings for each semester are available on-line at my.american.edu
under Course Registration. The Schedule of Classes link
provides course information, such as time, location, instructor, course availability
(open or closed) and a brief description in some cases. In addition, the Department
prints a Philosophy and Religion Course Offerings brochure with more
detailed descriptions of courses being offered and is available in the main
office at the beginning of each registration period. Click here
to see the online version of the brochure. Finally, general course descriptions
are available in the University Catalog in the gray section.
Where
do I go for advising?
Feel free to speak to any faculty member in the department in seeking advice
on substantive issues. All faculty hold office hours and welcome students
to visit, whether it be to seek advice about courses, assignments, research
topics and interests, future career plans, or simply to get to know the professor
and the department better. However, when it comes to administrative issues,
such as specific requirements or procedures, please contact either the undergraduate
advisor, the chair of the department, or the administrative assistant.
How do I register for classes?
How
and when do I apply for graduation?
You should apply for graduation by filling out the online “Apply to
Graduate” form available through my.american.edu
(under the Academics link). For Fall semester graduation (December), the deadline
for applications is usually mid September; for Spring semester (May), the
deadline is usually mid January; and for Summer (August), the deadline is
usually mid May. For current deadlines, go to the registrar’s
Web site. Once you submit your application for graduation, the department
will receive notification from the registrar’s office and will verify
your eligibility for graduation. Please note that commencement ceremonies
are now only offered for Spring graduation. Therefore, if you intend to walk
in the ceremonies, you will need to apply for a Spring graduation. After the
registrar’s office receives verification from the department, you will
be sent specific graduation ceremony information (ordering cap and gown, etc.)
as soon as it is available.