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Declaring
the Major
Major Requirements
Transfer Students
Non-matric & Post-bac Students
Graduation
Enrolling in Philosophy Courses
Minor, Honors, Scholarships,Iinternships
& Study Abroad
For More Information
Q: When can I declare the philosophy major?
A: Students
who have completed 10 credits of philosophy coursework and have
a 2.00 cumulative GPA may declare the major at any time.
This means after you have completed two (or more) of classes that
say “PHIL” in front of them you can make an appointment
to declare the major. If you don’t have grades in all
10 credits yet, you will have to wait until the grades have been
posted to your transcripts.
Q: Do I need an appointment to declare philosophy as my
major?
A: Yes. You need to schedule an appointment
with a philosophy adviser. You can do this by calling (206) 543-5855
or by emailing philadv@u.washington.edu.
Q: Is there an application for the major?
A: No. You will just be asked to sign a form at your advising
appointment.
Q: Do I need to bring a copy of my advising file to my appointment?
A: Maybe.
- Are you already declared as a major in
another department?
If so, obtain your file at your current
advising office. Let them know you are planning to declare a new
major, and they should give you a Change of Major form to bring
along with your file. (Don’t let the name of the form fool
you. The same form is used if you are dropping your current
major or adding philosophy as a second major).
- Are you a transfer student declaring
philosophy as your first major?
If so, obtain your file at Undergraduate
Advising, 171 Mary Gates Hall.
- Have you only taken college coursework
only from the UW and are declaring philosophy as your first
major?
If so, you don’t need to bring
your file to your advising appointment.
Q: When should I declare the major in philosophy?
A: You should declare the major as soon
as you decide you would like to pursue it and have completed 10
credits of philosophy. All UW students are expected
to declare a major by the time they have accumulated 105 credits,
which is about one quarter into your junior year. Should you decide
at some point you no longer want to be a philosophy major, it is
pretty easy to drop it. You just need to come see an adviser.
Q: If I am unsure if this is the right major for me, what
courses could I take to get a feel for what the program is like?
A: Making sure philosophy is the
right major for you is exactly why the department requires that
you complete at least 10 credits in philosophy before declaring
the major. As for what courses you should take, review the course
descriptions for the 100 and 200 level courses and pick the topics
that interest you most. In some disciplines, like math, you need
certain basic knowledge before you try to understand more complex
concepts. In philosophy, you need certain basic skills to be successful
in more advanced classes. Although the subjects of individual classes
will vary, most of the 100 and 200 level classes will introduce
you to these essential basic skills.
If you’ve taken one or two
philosophy classes and still aren’t sure, you might want to
take PHIL 199: The New Majors Seminar. This 2 credit course will
give you an overview of the various areas of philosophy and introduces
you to the interests of the department’s faculty.
go to degree requirements >
Q: Do I need 20 credits of 400 level philosophy coursework?
A: No. You need four classes at the 400 level. Most of
the 400 level classes are 3 or 5 credits, so you will end up with
a minimum of 12 credits at the 400 level.
Q: Can I use courses taken at other universities for my
philosophy major?
A: Courses taken in the US that have a
philosophy prefix generally can be used toward the philosophy major
at the UW. The major exception to this are courses that provide
instruction in a particular religious doctrine as part of their
philosophy programs. These courses usually do not count for credit
at the UW. Remember that you must complete a minimum of 25 credits
of UW philosophy courses.
Q: Can I take a course in my major Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory
(S/NS)?
A: Courses graded with the S/NS option
cannot be used for major requirements or general skill requirements
(e.g. VLPA, NW, etc.). Courses taken as S/NS can only be used as
general elective credits. The S/NS grading option is one that
you select through MyUW. It is different than C/NC grading
which is a grading policy designated by the department before classes
begin. Go here
for more information.
Q: What happens if I received an "Incomplete"
and do not complete the work for the course?
A: If you do not complete the work within
one quarter, the "I" will convert to a 0.0.
Q: I am a transfer student. Which courses transfer
to your department?
