Honors Program

Students undertaking to pursue Honors in Philosophy should have a B+ grades in philosophy courses and a B+ average overall. The opinions of the philosophy faculty concerning the philosophical ability of students weigh heavily in borderline cases.

Only students who have already completed two philosophy courses will be considered for admission to the Honors program.

Majors, both Honors and Course, need at least 4 of their Philosophy credits from Swarthmore

Starting with the class of 2026 - There is a limit to the number of cross-listed courses that students can count toward the major and minor-
- Majors (honors and course) can only count two cross-listed courses
- Honors minors can only count one
- Course minors have no restrictions

Preparations

Students will normally prepare for external examination in a given field in philosophy by completing a double-credit seminar at Swarthmore. Majors will have 3 preparations, minors will have 1 preparation. With the approval of the department, it is possible to combine one-credit courses or attachments, taken either at Swarthmore or elsewhere, to form a preparation. With the approval of the department, a double-credit thesis may be counted as one preparation and submitted to an examiner.  Students cannot use a pass/fail (C/NC) course/seminar as an honors preparation.

Philosophy students must declare their honors preparations by the end of the add/drop period of the fall term of the senor year.

  • Student wishing to add a major or minor in Philosophy must do so by the end of the add/drop period of the Fall term of the senior year.
  • Philosophy students changing their program from course to honors (or honors to course) must do so by the end of the add/drop period of the fall term of the senior year.
  • Philosophy honors students must declare their honors preparations by the end of the add/drop period of the Fall term of senior year.
  • Students wishing to drop an honors major or minor must do so by the end of the add/drop period of the fall term of the senior year.