Philosophy Department
Handbook:
A guide to Departmental Policies and Procedures
Degree requirements for Philosophy students are governed by the program information
published in the archived Bulletin and the Department Handbook for the academic year in which
a student began coursework at the University.
Last updated 8/26/14
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 2
General Information for New and Continuing Students ................................................................. 2
Mail ............................................................................................................................................. 2
Student ID Cards ......................................................................................................................... 2
Information Technology ............................................................................................................. 2
Student Portal .......................................................................................................................... 3
Email ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Canvas and Sakai .................................................................................................................... 3
Staff and Faculty Contact Information ....................................................................................... 3
CGU/CUC Resources ................................................................................................................. 3
Registration and Degree Forms .................................................................................................. 4
Certificate Programs ................................................................................................................... 4
General Policies, Procedures, and Requirements ........................................................................... 4
Academic Honesty ...................................................................................................................... 4
Satisfactory Academic Progress ................................................................................................. 4
Editorial Assistance and Publication of Theses/Dissertations .................................................... 5
Required Use of Interfolio for Letters of Recommendation ....................................................... 5
Program Requirements.................................................................................................................... 5
Advising/Registration ................................................................................................................. 6
Research Tool(s) ......................................................................................................................... 6
The Language Exam ............................................................................................................... 6
Courses ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Claremont Colleges Courses ................................................................................................... 6
Independent Study Courses..................................................................................................... 7
Transferring Credits .................................................................................................................... 7
Specific Degree Requirements .................................................................................................... 7
M.A. in Philosophy ................................................................................................................. 7
Dual Degree: M.A. in Philosophy/Ph.D. in Religion ........................................................... 10
Course Requirements ............................................................................................................ 10
Ph.D. in Philosophy .............................................................................................................. 11
Appendix I: Advising/Registration FAQs .................................................................................... 15
Appendix II: Who should I see in the Arts & Humanities office if I have a question? ................ 17
Appendix III: Notes on Capstone Paper ....................................................................................... 18
What is a capstone paper? ......................................................................................................... 18
How should one go about working on the paper?..................................................................... 18
How do I find the time to write my capstone paper? ................................................................ 19
Appendix IV: Capstone Paper Forms ........................................................................................... 20
Introduction
The purpose of this handbook for the Philosophy Department is to provide new and continuing
students with information about policies, procedures, and degree requirements for the M.A. and
Ph.D. programs in the Philosophy Department, which are not included or explained in detail in
the CGU Bulletin or on the CGU or School of Arts and Humanities (SAH) websites. Each
student’s program requirements are governed by the CGU Bulletin and the Philosophy
Department Handbook published during the first year of enrollment. This handbook is,
therefore, an essential guide and supplement for obtaining a degree in Philosophy at CGU.
Please note that most of the information students need in order to complete their degree at CGU
can be found on the website. Therefore, it is extremely important to become familiar with both
the CGU and SAH websites, especially the Student Services webpage. On this site, students can
find important links to resources for student life and academic policies and procedures (i.e. the
academic calendar, student health services, the writing center, IT help desk, forms for
completing a degree, etc.). Additionally, the SAH website contains important information, such
as contact information for all SAH faculty and staff, an event calendar, and links to special
resources for SAH students. While much important information is available on the CGU
website, the SAH office and staff always welcome students’ questions. The office is located at
831 North Dartmouth Ave. and is open from 8:30 – 5:30, Monday through Friday (except for
major holidays). The main phone number for the office is 909-621-8612.
General Information for New and Continuing Students
Mail
Students may occasionally receive mail and/or packages at the Arts & Humanities office if
necessary. Students will be notified via their CGU email account if any packages or mail arrives
for them.
Student ID Cards
The Claremont Card Center provides ID card services for The Claremont Colleges. Students
should visit the Card Center located in the CUC Connection office in the South Entrance of
Honnold Library during their first week of class as they will need this card for various services at
CGU, including library services. There is no charge for an initial ID card. The Card Center also
manages the Claremont Cash program. Claremont Cash can be used to purchase both food and
non-food items throughout The Claremont Colleges, as well as local merchants in and around
Claremont. All students, faculty, and staff of The Claremont Colleges have a Claremont Cash
account established as soon as their ID card is created. Funds may be deposited into an account
via the Card Center’s website or office. For more information about the Card Center, students
can visit the website at https://cards.cuc.claremont.edu/.
Information Technology
CGU and the Claremont University Consortium (CUC) offer many technological tools for
students, including campus-wide wireless internet access, email, online access to student
accounts, grades, and class schedules, web-based instructional tools, and the ability to request
and/or rent technical equipment for special events or classes. Information about these services,
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including answers to frequently asked questions can be found on CGU’s Office of Information
Technology webpage, http://www.cgu.edu/pages/260.asp.
