Undergraduate Study in the Sage School

Opportunities for Undergraduates in Philosophy

Activities and events in the Sage School provide opportunities for philosophy majors and other students interested in philosophy to engage with one another, with graduate students and faculty in the Sage School, and with visiting philosophers. In addition to opportunities intended specifically for undergraduates in philosophy, there are many activities and events sponsored by the Sage School which undergraduates in philosophy are encouraged to attend.

Norman Kretzmann Undergraduate Philosophy Lecture

Each academic year the undergraduate philosophy majors choose a speaker to invite to campus to give a lecture and interact with undergraduate students. Normally a speaker is selected in the fall semester and invited to visit in the following spring semester. Normally the visit includes a reception or dinner or additional discussion session with the speaker (primarily for majors). The director of undergraduate studies coordinates the selection process and assists the majors in arranging and hosting the event.

Norman Kretzmann Undergraduate Research Assistantships

Each academic year two research assistantships are made available to undergraduate majors in Philosophy (one each semester). Majors are invited to apply to assist on available faculty research projects. (Available faculty research projects are publicized to majors on an ongoing basis — normally on the department website.) Research assistants earn no academic credit but earn an hourly wage.

The application, which must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by the advertised deadline, consists in (1) a letter of application specifying one (or more) of the available faculty research projects and (2) a short statement (no longer than 300 words) explaining the applicant’s qualifications for and interest in the project(s). Normally, applicants will have contacted the faculty member sponsoring the research project in advance of submitting an application. Research assistantships are awarded on the basis of the applicant’s overall academic record, record in philosophy courses, and suitability for the project. Other things being equal, preference is given to seniors, then to juniors, and finally to sophomores. Applications are reviewed by a faculty committee chaired by the director of undergraduate studies. Should the faculty committee judge in any given semester that there are no suitable applicants, no research assistantship will be awarded in that semester.

Logos: the Undergraduate Journal of Philosophy at Cornell

Undergraduate majors in philosophy staff and edit Logos, a refereed journal which publishes undergraduate work in philosophy. Logos also sponsors undergraduate reading and discussion groups.

Funds to Support Special Initiatives

The Sage School sometimes has a limited amount of funding available to support special undergraduate initiatives. In the past these have included the undergraduate discussion club, travel by undergraduates to philosophy conferences, and Logos. Inquiries about funding for special initiatives should be made to the director of undergraduate studies.

Department Library

Undergraduate majors are entitled to use the departmental library housed in the Philosophy common room.