A major in philosophy includes introductory work in one or more areas of philosophy, typically pursued in the first or second year. There are philosophy courses in the history of philosophy and the philosophy of various regions of the world (America, the British Isles, Continental Europe, Asia). Other courses focus on special areas of philosophy such as ethics, logic, metaphysics, religion, political philosophy, aesthetics, and theory of knowledge. Still other courses are at the interface between philosophy and other disciplines such as physics, biology, technology and the environment, psychology and the social sciences, literature, law, and medicine. Advanced students take intensive work in a single philosopher or philosophical text, and senior majors enroll in a Senior Seminar organized around a special topic or set of topics.

To qualify for the honors program, a student must be a junior or a senior major with an overall average of at least 3.0 and an average in philosophy of 3.5. The student must maintain this average throughout participation in the honors program. To seek honors, a student must plan a program not later than the first semester of the senior year with a faculty advisor and the director of undergraduate studies. The program consists of three courses at the 300 level or higher, concentrated on related aspects of a central problem. At least one of the courses should be independent study under the direction of the advisor and lead to a senior paper. This paper is reviewed by the advisor and one other member of the philosophy faulty and by a faculty member from outside the department. The senior paper is then the focus of an oral examination. Honors are awarded upon passage of the examination.

For undergraduate students interested in philosophical research, the Philosophy Department offers The Undergraduate Research Tracks in Philosophy -- an opportunity to do sophisticated and concentrated research on a particular topic in philosophy... research at a level of sophistication and with a degree of concentration which is exceptional in undergraduate education.