Student Portal
It is extremely important that students check and use their Student Portals. The Student
Portal serves as the gateway for students to check email, access course management tools,
register for classes, check their grades, check their academic progress, view their
student account, and make changes to their personal information, such as addresses and
phone numbers. The Student Portal may be accessed at the following web address,
https://mycampus.cgu.edu Login information for the Student Portal is provided to students
after the first time they register either via U.S. Mail, email, or at New Student Orientation.
For help logging on or for a new username and/or password, please contact the Office of
Information Technology (OIT).
Email
Every student at CGU is given an email account. It is extremely important for students to
check their CGU email accounts regularly. CGU and the SAH office will only send email to
CGU email accounts in order to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA). Many courses require work done by e-mail, and many professors distribute
course information by this medium. Account information is provided to each student at the
New Student Orientation. If you cannot attend orientation please see Susan Hampson to
collect your orientation packet, which includes network account information. Note: It is
possible to forward CGU email to a different email account. Instructions for doing this
may be found at the following Office of Information Technology webpage
http://www.cgu.edu/pages/7982.asp.
Canvas and Sakai
Canvas and Sakai are course management tools used by some professors at CGU to post
syllabi and readings and/or to facilitate online discussions for their classes. CGU is currently
switching systems from Sakai to Canvas. If a professor still uses Sakai, it can be accessed at
the following web address: https://sakai.claremont.edu. Logon information is identical to
that used to access the Student Portal. Canvas can be accessed directly from the Student
Portal.
Staff and Faculty Contact Information
For a complete and current listing of Arts and Humanities Faculty and Staff contact and/or
biographical information, please visit the School of Arts and Humanities website at
www.cgu.edu/sah. Please see Appendix II for a list of office staff and how they can help you
during your time at CGU..
CGU/CUC Resources
For a list of current student resources at CGU, please visit either the School of Arts and
Humanities website at www.cgu.edu/sah or the main CGU website under “Current Students” at
http://www.cgu.edu/pages/104.asp, as well as on the Claremont University Consortium (CUC)
website, www.cuc.claremont.edu. Examples of resources that students can find on these sites are
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funding opportunities, career services, health services, the library, information technology, and
many more.
Registration and Degree Forms
There are important forms that students will need to complete their degree requirements at CGU,
such as registration forms, the Intent to Receive a Degree Form, and the Final Approval Form
(M.A./Certificate). Electronic versions of most of these forms can be found on the Office of
Student Records/Registrar webpage, http://www.cgu.edu/pages/179.asp.
Certificate Programs
The School of Arts and Humanities offers several Certificate Programs, which students can earn
concurrently with the degree for which they are enrolled. For more information about these
certificate options and their requirements, please see the Certificate section of the Bulletin.
General Policies, Procedures, and Requirements
CGU’s policies and procedures are available through the Student Services webpage. Some of
these policies include Academic Honesty, Sexual Harassment, Student Rights and
Responsibilities, and Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students should familiarize themselves
with these policies. The Philosophy Department has made additions to some of these CGU
policies, which are explained below.
Academic Honesty
In addition to the Standards of Academic Honesty contained in the Bulletin, the Philosophy
Department considers the multiple submission of written work for courses as an issue of
academic integrity. It is improper to submit the work done for one class or project to a second
class or as a second project without first getting the informed permission of both instructors.
Some instructors allow overlapping work between courses. In such cases, students must obtain
the agreement of all relevant instructors.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
The Philosophy Department adheres to the General Requirements for Satisfactory Academic
Progress (SAP) as outlined in the Bulletin with the following additions:
SAP refers to maintaining an appropriate (as distinct from minimally acceptable) academic
record reaching the various stages of progress in the department at or near the time expected of
the majority of students. In addition, students must demonstrate a level of research and writing
ability and class performance appropriate to the standards of graduate study. Cases of students
not maintaining satisfactory progress will be reviewed by the department advisor and department
chair, who will take appropriate action.
It is expected that students who have completed their coursework for the Master’s will complete
their additional degree requirements within a year. Students who have completed their
coursework for the Ph.D. are advised to complete their folio by the end of the following term.
Under exceptional circumstances, students may take up to two years to complete their qualifying
exams after finishing their coursework.
The department takes satisfactory progress into account in awarding financial support. Students
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should also be aware that CGU maintains a policy on satisfactory academic progress for
eligibility for financial aid. Information is available through the Office of Student Financing.
Editorial Assistance and Publication of Theses/Dissertations
All graduate students must follow University regulations regarding editorial assistance and
publishing of theses and dissertations. In addition to these regulations, the School of Arts and
Humanities has its own policy regarding editorial assistance.
A student preparing a dissertation or other written work as part of academic requirements may,
when allowed, use the assistance of professional editors, provided that the following rules are
observed:
 The student receives prior approval of the research advisor or professor to whom the
written work is being submitted.
