College of Arts and Sciences 
Ellis Hall 202
Phone: 740.593.4588
Fax: 740.593.4597
philosophy.department@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/cas/philosophy

James Petrik, Chair
petrik@ohio.edu

Alfred Lent, Advising Coordinator
lent@ohio.edu

Mission

The Philosophy Department seeks to provide students with:

(1) opportunities to explore the philosophical questions that have engaged thinkers throughout time;

(2) courses that serve curricular needs of diverse academic units throughout the university;

(3) courses that serve the needs of their General Education requirements;

(4) an undergraduate major, comprising all the principal sub-fields of philosophy, that provides students with the core of a liberal arts education as well as the foundation for graduate studies in philosophy;

(5) an undergraduate philosophy major in pre-law that provides students with the core of a liberal arts education as well as preparation for law school;

(6) an undergraduate philosophy major in pre-theology that provides students with the core of a liberal arts education, includes specific coursework in the philosophical foundations of religious belief.

(7) an M.A. program in philosophy that provides students with the foundation for either doctoral studies in philosophy or other careers where logic, critical thinking and values clarification are prized (e.g. law).

The Department has a national reputation; distinguished philosophers are invited annually to the campus through the OU Philosophy Forum, the Lecture Series in the History and Philosophy of Science and the Lecture Series in Ethics and in Social and Political Philosophy. Finally, the Department facilitates and supports research and scholarly activity in philosophy by the faculty as well as our students.

Programs

The Department of Philosophy at Ohio University offers the following academic programs: 

Majors 

Philosophy Major (BA5241)  

Philosophy Major in Pre-Law (BA5244)  

Philosophy Major in Pre-Theology (BA5242)  

Minors 

Philosophy Minor - OR5241  

Special Opportunities 

Honors in Philosophy: A Junior or senior with at least a 3.25 accumulative grade-point average may apply to the department for admission to this program, which normally involves completion of 15 hours of independent research in the junior or senior year, or both, and submission of an honors thesis for approval by a faculty committee.

Honors Tutorial in Philosophy: Intended for the superior student and using a one-to-one tutorial method supplemented by special seminars and thesis research, this three-year bachelor’s degree program offered through the Honors Tutorial College  prepares students for graduate work or for the professional school. Ample time is available for courses outside philosophy, thus providing for breadth as well as depth of education. Enrollment for this program is limited.

Philosophy Circle: This undergraduate student organization is supported by the department and is open to all philosophy students. The circle meets regularly to provide students with an opportunity to discuss philosophical topics with one another and with faculty on an informal basis.

Awards: Every year at its Awards Dinner, the philosophy department makes the following awards: Student Achievement Award (each faculty member chooses an outstanding student); Robert Trevas Award in Ethics; Gamertsfelder Philosophy Prize; Robert Wieman Award in the History of Philosophy; Mary Spetnagel Award to the Outstanding Graduating Senior in Philosophy.