Virginia Tech

Department of Philosophy

Graduate Student Handbook

2016-2017

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Source:GoogleImages

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UniversityPolicyOnHarassment,Discrimination,

andSexualAssault2.1 UniversityStatementonNon-DiscriminationVirginiaTechdoesnottoleratediscriminationorharassmentonthebasisofage,color,disability,gender(includingpregnancy),genderidentity,genderexpression,genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexualorientation,veteranstatus,oranyotherbasisprotectedbylaw.Suchbehaviorisinconsistentwiththeuniversity’scommitmenttoexcellenceandtoacommunityin which mutual respect is a core value as articulated in the Virginia TechPrinciplesofCommunity.Theprohibitionagainstdiscriminationandharassmentapplies to all levels and areas of university operations and programs, toundergraduate and graduate students, administrators, faculty, staff, volunteers,vendorsandcontractors.3.ScopeThe university’s jurisdiction includes on-campus incidents and off-campusincidents that causecontinuingeffectsoncampusand includescomplaints filedby students or employees, or others on their behalf, alleging discrimination ordiscriminatory harassment (including sexual harassment and sexual violence)carriedoutbyfaculty,staff,otherstudents,orthirdparties.VirginiaTechisalsocommitted to the free and vigorous discussion of ideas and issues. This policydoesnotallowcurtailmentorcensorshipofconstitutionallyprotectedexpression,nordoesitattempttoaddressbehaviorsthatdonotconstitutediscriminationorharassment. Offensive behavior that does not violate this policy should beaddressedbytheappropriatesupervisororadministrator.

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DepartmentofPhilosophyVirginiaTechGraduateStudentHandbook

TableofContentsGeneralInformation 4 LifeatVirginiaTech 4 ThePhilosophyDepartment 6TheMAPrograminPhilosophy 7

ProceduresandPolicies 7RequirementsfortheMADegree 17

Ph.D.inScienceandTechnologyStudies-PhilosophyTrack 21OfficeProcedures 22Appendix:StandardsandPolicies 25

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GeneralInformation

LifeatVirginiaTech

TheLocaleVirginiaTechislocatedinBlacksburg,inthescenicNewRiverValleyofsouthwesternVirginia.Theareaiswellknownforitsnaturalbeauty,healthyatmosphere,andyear-roundoutdoorrecreationalopportunities.ThetownofBlacksburgisnotedforitsprogressiveplanningandhighqualityoflife.Blacksburghasthreemainshoppingareaswithineasyreachofthecampus.RegularlyscheduledlocalbusserviceisavailabletoVirginiaTechstudentsaspartoftheirstudentservicesfee.Non-studentsarechargedanominalfee.Therearededicatedbicyclelanes,andmanyapartmentsallowforbicycleorwalkingcommutes.In2011,BusinessweeknamedBlacksburgthe“BestPlaceintheU.S.toRaiseKids.”

TheRoanokemetropolitanarea(pop.288,000)is40mileseastofthecampus.SeveralairlinesmaintainscheduledflightsfromRoanokeRegionalAirport(ROA)tomostmajorUScities.UnitedAirlineshasdirectflightstoWashington,D.C.andNewYork.TheSmartWayBusoffersBlacksburg-Roanokebusservice,includingstopsatSquiresStudentCenterandtheRoanokeAirport(www.smartwaybus.com).MegaBushasservicefromtheBlacksburgareatoWashington,D.C.HomeRidebushasweekendservicetoseveralareauniversities,includingVirginiaBeach(www.homeride.com/).AmtrakhastrainsfromLynchburgandCharlottesvilletoD.C.andtoNewYork,andontodestinationsintheUSandCanada.

TheUniversityVirginiaTechisadiversifieduniversitywithanenrollmentofabout30,000students.Sinceitsfoundingasalandgrantuniversityin1872,VirginiaPolytechnicInstituteandStateUniversity,nowofficiallyknownasVirginiaTech,hasbecomethestate’slargestuniversityandamajorresearchinstitution.

Theuniversityoffers65bachelor’sdegreeprogramsandover145master’sanddoctoralprograms,throughitsninecollegesandgraduateschool.VirginiaTechconductsmorethan$200millionperyearinexternallyfundedresearch;intermsofresearchexpendituresitisconsistentlyrankedasoneofthenation’stopfifteenuniversities(amongthosewithoutmedicalschools).Seewww.vt.edu/about/.

TheLibraryCarolM.NewmanLibraryhasmorethan2millionvolumes,over5millionmicroforms,subscribestomorethan22,000journalsandisdesignatedasarepositoryforUSgovernmentdocuments.ThelibraryisamemberoftheAssociationofResearchLibrariesandtheSoutheasternStatesLibraryNetwork.