 The student receives assistance only in style, usage and organization of language and not
in the subject matter of the written work.
 The student acknowledges and describes all editorial assistance in a written
document. The document is to be submitted along with the written work.
Required Use of Interfolio for Letters of Recommendation
Interfolio is an online service that manages, tracks, and delivers application and dossier materials
to graduate schools and for jobs, as well as confidential letters of recommendation. In order to
ensure the timely and reliable delivery of your letters All Arts and Humanities students are
required to use the service for all confidential letters of reference (unless your advisor/letter
writer chooses otherwise). We recommend that you use the service for the management and
delivery of your dossier and other application materials as well, but that is ultimately up to you.
Although almost all universities have moved to online applications, we recognize that there are
some who request letters be sent by mail directly from applicants and their letter writers. We will
work with you to ensure these letters are sent through our office, but please remember that the
letter writer is managing many requests and the ultimate responsibility for follow-up remains
with you.
Note that for online applications you can direct the letter of recommendation request to your
Interfolio account . Pleasse see the Office of Career Management’s webpage for more
information on Interfolio: http://www.cgu.edu/pages/6961.asp
Program Requirements
General Philosophy program requirements are outlined in the CGU Bulletin, which is updated
yearly and is the official university publication that governs degree requirements. The current
Bulletin, as well as archived versions of it, may be found at the following address,
http://bulletin.cgu.edu. Specific Philosophy program requirements such as advising, course
distribution, and research tool options are not included in the Bulletin. These are explained
below.
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Advising/Registration
Review of a student’s academic progress and program requirements by a faculty advisor is
required during the two-week mandatory advising period prior to registration each semester. A
registration hold will be placed on all accounts and will remain until students receive approval
from their advisor/chair. Students will be notified by email in advance of the mandatory advising
period each semester.
All students are responsible for checking in officially (in person, by email, or by telephone)
with their advisor or the chair of their department prior to registration each semester.
Students wishing to register for classes, continuous registration, or doctoral study must
first receive official approval from their advisor/chair. Only the official approval by a
faculty advisor may lift the registration hold on a student’s account.
Research Tool(s)
Students in the M.A. in Philosophy program are required to complete either one foreign language
Research Tool or Greek Readings. Students in the Ph.D. in Philosophy program are required to
complete two Research Tools: either two foreign languages or, with an advisor’s approval, one
foreign language and one Research Tool course (either Digital Humanities or Greek Readings).
Degree units may be awarded for completing either one of the two approved Research Tool courses.
The School of Arts and Humanities policy on foreign languages as Research Tools is: Fulfillment of
a language tool by demonstrating competency at translating an approved language into English--as
distinct from completing another type of research tool (permitted by some SAH departments)--can
only be achieved by passing an approved, written examination. This applies to all SAH students,
including native speakers of the language under consideration. Details about the language exam are
outlined below.
The Language Exam
The foreign language exam is offered four times per year by the SAH. For more
information, current exam dates, and to register, students should visit the “Students” page of
the SAH website.
Courses
Philosophy students may take any course offered at CGU. Since the material treated in a course may
differ considerably from year to year, courses may be repeated for credit with faculty approval.
Students may also take a limited number of upper level seminars offered at the Claremont Colleges.
Current course listings can be found on the Student Services webpage. In addition to courses offered
by professors, students may organize independent studies. See below for details and restrictions on
course options.
Note: Doctoral students will be allowed to count up to 16 units of undergraduate level,
independent studies, and tutorial readings toward their degree. Any of these units completed as
part of an M.A. degree will be counted as part of the 16 unit quota. Masters students may earn
up to 8 such units.
Claremont Colleges Courses
Courses open to students will be listed on the graduate course offerings, and students must
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request permission from the Chair of the Department and the instructor before enrolling.
Students should consult the Registrar’s webpage for instructions on how to enroll in or audit
classes at the undergraduate Claremont Colleges.
Independent Study Courses
Students may organize independent studies to pursue specialized topics under the guidance
of a professor. When an independent study replaces a course, students must do an
equivalent amount of reading and writing. Students must complete the Enrollment Contract
and Registration Form for Independent Coursework Credit and attach a plan for the
independent study signed by both the instructor and the student’s advisor. The plan should
include a course syllabus, a reading list, a description of scheduled meetings (at least one
hour per week for a 4-unit course), and a description of writing assignments. Detailed
instructions and the registration form for independent study classes can be found on the
following Registrar’s webpage, http://www.cgu.edu/pages/7405.asp.
Transferring Credits
The University guidelines for transferring graduate credits from institutions other than CGU,
may be found on the Office of Student Records/Registrar webpage. There are also restrictions
on transferring units for the Dual Degree M.A. in Philosophy/Ph.D. in Religion program. Please
refer to the Bulletin for an explanation of these restrictions.
