For students in the Senior Year, there are several options for a 'Capstone Experience' in the subject.

1.  An Honors Thesis. Seniors wishing to earn honors by presenting a senior honors thesis should consult their concentration advisor during their sixth semester or at the start of the seventh semester, concerning procedures and requirements. In addition to completing the usual nonhonors requirements, a student must write a thesis judged to be of honors quality by two readers and have a grade point average of over 3.5 in philosophy courses (of which at least five must be taken for a letter grade). Honors theses are usually prepared over two semesters' work with an advisor. For more information on writing an honors thesis, click here.

2.  A Reading Course. Many professors will be happy to set up a PL199 reading course for one semester with an individual student, e.g. leading to the preparation of a special large paper on a particular topic of research. One option is to set up a Reading Course to accompany a 100-level course that you have recently taken or are taking at the same time. For example, you might take PL166 Metaphysics, and also do a special reading course on Necessity or on Reduction and Supervenience -- or you might take PL164 The Nature of Morality, and also do a reading course to specialize in the notion of Moral Facts. In each case the 100-level course would provide a general overview of the topic and give you an idea of one professor's views, and then you could research further in the subject either with that same professor or with another with overlapping interests. A one-semester Reading Course may also for some people be a first step towards writing an Honors Thesis.

3.  Senior Seminars.  There are seminars with the number PL99, aimed primarily at advanced undergraduates, on varying topics each year, e.g., PL99 Descartes' Meditations.

4.  Graduate Seminars.  200-level seminars are mainly aimed at graduate students, but many are able to take advanced undergraduates as well. The best preparation is usually to have done a 100-level course with the same professor or in the same general area of philosophy.

Please feel free to talk to the Concentration Advisors about ideas and questions you might have about any of these options -- or to approach in office hours individual professors who might be able to help you as an advisor for a particular project.