Graduate students are provided access to the full range of computer facilities available on campus.Newmanlibraryoffersaweb-basedversionofThePhilosopher’sIndex,manyothervaluabledatabasesincluding JSTOR, and electronic copies of journals. The publicly available website philpapers.org is amajorsourceofresearchleads.

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TheGraduateLifeCenterConvenientlylocatednearthelibrary,SquiresStudentCenter,academicbuildings,anddowntownBlacksburg,theGraduateLifeCenter(GLC)providesspaceandvenuesthatmeettheuniqueneedsofgraduateandprofessionalstudents.TheGLCisthehubofgraduatestudentlife,providingstudentswithopportunitiestomeetandcollaboratewithfacultyandpeersacrossdisciplines,developskillsforacademicandprofessionalsuccess,andmaintainahealthywork-lifebalance.TheprogramsandservicesofferedintheGraduateLifeCenterencourageandfacilitateactiveparticipationinthegraduatecommunity.Formoreinformation,pleasegotograduatelifecenter.vt.edu.

RecreationNumerousrecreationalfacilitiesareavailabletostudentsatVirginiaTech,includingthosefoundintheWarMemorialGymandtheMcComasCenter(swimmingpool,racquetballandbasketballcourts,weightrooms,andmuchmore),andtheSquiresStudentCenter(bowling,billiards,tabletennis,videogames).EquipmentforoutdoorrecreationisavailableforrentalthroughtheUniversityUnion.TheUniversityGolfCourseisalsoavailableforstudentuse.TheAppalachianTrailiswithineasyreachandtheareahasnumerousbikingopportunities.Inaddition,theuniversityattractsavarietyofnationallyandinternationallyrecognizedculturaleventseachyearandhasanactiveperformingartsprogram.

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ThePhilosophyDepartmentTheDepartmentofPhilosophyatVirginiaTechisinternationallyrecognizedforitsresearch-orientedfaculty.Thedepartmenthasnineregularfacultymembers(notcountingvisitingfaculty)coveringabroadrangeoffields,withparticularstrengthsinethics,thehistoryandphilosophyofscience,andthehistoryofmodernphilosophythroughKant.Formoreinformationaboutfaculty,seeourwebsite.

DepartmentalActivities

ThePhilosophyFacultysponsorsayear-longlectureseriesandanannualSpringconference.

Someconferencetopics:“TheRoleofExperimentinScientificChange”(1990);“ToHonorMarjorieGrene-AConferenceontheOccasionofher80thBirthday”(1991);“SixObjectorstoDescartes’SixMeditations”(1992);“BookVIoftheNicomacheanEthicsandAristotle’sTheoryofIntellectualVirtue”(1997);"KantandtheSciences"(1998);“WittgensteinandBiography”(1999);"KuhnReconsidered"(2000);"ObjectsandArtifacts:AnIssueinPhilosophyofTechnology"(2001);“TheMetaethicsofMoralStatus:PerspectivesontheNatureandSourceofHumanValue”(2003);“ScientificImages:LearningFromPictures(2006);“TheFirstSymposiumonPhilosophy,History,andMethodologyofE.R.R.O.R.(ExperimentalReasoning,Reliability,Objectivity&Rationality:Induction,Statistics,Modeling)”(2006);“Wittgenstein”(2007);“MeaningandModernEmpiricism”(2008);“EthicsinDemocracy”(2010);“OntologyandMethodology”(2013).

PastspeakersinthecolloquiumseriesincludePatriciaKitcher,JeffreyBub,DonHoward,WilliamG.Lycan,ClarkGlymour,CosmaShalizi,DavidDepew,CarolGould,andJudithLichtenberg.

Since2005,ourgraduatestudentshaveheldaGraduateConferenceinthefall,featuringkeynoteaddressesbyAnjanChakravartty,ChristineKorsgaard,HelenLongino,FredDretske,SimonBlackburn,GeoffreySayre-McCord,JessePrinz,MichaelFriedmanandGracielaDePierris.Thekeynotespeakersforthe2015conference,onthethemeof“ContemporaryAnalyticMetaphysics,”wereTedSiderandJoshuaSpencer.TheconferencehasattractedgraduatestudentpresentersfromleadingPh.D.programsacrossthecountryandhasbecomeanimportantpartofdepartmentlife.