Philosophy students have the following requirements for transferring units in addition to the
University’s guidelines:
Philosophy students must complete a minimum of 24 units within the Philosophy department
before transferring outside credits. Petitions may be submitted as early as the end of a student’s
first full year at CGU (when the student is on the verge of successfully completing 24 units).
In addition to completing the Transfer Credit Request Form, Philosophy students must include
(1) a letter explaining why the courses listed for transfer are appropriate for Philosophy credit;
(2) the student’s best seminar paper from CGU; (3) a brief paragraph addressing each course’s
relevance, merits, research, and written work; (4) course syllabi and materials if possible. The
petition should also explain the scholarly direction of the student’s graduate career and how past
graduate work fits into future academic plans. This petition may be developed in consultation
with the department advisor.
Specific Degree Requirements
M.A. in Philosophy
The M.A. program is designed for students who seek either to enrich their knowledge of the
fundamental strands of the Western philosophical tradition before moving to more
specialized study in Ph.D. programs in philosophy, or to expand their experience with that
tradition in preparation for pursuing professional degrees and occupations outside of
philosophy.
The Master of Arts degree requires 40 units of course work, which usually can be completed
comfortably in two years of full-time study. Students are required to take a sequence of
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courses designed to cover a wide historical range (Topics in Ancient Philosophy, Topics in
Modern Philosophy, and Topics in Contemporary Philosophy), an approved course in ethics
or value theory, an approved course in metaphysics or epistemology, an approved course in
logic, four electives, and reading competence in one foreign language. Additionally,
students must complete a final capstone paper. Students are expected to complete logic in
their first 16 units of graduate study.
Accelerated BA/MA
Students enrolled in the accelerated BA/MA program must follow all requirements for
the MA in Philosophy as outlined in this section, but they may transfer up to 16 units
taken during their undergraduate coursework to count toward the MA in Philosophy.
For more information on this program, please see the CGU Bulletin.
Capstone Research Paper
A final capstone paper of 12-15 pages (no more than 4,000 words) is required for the
M.A. in philosophy. The paper should show an ability to integrate historical and
philosophical knowledge in a chosen area of interest. It is expected that the paper will
be an expanded version of a research paper from coursework, or a project agreed upon
in consultation with your advisor. Please see Appendix III for more details on the
expectations for the capstone paper.
Procedure
1. Engage a faculty member who agrees to serve as reader of the capstone
research paper and to complete the Philosophy Capstone Evaluation Form.
2. Obtain faculty signature and submit it to the Department Chair.
3. Working with the reader, prepare a first draft of the proposed paper and
present the paper to a group of your peers. Afterwards, incorporate feedback
from the participants into the final version and submit it along with the
evaluation form to the reader. The reader together with a second reader
designated by the Department Chair will evaluate the capstone paper.
4. When the paper and form have been returned to you, submit it to the
Department Chair.
Format
The paper will be in a specified journal article format of your choosing and
approved by your advisor. Download all of the submission requirements (word
count, style guidelines, areas covered by the journal, etc.) and format your paper
specifically to meet these requirements, except the word count which should not
exceed 4000. You should also turn in a copy of these requirements with your final
paper.
Consult your research advisor early in the process. The research advisor is
usually drawn from among the core philosophy faculty but students may, with
advisor approval, work with faculty from other departments at CGU, or
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philosophy faculty at CST or the Claremont Colleges. Your research advisor may
differ from your department advisor. You do not need additional readers to
approve the topic or oversee the writing of your paper. The paper will be
evaluated by your research advisor and a second reader designated by the
Department Chair.
Deadlines
Paper proposals and Form A (see Appendix IV) are due October 1 or March 1 of
the semester before you intend to complete the capstone. Final capstone papers
are due on October 1 or March 1 of the semester you intend to graduate. Students
receiving a summer degree must submit their final paper by May 1.
Concentrations
M.A. students may choose to add a concentration in either of the two areas described
below.
Early Modern Studies
The Early Modern Studies concentration encompasses study in the disciplines of
English, History, and Philosophy, while retaining disciplinary focus in one of
those fields For Master’s students, this discrete course of study complements
coursework in archival and museum studies and/or prepares students for
application to doctoral programs in early modern, Renaissance, or Reformation
Literature, History, or Philosophy. The required coursework consists of all the
requirements for the M.A. degree with the following additional requirements:
 Five courses in the early modern period (1500-1800), of which two
courses must be in a discipline other than the one in which the student is
receiving the degree.
 One course in Paleography.
 Course in Latin reading. (not required but can be used for credit if taken in
preparation for a language exam).
 One course or workshop based upon bibliographic inquiry into the
extensive collections of modern print and manuscripts housed in the
Special Collections of The Claremont Colleges Library.
 Research Tools: the Early Modern Studies concentration requires a second
Research Tool. The two Research Tools for the concentration must be
completed through language exams in German or French and in Latin. If
a Latin Reading course is taken in preparation for the exam, this course
may be used for credit toward the degree/concentration.
