The CCNY Philosophy Thesis Program is designed to offer students the opportunity to carry out a rigorous research project that goes beyond the standard requirements of the major. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, students admitted to the Philosophy Thesis Program study a specialized topic of their choice for a year, and write a substantial research paper on that topic. While the program is open to all eligible students, it is recommended for students interested in applying to graduate school in philosophy or some other closely related humanities discipline, or interested for some other specific reason in doing sustained, rigorous, reading- and writing-intensive, highly independent philosophy work on a focused topic for a year.
Who is eligible to apply?
You are eligible to apply if you are a philosophy major, and you have at least a 3.5 GPA in your philosophy classes, and you have at least a 3.0 overall GPA when all your classes are factored in.
How do I apply?
To apply, submit the following items in (or attached to) one email, to Ben Vilhauer. ( bvilhauer@ccny.cuny.edu "> bvilhauer@ccny.cuny.edu ):
(1) A cover sheet with your name, email address, and student identification number,
(2) A personal statement, addressed to the Philosophy Thesis Committee, of no more than 500 words describing why you want to join the program and your main research interests in philosophy,
(3) A current transcript
(4) The name of a full-time philosophy faculty member who has agreed to serve as a reference and mentor.
When are applications due?
Application deadlines for Fall Semester are usually the second week of November and the second week of March in the Spring Semester.
What will I do in the thesis program?
During each of the two semesters in which students are working on the thesis, they must register for a 3-credit Philosophy Independent Study course. Both require mentor approval and both require that the mentor and student meet regularly during the semester.
Students must complete a thesis over the course of two semesters. During the first semester of the 2-semester thesis writing process students will carry out research and develop a thesis proposal. The proposal should not exceed 1,500 words and must be accompanied by a bibliography. During the remainder of the first semester and during the second semester the student must complete a thesis. The thesis should be approximately 5,000 words (not including a bibliography and footnotes).
Last Updated: 12/01/2023 12:15