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TheMAProgramProceduresandPolicies

Note--someoftheprovisionsdescribedherearecontainedintheDepartment’sGraduateProgramStandardsandPolicies(Appendix).TheMastersofArtsPrograminPhilosophyatVirginiaTechwelcomeditsfirststudentsinthefallof1993.Thetwo-yearMAprogramisdesignedtoprovidestudentswithasolidgroundinginPhilosophyinthebroadlyanalytictradition.Itiswell-suitedtostudentswithavarietyofinterests:manytransfertoaPh.D.programinphilosophyafterobtainingtheMA,butothersgoontofurtherstudiesinotherareasofacademiaorinlaw,andothersseektobroadentheirliberaleducationthroughadvancedstudy.Seeourwebsiteforinformation:http://www.phil.vt.edu/ma/ma.html.Whatfollowsisastatementofproceduresandpoliciesinchronologicalorder,fromapplicationtograduation.Forcreditandcourserequirements,seethenextsection.

KeyDepartmentPersonnel2016-17GPD:Prof.LydiaPatton,GraduateProgramDirector(critique@vt.edu)GC:TerryZapata,GraduateCoordinator(tzapata@vt.edu)

CostsandFinancialAidFortuitionandfees,seewww.bursar.vt.edu/tuition.Graduateassistantshipsareavailableonacompetitivebasis.Foradditionalfundingopportunities,pleaseconsultgraduateschool.vt.edu/financial/funding_opp/index.html.TheGPDiscommittedtohelpingunfunded(andfunded)studentstofindadditionalandalternativesourcesoffunding.TheGPDrunsablog,http://fundingengine.blogspot.com/,dedicatedtopostinginformationaboutfunding.Studentsareinvitedtojointheblog,andtofindandpostopportunitiesthere.Ifyouhavenotreceivedaninvitation,pleaselettheGPDknow.

ApplicationProceduresThedepartmentmaintainsapagewithcompleteinformationforapplicantsathttp://phil.vt.edu/ ma/ma.html.Pleaseconsultthispagebeforesubmittinganapplication.ApplicantsarestronglyadvisedtoapplyforadmissionandfinancialassistancebyFebruary1,thoughlaterapplicationscanbeconsideredinspecialcircumstancesattheDepartment’sdiscretion(seeAppendixbelow).ApplicationsaredoneentirelyonlinethroughtheGraduateSchool’swebsite:graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/applying/index.html.Donotsendanythingdirectlytothedepartment.Thereisnolimittothenumberofdocumentsyoucanattachintheonlineapplicationprocess.ApplicantsMUSTsubmit(online):

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1) Acompletedapplication2) Anundergraduatetranscript.Uploadonecopyofyourscannedofficialtranscriptforeachinstitution

fromwhichyouhaveearnedorwillearnanundergraduateorgraduatedegree.PleasedonotmailyourofficialtranscriptstotheGraduateSchooluntilyouhavereceivedanofferofadmissionfromVirginiaTech.

3) Threelettersofrecommendation.CompletetheLetterofRecommendationsectionandclick“yes”at the “Recommend on-line” column. This will trigger an automated email to the recommenderdetailinghowtoaccesstherecommendationform.

4) Awritingsample5) GREscores6) ApplicantsfrominstitutionswhereEnglishisnottheprimarylanguagemustalsosubmitanofficial

recordofscoresontheTestofEnglishasaForeignLanguage.RequestsforfurtherinformationshouldbedirectedtotheGPD.ApplicantswillnormallybenotifiedofthestatusoftheirapplicationbyApril1,andusuallyearlier.UnlessanadmittedapplicanthasacceptedtheofferbywritingtotheGPDandGCbyMay1,theofferwillberescinded.

AfterAdmission1.Pleasegoto:graduateschool.vt.edu/admittedandfamiliarizeyourselfwiththerelevantlinksonthatpage.ThesewillhelpyouwitheverythingfromgettingyourPIDsetuptofindinghousingtoregisteringforclasses,andtheycontainimportantinformationaboutsuchthingsashealthinsuranceandcampuslife. AssoonasyougetyourPIDande-mailaddress, informtheGPDandGC. IfyouhaveaGTA-ship,pleaseinformtheGPDandGCofyourPIDbyMay20.2.Whenyouarriveoncampus,pleasemakesureyoucheckinpromptlywiththeGC.BesuretogivetheGCyourlocaladdress,phonenumberandVTemailaddress.Shewillhelpwiththenecessarypaperwork,giveyouyourofficekeys,etc.TheGPDwillsendinformationonofficeassignmentsinAugust.3.YoumustenrollforclassespriortotheFridayofthefirstweekofclasses,andshoulddosobeforeclassesstart.NewstudentsmustfirstobtainaVT“PID”(useridthatletsyouuseallVTelectronicfacilities)from“HokieSpa”onthesectionoftheuniversity’smainwebpageforcurrentstudents(www.vt.edu).You’llneedyourVTID,whichwasintheletterofadmissionfromthegraduateschool.(Ifyou’velostthis,orifyouhavequestions,pleasecontacttheGC.)WithaPID,youcanregisterforcoursesfromtheHokieSpabeginningAugust4.Pleaseenrollonlineassoonaspossible(usuallythefirstweekortwoofAugust)andalerttheGPDrightawayifthereareanyproblemswithcourseoverlapsorconflictsbetweenyourgradseminarsandtheclassyouareTA-ingfor. 4.Youcangetcourselistingsfromthetimetableofclasses:(https://banweb.banner.vt.edu/ssb/prod/HZSKVTSC.P_DispRequest).Althoughtheuniversitycataloglistsprerequisitesforseveralofourgraduateseminars,thesedonotapplytoyou.YoumaytakeanygraduateseminarinPhilosophyyoulikewithoutconcernoverprerequisites(withthepossibleexceptionofsequencedcourses,suchas5505and5506,thelatterofwhichmightpresupposetheformer).