Continental Philosophy
The concentration in Continental philosophy is offered through the cooperation of
the departments of Cultural Studies, Religion and Philosophy. To complete a
concentration in Continental philosophy, a student must satisfy all the
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requirements for the M.A. degree in Philosophy with the following additional
requirements:
 At least 4 courses must be in Kantian and Post-Kantian Continental
philosophy with the approval of advisor. (Note: the presumption is that preKantian philosophies will not be considered a course in continental thought
but can be considered so on a case by case basis upon the recommendation
of the instructor.)
 The capstone paper must be in an area of Continental philosophy.
 Foreign language research tool in German or French.
Dual Degree: M.A. in Philosophy/Ph.D. in Religion
This dual-degree program allows Ph.D. students in Religion to earn an M.A. in Philosophy
along the way. The program is designed for students who want a strong general foundation
in philosophy to support their work in the philosophy of religion. It also constitutes a good
dual qualification for teaching, particularly in colleges with joint philosophy and religion
departments.
Course Requirements
The student must complete a total of 72 units for both degrees with the following
requirements:
 28 units must be earned by taking the following courses: an approved course in
logic, an approved course in metaphysics or epistemology, an approved course
in value theory, an approved course in modern philosophy, an approved course
in ancient philosophy, an approved course in contemporary philosophy, one
advanced seminar not in the philosophy of religion.
 12 units in the philosophy of religion (Ph.D. courses). These 12 units and the
above 28 units together fulfil the M.A. coursework requirements.
 4 transdisciplinary units (a CGU requirement).
 additional 28 units.
Capstone Research Paper
In order to receive the M.A. degree in philosophy, the student must also complete a
capstone research paper. See the above section for the M.A. in Philosophy for details
about this requirement.
Transfer Credits
Up to 12 units may be transferred in on the basis of previous graduate work; this total
includes any transfer units credited toward the M.A. in philosophy. The student will
need to validate, on the basis of transcripts or breadth exams (to be taken upon
entrance), some competence in two areas of religion other than the philosophy of
religion, one of which must be a religious tradition outside of the student’s own.
Language Requirement
A reading knowledge of French and German is required.
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Qualifying Examinations
Qualifying examinations are set for the individual student with a view to his or her
dissertation topic.
Ph.D. in Philosophy
Course Requirements
The Ph.D. requires 32 units beyond the 40 required for the M.A. in Philosophy
including the 4 unit transdisciplinary course required by CGU.
Folio
The folio is the main basis for determining whether a student has acquired the abilities
necessary for dissertation work. It should demonstrate the student’s mastery of
technical skills, capacity for both original and exegetical work, and breadth of
knowledge. It consists of three 4,000- to 5,000-word papers on topics formulated by
the student with consultation of the faculty. Formal approval of these topics must be
secured at least one semester before the folio is submitted. A dissertation prospectus
should be submitted with the folio, and the student is advanced to candidacy after
passing a qualifying oral examination that concentrates on, but is not restricted to, the
folio and the dissertation prospectus. Students normally write the folio in their third
year of study.
Folio System
General Description: The folio is the main basis for determining whether a
student has acquired the abilities necessary for dissertation work. It consists of
three 4,000-5,000 word papers on topics formulated by the student with
consultation of the faculty and a reasonably detailed dissertation prospectus. It
should demonstrate the student’s mastery of technical skills, capacity for both
original and exegetical work, and breadth of knowledge. Formal approval of the
folio prospectus (sketches of the proposed arguments of the three papers) is
required at least one semester before the folio itself is submitted.
Evaluation Criteria: Note that these criteria may be satisfied in a number of
ways; while each folio paper must be concise, it may be the case that only one
paper demonstrates historical competence, or technical competence, or satisfies
the breadth requirement. Consultation with the faculty is strongly encouraged
throughout the folio process to ensure that all these requirements are properly
met.
Historical Competence. The student should show knowledge of at least
one period or thinker prior to the 20th century; this entails the ability to
understand the thought of a period in its own terms and to relate that
thought to contemporary questions. The student should work on at least
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one thinker who wrote in a language other than English and should be
competent in that language.
Technical Competence. The student should show some understanding of
technical material (in mathematics, philosophy of language, or logic, for
example) and some appreciation for the function and importance of formal
technique.
Breadth. The folio should be balanced. It should explicitly treat some
issue in moral philosophy (broadly conceived), and it should show some
appreciation for the relevance of philosophical work to other areas of
thought: to science, literature, or the visual arts, for example.
Conciseness. The student should show a good sense of what is relevant to
the issues the student’s paper raises. The length limit of 5,000 words is
strict: A folio that exceeds this limit will be returned for editing.