A: To find courses that will automatically transfer,
look up your college in the UW
Course Equivalency Guide.
Q: How do I make sure that I get my previous coursework
in philosophy applied to my UW transcript?
A: If you have coursework that does not transfer
automatically, make an appointment to discuss this with a department
adviser. Bring copies of relevant transcripts (official or unofficial),
course syllabi, and any other materials (e.g., copies of exams,
papers, or assignments from the relevant courses) that will help
the department determine how your previous coursework should be
categorized within the UW system.
Q: Do I need to apply to the philosophy department before
(or when) applying to the University?
A: No. Just note on your UW application that
philosophy is your intended major.
Q: I'm not a UW student. Can I still take UW philosophy
classes?
A: Yes. Students not currently enrolled at the UW may take
classes as a non-matriculated student. See here
for more information on becoming a non-matriculated student.
Q: I am a non-matriculated student. How do I register for
philosophy classes?
A: The philosophy department allows non-matriculated
students to register for philosophy courses as space permits and
the instructor gives approval for the non-matriculated student to
be in the class. You can obtain the needed forms at UW
Education Outreach. The philosophy department will
sign non-matriculated registration forms only after the instructor
has given permission.
Q: Can I enroll as a graduate non-matriculated student?
A: For more information on being a graduate
non-matriculated student contact the graduate program coordinator.
Q: My Post-Baccalaureate application says that I need a
recommendation from the major department I'm interested in. What
does this involve?
A: This statement is somewhat misleading. You actually
do not need a recommendation from the philosophy department in order
to apply for Post-Baccalaureate admission. (In fact, it will be
difficult for us to recommend you for admission if we don't know
you.) You should always feel free, however, to see a philosophy
adviser to talk about your eligibility for the major.
On your Post-Baccalaureate admission application, you should list
philosophy as your intended major. The UW Admissions Office will
then send a referral form to our department, asking us if you are
eligible for admission to the philosophy major. If you have completed
10 credits of philosophy (usually two classes) we will say you are
eligible. If you have not completed 10 credits we will say you are
not eligible at this time.
The admission decision is ultimately made by the Office of Undergraduate
Admissions and not by the philosophy department. You may be admitted
(or denied admission) to UW regardless of the response we provide
to this admission referral.
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Q: How do I know if I'm ready to graduate?
A:
If you expect to graduate within the next three quarters, you will
need to fill out a graduation application with one of the philosophy
advisers. Please make an appointment with one of the advisers.
Q:
How do I get Graduating Senior Priority (GSP)?
A:
GSP allows you to be in the first group to register for two quarters
before you graduate. Make sure you fill out a graduation application
with an adviser 2-3 quarters before you graduate to take advantage
of GSP. For more information on GSP deadlines click
here.
Q:
Can I go through the spring commencement ceremony, if I will complete
my remaining credits in summer?
A:
Yes, if you fill out your graduation application by the third
week of spring quarter.
Q:
Does the department have a graduation ceremony?
A:
Yes. The department hosts an informal reception for graduates and
their friends and families during the final week of Spring quarter.
If you fill out your graduation application by the third week of
spring quarter, an invitation (with rsvp instructions) to the Philosophy
Graduation Reception will be mailed to you in early May.
enrolling
in philosophy courses
Q: Can non-majors register
for "Majors Only" classes?
A:
Classes which are restricted to "majors only" usually
open to everyone during Period II registration.
Q: How
do I get an add code?
A:
Instructors have their own individual policies on overloading courses
and giving out add codes. Check with the instructor of the class
you are interested in or contact the advisers.
Q: What is PHIL 484:
Readings in Philosophy, and how do I sign up for it?
A: PHIL 484 is an
independent study option. It is your responsibility to approach
the faculty with an idea for independent study. Faculty members
consider each request individually; professors are under no obligation
to offer an independent study option to any student. If you are
interested in doing PHIL 484, plan ahead! You must speak with the
faculty member before registering; it is best to do this before
the beginning of the quarter in which the work will be done.