***IMPORTANT:Allfundedstudentsarerequiredtoenrollfor12hourseachsemester.Tosatisfythisrequirement,signupforyourregularclasses(usually3/semesterforthefirstyear)andthen

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addonProjectandReporthourstobringthetotalupto12.Ifyou’renotenrolledfor12hours,itwillholdupyourpaychecks,sobesuretotakecareofthis!

Forunfundedstudents:thisrequirementdoesnotapplytoyou.Note,however,that12credithoursisdefinedasan‘FTE,’i.e.,astheminimumloadforonetobeconsideredafull-timestudentforsomelegalpurposes.Theremightbeextrinsicreasons–havingtodowithstudentloansorotherconcerns–thatwouldmakeitadvisableforyoutoregisterforProjectandReporttogetyourcredithoursupto12.

NotethatProjectandReport(andResearchandThesis)donotmeet.RegisteringforResearchandThesisrequiresthatyoubeengagedinaresearchprojectwithafacultymember(includingindependentstudies),orwritingathesis.TheexceptionisthePro-seminar(BrownBag),discussedbelow.

Itisnotnecessarytotakethreeseminarseachsemester.Overthetwoyear-yearperiod,youneedtotakeeither8seminars/24credithours(forthesisstudents)or9seminars/27credithours(non-thesis),registeringfor3hoursofProjectandReport(ifnon-thesis)or6hoursofResearchandThesis(ifwritingathesis)foratotalof30credits.Aslongasyouultimatelygetto30credits,meetingtheabovecriteria(27fromclassesfornon-thesis,24forthesis),you’llbeabletograduate.

5.Logic(5505):OneoftherequirementsfortheMAisLogic.YoumustsatisfythisrequirementbytakingPhil5505.TAKELOGICintheFallofyourfirstterm.INFORMATIONFORSTUDENTSWITHANASSISTANTSHIP6.AnyonewithaGTA-shipMUSTshowtheGCeither(1)apassportOR(2)adriver’slicenseANDasocialsecurity card before classes start, so she can get the necessary paperwork completed. The passportneednotbecurrentexceptforinternationalstudents,butitneedstobeanoriginalandnotacopy,asdoesthesocialsecuritycardifyouusethatinstead.Ifyoudonothavetherequireddocuments,contacttheGCforpossiblealternatives.

7.TheGraduateSchool’sGTATrainingWorkshop:ThisworkshopisMANDATORYforfirst-yearstudentswithGraduateTeachingAssistantship funding. Phase I typically takesplace theMondayandTuesdaybefore classes start. Phase II sessions are spread throughout the fall semester. Please go tohttp://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/resources_teaching for more information. Note that the GCmustenrollyouinthisworkshop.

8.GTA’sshouldconsultwiththeprofessorteachingthecoursebeforemakinganytravelplansforwinterbreak,todeterminewhenthefinalgradingmeetingwithbeheld.PleasedonotmakeanytravelplanswithoutfirstcheckingwiththeprofessorforwhomyouareaGTA.