The student should understand that the folio is the equivalent in our program of a
traditional schedule of examinations in philosophy and its history. Accordingly,
the program must take care that, so far as the folio system permits, the purposes of
the traditional system are met. Thus the folio should not be a collection of
seminar papers, nor should it be a set of preliminary studies for the dissertation. It
should rather be a set of polished papers designed to convince the faculty that the
student has acquired the background and ability to formulate and successfully to
complete an original project the size of a dissertation. Class and seminar papers,
however excellent, are too often restricted in their scope and interest by the
concerns of the course for which they were written; they might not serve as
adequate folio papers without significant revision.
Procedures for Submission and Evaluation:
1. The program chair accepts submissions of prospectuses and folios on October
1 and on March 1 of each year.
2. Upon receipt of a proper prospectus, the program chair appoints an
appropriate Qualifying Examination Committee to judge its acceptability.
The student is given formal approval to proceed with the folio on the
successful completion of an oral examination upon the prospectus.
3. The student may work with the Qualifying Examination Committee in
completing the folio papers. The Committee may` not approve papers or
folios in advance, but it may read and discuss preliminary drafts, and make
appropriate suggestions for revision or further reading.
4. Upon receipt of a proper folio (which is composed of 3 folio papers and a
dissertation prospectus), the program chair schedules the Qualifying
Examination. The student is advanced to candidacy after passing an oral
examination based on (but not necessarily restricted to) the folio.
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Preliminary Oral Examination
On the basis of the dissertation prospectus and the qualifying oral examination, the
qualifying examination committee recommends a dissertation supervisory committee
to direct work on the dissertation. No later than one year after advancement to
candidacy, the student takes a preliminary oral examination designed to test the
viability of the proposed dissertation and the student’s command of the area in which
the dissertation falls.
Dissertation Committee
The School of Arts and Humanities policy on Dissertation Committee members is:
1. Claremont Colleges faculty may serve on a CGU Dissertation Committee
provided there is one core CGU faculty member on the Committee.
2. Claremont Colleges faculty may chair Dissertation Committees provided they are
CGU Extended Faculty and are deemed appropriate by the Department Chair and
the Dean.
Final Oral Examination
When the dissertation supervisory committee decides that the dissertation is complete
and ready for defense, the dean of the school approves a committee to conduct the
final oral examination. This examination is open to all interested students and faculty,
and is designed to test both the quality of the dissertation and the candidate’s general
philosophical competence. The PhD degree is awarded only if the committee approves
both the dissertation and the oral examination.
Concentrations
Ph.D. students may choose to add a concentration in either of the two areas described
below.
Early Modern Studies
The Early Modern Studies concentration encompasses study in the disciplines of
English, History, and Philosophy, while retaining disciplinary focus in one of
those fields. For doctoral students, the concentration prepares students for
research and teaching at college or university level. The required coursework
consists of all the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Philosophy with the
following additional requirements:
 Five courses in the early modern period (1500-1800), of which two
courses must be in a discipline other than the one in which the student is
receiving the degree.
 One course in Paleography.
 One course or workshop based upon bibliographic inquiry into the
extensive collections of modern print and manuscripts housed in the
Special Collections of The Claremont Colleges Library.
 Research Tools: In addition to the two required Research Tools for the
Philosophy PhD, the Early Modern Studies (EMS) Concentration requires
a third Research Tool. The three Research Tools for the EMS
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Concentration must be completed through language exams in German,
French, and Latin. If students take a Latin Reading course in preparation
for the exam, this course may be used for credit toward the
degree/concentration.
Concentration in Continental Philosophy
The concentration in Continental philosophy is offered through the cooperation of
the departments of Cultural Studies, Religion and Philosophy. To complete a
concentration in Continental philosophy, a student must satisfy all the
requirements for the Ph.D. degree with the following additional requirements:
 At least 4 courses must be in Kantian and Post-Kantian Continental
philosophy with the approval of advisor. (Note: the presumption is that
pre-Kantian philosophies will not be considered a course in continental
thought but can be considered so on a case by case basis upon the
recommendation of the instructor.)
 One of the folio papers must be in an area of Continental philosophy.
 Foreign language research tool in German or French.
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Appendix I: Advising/Registration FAQs
Why do we need an advising policy? The purpose of this new policy is to ensure that you
receive advising from your advisor or, if your advisor is on leave, from the chair of your
department/program at least once each fall and spring semester. Regular review of your
academic progress and program requirements by your advisor should help ensure you take the
classes you need and meet your program requirements for your degree.
Who does the advising policy concern? This policy is required of all students—masters and
doctoral students, those in course work as well as those who have completed course work and are
working towards or are ABD.
How does it work? All students are required to check in with their advisor prior to registration
each semester. Students wishing to register for classes, continuous registration, or doctoral study
must first receive approval from their advisor. A hold on your account will be lifted only if your
academic advisor sends an email to Holly Domingo to lift the registration hold.
