A student interested in an Independent Study should contact a faculty member who has expertise in the area the student wants to study. The faculty member should be contacted during the semester prior to the one in which the Independent Study will take place. If the faculty member is willing and able to lead the Independent Study, the student and faculty member will develop a list of readings and assignments and they will both sign an Independent Study contract. In most cases, students' grades will be determined by the quality of their written work; students should typically expect to produce 15-20 pages of work in an Independent Study. 

An Independent Study Contract must be completed and signed by student, instructor and department chair before the student can enroll in PHIL 495.

PHIL 496: Senior Thesis fulfills the University's Capstone requirement; enrollment is limited to Juniors and Seniors with a 3.7 or higher average GPA in philosophy courses. The purpose of the Senior Thesis course is to give students the opportunity to pursue independent philosophical research (under the supervision of a faculty member) and to produce a substantial piece of written philosophical work. The Senior Thesis is an excellent option for students interested in pursuing graduate work in philosophy. 

A qualified student interested in writing a Senior Thesis should contact a faculty member who has expertise in the subject upon which the student plans to write. The faculty member should be contacted during the semester prior to the semester in which the Senior Thesis course will be scheduled. If the faculty member is willing and able to lead the Senior Thesis, the student and faculty member will develop a list of readings and a schedule for the completion thesis drafts. A completed thesis will be at least 20 pages in length. 

A Thesis Contract must be completed and signed by student, instructor, and department chair before the student can enroll in PHIL 495.