INFORMATIONFORUNFUNDEDSTUDENTS9.AttendingasanunfundedstudentatVirginiaTechrequiresassumingacertainfinancialburden.ThetuitionburdenfortheM.A.isapproximatelyhalfofwhatitwouldcostanunfundedBachelor’sstudenttoobtainaB.A.Itisinyourinteresttoplanyourgraduatestudiescarefullysoyoudonotencounterfinancialdifficulties.Makesuretocalculateandtobeawareofthetotalcostofeachyear’sstudy,includingtuitionandfees,livingexpensesinBlacksburg,healthinsurance,andtraveltovisitfamily.Dependingonyourcircumstances,therewillsurelybeadditionalexpensestoconsider.PleaseconsultwiththeGPDorwiththeGraduateSchoolifyouhavequestionsabouttuition,fees,healthinsurance,orothercostsassociatedwithattendingVirginiaTech.10.PleasecheckwiththeGPDaboutfundingsources.Also,pleaseconsultthefrequentlyupdatedsitegraduateschool.vt.edu/financial/funding_opp/index.html.TheGPDsponsorsablogforexchangeofinformationaboutfunding:http://fundingengine.blogspot.com/.Thereareseveralcommunitycolleges,colleges,anduniversitiesintheBlacksburgarea.Thesemaybesourcesofemploymentforsummer

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teaching,onlineteaching,tutoring,orpart-timeworkduringtheterm(dependingondistance).Askquestionsandgetasignedcontractbeforeacceptinganyofferofemployment.Also,pleaseaskafacultymemberforadvicebeforetakingonanyemploymentduringtheterm.

FallSemester,1stYearOrientationsandDepartmentMeeting1.Duringthefirstweekofclasses,thedepartmentholdsaformalorientationmeetingforallgraduatestudents.Atthismeeting,studentsaregiven,amongotherthings,generalinformationaboutdepartmentalrequirementsandprocedures,plansofstudy,officeproceduresandprivileges,advising,thesispreparation,andtimetablesformeetingcourserequirementsandcompletionofthethesis.Thestudentsarealsointroducedtothefacultyandtocontinuinggraduatestudentsatthismeeting.Departmentalpoliciesconcerningreviewofstudentprogressandexpectationsforadequateprogressarespecifiedattheorientationmeeting.Pleasereadthefacultybiosonthewebsiteandcomepreparedwithachoiceofprovisionaladvisor.2.TheGraduateSchoolholdsitsownorientation,usuallytheFridaybeforeclassesbegin.Pleasegotograduateschool.vt.edu/orientationforinformation.YouwillmeettheDeanoftheGraduateSchool,learnaboutuniversityservicesavailabletograduatestudents,learnaboutvariousactivities,andmeetcurrentstudents.3.OntheFridaybeforeclassesbegin,thePhilosophyDepartmenttypicallyholdsameetingintheatriumofMajorWilliamsHallforALLfacultyandgraduatestudents.Themainpurposeistointroducestudentsandfacultytoeachother.TheGPDwilldistributemoreinformationasthedateapproaches.TheAdvisoryCommittee4.Beforecompleting12credits,inconsultationwithhisorheradvisor,eachstudentshouldformanAdvisoryCommittee.TheAdvisoryCommitteeisnormallycomposedofatotalofthreefaculty(oneChairandtwomembers),themajorityofwhommustcomefromtheDepartmentofPhilosophy.TheAdvisoryCommitteeisresponsibleforoverseeingthestudent’sPlanofStudyandthesis.TheAdvisoryCommitteeisofficiallyformedwhenthestudentcompletesaprovisionalPlanofStudy(seebelow).DuringtheSpringterm,AdvisoryCommitteeswillnormallybeaskedtoforwardtotheDepartmentGraduateCommitteeastatementofthestudent’sprogress(seeAnnualEvaluationbelow).AdvisoryCommitteeshavefinalapprovalauthoritywithintheprogramforrecommendationsofgrantingtheMAdegreeinPhilosophy.AdvisoryCommitteesareresponsibleforforwardingtheserecommendationstotheGraduateSchool.5.Changesinastudent’sAdvisoryCommitteewillbegrantedonlyonapprovalofallproposedCommitteemembersandtheDepartmentHead.

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ThePro-seminar(BrownBag)Thedepartmentrunsaseriesofbrownbagsessionseachfall.Atthesesessions,facultyleaddiscussionsontopicsrangingfromapplyingtoPhDprogramstopublishing.Youmustattendthesemeetings,aspartofsatisfyingthegraduateschool’sScholarlyEthicsandIntegrityPolicy.Atestwillbeadministered.(SeeRequirementsbelow).Inthespring,thesessionsserveasthesisdefensesessionsfor2ndyearstudents.AttendingthesesessionsisrequiredforassignmentofapassinggradeinResearch&Thesis.PolicyonIncompletesStudentsshouldaskforincompletesonlyinextraordinarycircumstances.Allincompleteworkforacoursemustbesubmittedbythefinalexamdateofthestudent’sfirstsubsequenttermofenrollment.IncompletesnotremovedduringthedesignatedtimearechangedtoF.