How can I find out who my advisor is? Go to your CGU portal to obtain this information
(https://my.cgu.edu) or contact Holly Domingo. If a faculty advisor has not been assigned to you
please contact your department chair for academic advising.
How do I contact my advisor? Each advisor has his/her way of managing the advising process.
Some will be using an electronic appointment system for in-person or telephone appointments
and some will ask that you email them about making an appointment. Some advisors will
conduct advising over email. You should receive a message from your department chair
explaining the process for your department or advisor-specific instructions.
What if my assigned advisor is on leave? If your assigned advisor is on leave, your department
chair will serve as your advisor for that semester.
What is the mandatory advising period? In the two weeks prior to registration, all students are
required to contact their advisor to obtain approval for their courses or continuous/doctoral
registration. Because some classes may be closed by the time you attempt to register, we
recommend that you get approval on fallback courses during your initial advising session.
Registration for the spring 2012 semester begins November 16th. Thus, the mandatory advising
period is Tuesday, November 1st through Tuesday, November 15th.
What happens if I don’t get advising and approval from my advisor? You will be unable to
register for the coming semester and a registration hold will remain on your account. A
registration hold on your account will be lifted only if your academic advisor sends an email to
Holly Domingo to lift the hold.
When can I register on-line? On-line registration will open on November 16th. Students who
have received academic advising and don’t have a registration hold on their account can go to
their CGU portal (https://my.cgu.edu) and register on-line.
15
Can I register on-line for all courses, including Independent Study, courses at the 5Cs,
and/or Claremont School of Theology courses? No. You must use paper registration for any
Independent Study/Research course, any course at the 5Cs, and any course at Claremont School
of Theology. You must obtain your advisor’s approval for such courses. For registration forms
go to http://www.cgu.edu/pages/2140.asp. Please submit any registration form to Holly
Domingo.
If I change my mind and want to register for courses not approved by my academic
advisor, do I need to set up another advising appointment? Once the registration hold is lifted
from your account, an honor system is in place. However, we recommend that you get approval
on fallback courses during your initial advising session. If you need to discuss other courses with
your academic advisor, this can be done over email.
Will academic advising lift all of my holds? No. If you have other holds on your account (i.e.
outstanding balance, academic probation, etc.) please contact the appropriate office to clear those
holds.
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Appendix II: Who should I see in the Arts & Humanities office if I have a
question?
Humanities Secretary
Program Assistant
Program Coordinator
Special Event Coordinator
Administrative Director
Jessica Jones
831 N. Dartmouth Ave.,
Front Office
909-621-8612
jessica.jones@cgu.edu
Holly Domingo
831 N. Dartmouth Ave., #4
909-621-8082
holly.domingo@cgu.edu
Sarah Jaques-Ross
831 N. Dartmouth Ave., #5
909-607-3335
sarah.jaques-ross@cgu.edu
Genevieve Kaplan
831 N. Dartmouth Ave.,
#22A
909-607-3509
genevieve.kaplan@cgu.edu
Susan Hampson
831 N. Dartmouth Ave., #6
909-607-1278
susan.hampson@cgu.edu
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


Paycheck/payment pickup
Reimbursements
Room
availability/reservations

Registration




Language exams
Qualifying exams
Dissertation defenses
Graduation forms and
procedures
SAH website
Event advertising
RA/TA’s
Event planning
Tufts Poetry Awards
Room
reservations/availability









Friedman Awards
Department fellowships
Student group funds
Appendix III: Notes on Capstone Paper
What is a capstone paper?
The kind of work we expect in a capstone paper is radically different from course work. A
capstone paper should be your best effort at producing a serious and polished piece of
philosophical work. It will approach its topic in greater depth and achieve greater clarity than a
typical seminar paper, and ideally it will make more of a contribution to the questions and issues
it treats. Thus it will demonstrate to the faculty, to the admissions committee of a strong PhD
program elsewhere, perhaps, and to yourself that you can and in fact have produced graduateA graduate student’s career consists largely in reading, thinking, and writing about problems and
issues within the scope and concerns of particular courses and seminars. This kind of work is
both necessary and important. But it is not that much different from what you would do as an
undergraduate. Even an advanced seminar paper, for example, is defined by the agenda of the
course for which it is written, and it is typically written towards the end of the semester, leaving
you little time—often, only a few days—to work on it.
We think our students need and deserve more. That is why our expectations for a capstone paper
are radically different from course work. Like any philosophy paper, a successful capstone paper
needs to lay out clearly your views and arguments on some worthwhile issue or question. But, in
addition, it must clearly position your work within the context of some larger debate: what others
have said on the issue, how the debate has developed over time, how your position differs from
those of other people, how it is similar, etc. It must also show some independence of thought,
and it must be written for a general, though still philosophically informed audience.
How should one go about working on the paper?