PHIL 484 is an elective toward the major. It does not count as one
of the four PHIL 400 level courses required for the major.
Q: Are there resources
on campus to help me with writing my philosophy papers?
A: Yes, there are
several resources for you.
- The Philosophy Writing
Center
The Writing Center is a free service to all undergraduates
who are writing papers for philosophy courses. It is staffed by
undergraduates who have received training from the Center for Instructional
Development and from the Philosophy Department. The Writing Center
staff will read your philosophy papers and discuss them with you
before you turn them in to your professors. The Writing Center is
located in 529 Condon Hall. Quarterly hours and a sign-up sheet
for Writing Center appointments are posted outside the door. Operating
hours change each quarter. You may also email the tutors at: philwrit@u.washington.edu.
- UW Center for Learning
and Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE)
CLUE offers drop-in tutoring,
discussions sessions led by graduate and senior undergraduate students,
and a writing center. Visit their website
for more information.
- Other UW and on-line resources are available
here .
Q: Can I minor in philosophy?
A:
Yes. As long as you are a junior and have a 2.00 cumulative GPA,
you may declare the minor at any time. Click here
for more information on the minor. If you would like information
about the minor, please schedule an appointment with a philosophy
adviser.
Q: Can minors get into “majors only” classes?
A: Usually classes that are restricted to “majors
only” open to everyone during Period II registration. Although
we can not promise that a minor will be able to enroll to any specific
class prior to Period II, the advisers are sometimes able to override
the restriction on a case-by-case basis for students who have declared
the minor.
Q: Can I participate in a study abroad program if I major
in philosophy?
A: At this point, we do not offer department-sponsored
study abroad programs. However, you can participate in programs
run by other UW departments and receive credit through them. You
can also study with a UW affiliate or non-affiliate program. Please
make an appointment with the advisers to see how the courses you
might take would work with your overall degree.
Q: Does philosophy have an honors program?
A: Yes. There is more information on admissions to the
honors program and the requirements to graduate here.
Q: Does the Philosophy department offer internships?
A: The only regularly offered internships sponsored
by the department are the class leaders of PHIL 199. Students are
invited to apply for the leadership positions. If you have already
arranged an internship and have a philosophy faculty sponsor for
it, philosophy internship credits (PHIL 498) may be appropriate.
Contact the advisers for more information on this option.
Q: Does the Philosophy department have any scholarships
for undergraduates?
A: Yes. The Kenneth R. Parker (KRP) Award for Excellence
in Community Service honors a UW philosophy major or minor who has
blended their studies in philosophy with a volunteer-based community
project. The recipient will receive a $250 scholarship. A donation
of equal value will be made on behalf of the recipient to a community
organization of their choice. Students apply in May.
Q: Where do I go with my other questions?
A: Please feel free
to contact the philosophy advising office with any questions you
may have about the program. You can reach the office through email,
philadv@u.washington.edu, or by phone: 206-543-5855. You may also
sign up for an appointment with an adviser at the main desk in the
Philosophy Department office in Condon 511. Drop-in advising hours
are also available, although these vary each quarter. Call or email
for the current drop-in schedule.
Q: How do I get more
information about what is happening in the department?
A: There are several
resources available for you.
Philosophy students are
encouraged to subscribe to the departmental email list. Undergraduate
advising updates and information about guest lectures, study abroad
programs, graduate school, and publication opportunities are distributed
on phillist, a list maintained by the department. Contact a philosophy
adviser for more information about how to subscribe.
- Philosophy department website
Visit our
website for all the latest information about the department,
including a calendar of upcoming colloquia and other events:
The Society of Undergraduate
Philosophy Students is a student organization dedicated to the informal
discussion of philosophical issues. Activities vary from quarter
to quarter. These include, but are not limited to: social activities,
information discussions with professors, reading groups, information
meetings about graduate school or other academic opportunities,
and email discussions of philosophical questions. Information about
SUPS activities is posted on the main bulletin board outside the
philosophy office in Condon Hall and is distributed on phillist.
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