SpringSemester,1stYearThesisProposalAllstudentsplanningtowriteathesismustsubmitaproposalbeforesubmittingtheAnnualEvaluation,whichisduebyApril15.Theproposalshouldincludeadescriptionofthespecificresearchtobeundertaken.Itshouldalsoincludeareviewoftherelevantliteratureand,inaddition,explaintherelationshipofthecurrentprojecttotheworkofotherscholarsinthesamearea.Theproposalshouldincludeabibliography,comprisedofalistofarticlesandbooks,withcompletecitations,whicharethebasisfortheresearchproject.

Theproposalshouldindicateclearlythesignificanceofthestudyandthecontributionitwillmaketothefield,aswellasaplanofworkandatimetable,indicatingthedatesandtimestobespentonthevariousaspectsoftheproject.Whilethistimetablewillbeonlyanestimate,itwillgivethestudentandthecommitteeameasureofthemanageabilityoftheprojectwithinthetimeperioddesignated.ThesisProposalsshouldnotexceedseven(7)pages,whereaboutonepageisdedicatedtoareadinglist,onepagetoatimeline,andthreetofivepagestoadescriptionoftheplanofwork.Non-ThesisOptionIfastudentplanstotakethenon-thesisoption,thisshouldbedeclaredbyApril1ofthefirstyear,whentheevaluationsaredue;anditshouldbeindicatedontheevaluation.Thisoptionmustbediscussedwiththestudent’sAdvisoryCommittee.StudentsplanningtogoontodoctoralstudyinPhilosophyorinotherhumanitiesdisciplinesarediscouragedfromtakingtheNon-Thesisoption.

AnnualEvaluationofGraduateStudents1.IntheSpringsemesterofeachyear,theGraduateCommitteewillmeetinordertomakegeneralevaluationsofallstudents.Thisevaluationwillbebasedonaconsiderationofthestudent’sgrades,reportsfromthecourseprofessors,theannualevaluationbythestudent’sAdvisoryCommittee,reportsonthestudent’sworkasaTeachingAssistant,astudentself-assessmentletter(seesection3below),andanyothermaterialthestudentwishestosubmit.TheevaluationwillbesharedwiththeDepartment.ThestudentmaycontacttheGPDforanydesiredfeedback.NotethattheGraduateSchoolrequiresthatfundedstudentsmaintainatleasta3.0overallGPA.

2.NotethatGTAcontractsarevalidforayear,andmustberenewedforasecondyear.Whileweexpect

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thatincomingGTAswillhavetwoyearsoffunding,thisfundingiscontingentonavarietyoffactors,including(butnotlimitedto)thestudent’sperformanceasaTeachingAssistantandprogresstothedegree.NotethattheDepartmentendorsesVirginiaTech’sPrinciplesofCommunity(www.vt.edu/diversity/principles-of-community.html)andexpectsitsstudentstoactinaccordancewiththem,especiallywithreferencetoprofessionalconductasaGTA.TheDepartmentreservestherighttodeclinetoenterintoanewcontractwithastudentwhoseperformanceislackingintheseorotherrelevantareas.Insomecases,asdeterminedbytheDepartment,thecontractmaybecanceledduringtheacademicyear.

3.ByApril1,submityourLetterofSelf-Evaluation,alongwithanextracopyofyourPlanofStudy,ifyou’reasecondyear,BOTHtoyouradvisorandtotheGPD.AddressyourlettertotheGraduateCommittee,anddiscussthefollowingpoints:

• HowdoyoupresentlystandwithrespecttomeetingtheMAprogramrequirements(i.e.,30hourstotal,GPA,logicrequirement,corerequirements--seehandbook)?Doyouhaveanyconcernsaboutsatisfyingalltherequirementswithinthenormativetimeframe?Listallcoursegradessofar.

• Haveyouformedyourcommitteeandfiledthenecessaryforms?Forfirstyears,haveyouformedyourcommittee?Forsecondyears,haveyoufiledyourPlanofStudywithTheGC?

• Ifthesistrack,thenforfirstyears:haveyousubmittedyourthesisproposaltoallofyouradvisors,andhavetheyapprovedit?Doesthisproposaloutline(1)thereadinglistforyourthesis,and(2)aplanforwritingafulldraftbyAugust31ofyoursecondyear?Forsecondyears:didyousubmitalldraftsofyourshortthesisbythedeadlines?Howmuchhaveyoushownyouradvisor,howmuchhaveyoucompleted,whatisyourthesisdefensedate?Anyotherrelevantinformation?

• IfyouhaveaGTA-ship,howdoyouevaluateyourexperiencesofar—bothyourownperformanceandwhatyou'vegottenoutofitthatisrelevanttoyourstudiesandprofessionalgoals?