Plainly, producing such a paper will require a lot of research, reflection, and writing. You
will need to do a significant amount of background reading and thinking about your topic to
attain some measure of control over the relevant literature, and to produce work of your own
informed by that understanding. Such command of the literature should also enable you to
develop and to lay out your views and arguments more clearly and with greater depth than you
could in a seminar paper.
The first thing you need to do is to find an appropriate topic. Any area that interests you in
philosophy or its history is fair game, subject to the approval of the faculty. A successful seminar
paper is often a good place to start, since its success means that you have already done some of
the work necessary for the capstone paper. You’ll also need to establish a plan for including time
for working on your paper within your existing schedule of responsibilities. Set aside a few hours
each week to work on your capstone paper, and take care to stick to your schedule. If you don’t,
you will find, before you know it, that you have spent weeks and months doing next to nothing.
We, the faculty, were graduate students ourselves once, and we speak from personal experience
on this point. Spend those hours that you have set aside for the capstone paper doing research,
thinking, and writing. You will have to work independently, so it is important that you exercise
appropriate self-discipline.
Working independently does not mean that you should not seek out advice and help from others.
On the contrary, seeking appropriate help and advice is an integral part of working
independently. So, while we will be offering little by way of unsolicited help and advice, you are
18
strongly encouraged to seek help and advice from us and from others. Your faculty advisor, other
faculty members, your fellow students, the Writing Center, the Library, writing groups—
whatever works for you—are all important resources and are there to help you. But you have to
take initiative to make effective use of them: that’s part of working independently.
How do I find the time to write my capstone paper?
That’s up to you. For those who entered the program in the fall semester of 2013 and later, we
have drawn up a required timeline that should help you in organizing your time and energies:
Students are to submit a proposal by October 1 in the year before they expect to graduate and to
submit the final version by March 1, or else to submit the proposal by March 1 and the final
version by October 1 of the same year. (So, for example, a full time student entering in Fall 2014
would submit a proposal by October 1, 2015, and a final version by March 1, 2016.)
This timeline reflects the level of investment of time that we expect from you. The timeline gives
you at least five months between the submission of your proposal for the paper and the
submission of your final paper. Since you will need further time to formulate your proposal, it is
clear that you will be devoting at least six months to producing your capstone paper. You need to
make effective use of this time. You cannot produce a satisfactory capstone paper by
working on it just the week before the submission deadline.
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Appendix IV: Capstone Paper Forms
FORM A: Capstone Proposal Form
To the Reader: By signing below, you agree to: a) advise the student in writing the 15 page
Capstone Research Paper; b) correct and grade the final paper and complete the second page of this
form. c) return this completed form and the paper to the student in a timely manner.
Student’s Name:
_________________________________________________________________________
E-mail Address: _____________________________
Semester & Year: _____________________
Proposed Paper Title:
_________________________________________________________________________
Reader: I agree to work with this student as described above in "To the Reader"
Name (print):
_________________________________________________________________________
Signature: _______________________________________________________
Date: _____________________
Student: Please submit completed form to the Department Chair by the proposal deadline (October
1 or March 1 of the semester before you intend to complete the capstone)
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FORM B: Evaluation of Capstone Research Paper
Name of Student: ___________________________________________
Paper Title: ________________________________________________________________________
READER: Please return this form and the synthesis paper to the student.
Unable to
Discern or
not applicable
Does not meet
scholarly
standards
Satisfactorily meets Schoarly standards
scholarly
achieved with
standards
excellence
CONTENT and STYLE
1. Ability to integrate historical and philosophical
knowledge in a chosen area of interest
()
()
()
()
2. Use of the English language:
grammar, diction, style, etc.
()
()
()
()
3. Use of proper footnote/endnote or
other documentation procedures.
()
()
()
()
4. Professional appearance of work.
()
()
()
()
USE OF RESOURCES
4. Ability to perform research in the
field of concentration.
()
()
()
()
5. Ability to employ primary sources.
()
()
()
()
6. Ability to employ secondary or critical sources.
()
()
()
()
7. Familiarity with pertinent current journals.
()
()
()
()
8. Familiarity with library resources in the field of
concentration.
()
()
()
()
PRESENTATION/ ANALYSIS
9. Ability to conceptualize and define a topic.
()
()
()
()
10. Ability to state differing positions and
arguments clearly, fairly and evenhandedly.
()
()
()
()
11. Skill at organization and focused presentation.
()
()
()
()
12. Potential for future achievement in scholarly
research and writing.
()
()
()
()
13. Integration of historical and philosophical
knowledge
()
()
()
()
(Please provide additional comments as needed on the reverse or on a separate sheet.)
Grade for Paper _______________
_________________________________ _______________________________ _______________________
Name of Reader (please print)
Signature of Reader
Date
_________________________________ _______________________________ _______________________
Name of second Reader (please print)
Signature of Reader
Date
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