• Howdoyoufeelyou’vebeendoinginyourcourseworkand(ifapplicable)thesiswork?

• Isthereanyfeedbackyou'dliketosharewiththedepartment,reflectinganyconcernsyoumighthaverelevanttoyourpursuitoftheMAdegree?(Thiscouldbeanything,suchasconcernsorrequestsinvolvingcourseofferings,departmentalprocedures,etc.)

Thelengthoftheletterisuptoyou.Aslongasyoucoveralloftheabovepoints,thelettermaybequiteshort.Inothercases,youmaywishtowritemoretoaddressissuesthatmaybeofconcerntoyouradvisororthecommittee.Appeals1.AppealsoftheoutcomeoftheevaluationmustbemadeinwritingtotheDepartmentHeadwithintwoweeksofthewrittennotificationoftheevaluation.2.Intheeventofanappeal,theDepartmentHeadwillappointanadhoccommittee,composedofthreefacultymembers.Membersofthestudent’sadvisorycommitteeandtheGPDarenoteligibletoserveonthiscommittee.Theadhoccommitteewillreevaluatethematerialsandmakearecommendation

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regardingtheclaimsintheappealtotheDepartmentwithintwoweeksofbeingappointed.TheDepartmentHeadwillrenderthefinalevaluationofthestudentinthesecases.

ThesisorNon-ThesisTrack?Bytheendofthesecondsemester,youshoulddecidewhichtracktopursue.Itmaybeinthebestinterestofsomestudentstoforegothewritingofathesisinordertopursueadditionalcoursework.Inlieuofwritingathesis,studentsexercisingtheNon-thesisOptionmustsuccessfullypassasetofwrittenexamscoveringthecoreareas.

DeclarationofOptionTheNon-ThesisOptionmustbeofficiallydeclaredbeforethestudentcompletes27hoursofcourseworkatthegraduatelevelinPhilosophy.ThedecisiontopursuetheNon-ThesisOptionmustbemadeinconsultationwiththestudent’sAdvisorandAdvisoryCommittee,andmustbeapprovedbythestudent’sAdvisorandAdvisoryCommittee.ItissuggestedthatthisoptionbediscussedwiththeAdvisorbyearlySummerbetweenthesecondandthirdsemester,sincethisiswhenpreparationforworkonaThesisusuallybegins.AMaster’sdegreecandidateisallowedtochangefromtheThesistotheNon-Thesisoption(orviceversa)once.IftheNon-Thesisoptionisexercised,ResearchandThesishours(5994)arenotincludedinthePlanofStudy.Itisthereforeimperativeforstudentstoensuretheyhavesufficientregularcoursehourstomeetdegreerequirementsiftheythinktheymayendupswitchingfromathesistoanon-thesistrack.

FallSemester,2ndYear1.AllreturningstudentsmustattendtheDepartmentMeeting,usuallyheldtheFridaybeforeclassesstart,andtheGraduateOrientationmeeting,usuallyheldduringthefirstweekofclasses.2.ThesisStudents-DraftAfulldraftofthethesismustbesubmittedbyAugust29ofthesecondyear.Therefore,thesummerbetweenthefirstandsecondyearshouldbesetasideforwritingthethesis,includingindependentresearchandbackgroundreading.

SpringSemester,2ndYear

ThePlanofStudy1.AllGraduateStudentsmustsubmitanapproved(signed)PlanofStudywww.phil.vt.edu/ma/programofstudy.pdf)byFebruary2ofthesecondyear.PriortothedevelopmentofthePlanofStudy,eachstudentmustselectanadvisorycommittee(seeabove).ThePlanofStudymustmeettheminimumrequiredforthedesignateddegree,andmustbeapprovedbythestudent’sadvisorandadvisorycommitteeinconsultationwiththeGPD,and,inaddition,thedepartmenthead,andtheGraduateSchool.1.2StudentsareresponsibleforcompletingthePlanofStudyformandforobtainingtherequiredsignatures,thensubmittingtheformtotheGCbeforethedeadlinenotedabove.

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1.3AnychangeinthePlanofStudymustbeapprovedbythestudent’sdepartmenthead,advisorycommitteeinconsultationwiththeGPD,andtheGraduateSchool.OnceacourseonthePlanofStudyistakenforagrade,itmustremainonthePlanofStudy.

AnnualevaluationSeeabove,SpringSemester,1styear.HowtoGraduate1.Gotohttp://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/degree_completionandreviewallthematerialonthatpage—suchastheTableofDeadlines,infoaboutapplicationfordegree,finalexamrequestform,ETDapprovalformandsubmissiondeadlines(forthesisstudents),etc.YoushouldalsoprintouttheMaster’sCheckListthatislinkedonthatpagejustunderthetableofdeadlines,andusethisasyoucompleteyourdegreethissemester.2. Allgraduatingstudents,thesisornon-thesis,mustsubmiteither:

(i)REQUESTTOADMITCANDIDATETOFINALEXAM,orthe(ii)REQUESTTOADMITCANDIDATETOFINALEXAM—NON-THESIS

totheGraduateSchoolatleasttwoweeksbeforethedefenseorexamination.Bothformsareavailableat:http://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/forms.

3.YoushouldfiletheAPPLICATIONFORDEGREEwiththeGraduateSchoolbyMarch1(seeinstructionsatthepagelinkedabove).MissingthefinalJunedeadlineforallworkandpaperwork(includingETDfortheses)willresultinfailuretograduateinthisyear’sclass,whichwouldmeanhavingtopayalotofmoneyoutofpocketinordertoenrollandgraduateduringthesummersession.4. NON-THESISSTUDENTSNon-thesisstudentsmusttaketheMAComprehensiveFinalExam.TheComprehensiveExamwillhave5or6sections(dependingonwhetherornotthelogicsectioniswaived).EachsectioncorrespondstoacourselistedonyourplanofstudyassatisfyingtheCORErequirement.Acompleteexamlookslikethis: (1)Ethics (2)HistoryofPhilosophyI (3)HistoryofPhilosophyII (4)Oneof:Metaphysics,Epistemology,orPhilosophyofScience (5)Anotherof:Metaphysics,Epistemology,orPhilosophyofScience (6)LogicThelogicportionoftheexam,however,willbewaivedforthosewho(a)passed5505witha‘B’orhigher,or(b)placedoutofthe5505requirementbygettinga‘B’orhigherin3505and3506.Eachsectionwillconsistoftwoquestionsthatarecomparabletofinalexamquestionsintherelevantcourseyouarecountingtowardmeetingthatcorerequirement.Youwillpickonequestionfromeach

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sectionandwriteasubstantialessaywithina90minutetimeframe.Typicallytheexamisgivenovertwodays,with3sectionsonedayand2sectionsthenext(assuminglogiciswaived).4.1Inordertoconstructeachexam,theGPDsolicitsexamquestionsfromtheprofessorswhotaughtthecoursesyouarecountingasyourcorecoursesonyourPlanofStudy.ThismeansthattheGPDneedstogetfromeachofyou,byadatedeterminedbytheGPD,aLISTthatincludes:

• Thecorecourses(numbersandtitles)fromyourPlanofStudy,onwhichyourfinalexamwillbebased;

• Theprofessorwhotaughteachcourse;• Thesemesterinwhicheachcoursewastaken.(Thisisimportant,sincecoursecontentcanvary

considerablyfromyeartoyear,andIdon’twanttoguess!)• Also,listthemembersofyouradvisorycommittee(=advisor/chair+twoothermembers,as

listedonyourplanofstudy).Ifyouhavetakenmorecoreareacoursesthanyouneededforthecore—e.g.,threehistoryseminars—thenyoumaychooseonwhichofthemyouwishtobetested.ButyoumaynotsubstituteothercoursesforcorerequirementswithoutexplicitpermissionfromtheGPDtomakethesubstitution.Seethegraduatehandbookforwhichcoursestypicallycountormaybesubstituted.Ifyouwishtomakeanysubstitutionsthenyoushouldmeetwithmeimmediatelytodiscussit;ifwehavealreadydiscussedsuchasubstitution,pleaseremindmewhenyougivemeyourlist.NOTE:Onceyousubmitthislist,youcannotmakeanychanges.

4.2ExaminationswillbescheduledinconsultationwiththeGraduateProgramDirector.TheymaytakeplaceatanytimeduringtheSpringterm,butinnocasewillanexambescheduledafterMay1(thisincludesduringthesummerterm).

4.3Grading:Topassanexam,astudentmusthaveafavorablevotefromamajorityoftheExaminingCommittee,whichfordepartmentalpurposesconsistsofthepeoplewhocontributedquestions.ButnotethatitistheAdvisoryCommitteethatsignsthecard.

4.4Incaseofaborderlineresult,theDepartmentreservestherighttorequirefollow-upworkortoaddanoralsessiontotheexamination.ResultsoftheExamwillbemadeavailableinatimelymanner.IfastudentfailstheExam,theremustbealapseofonefullsemester(aminimumof15weeks)beforereschedulingtheExamination.ThestudentisallowednomorethantwoopportunitiestopasstheExam.5. THESISSTUDENTS5.1Thesisstudentsneedtomakearrangementsfortheirthesisdefense,andshoulddothatsoon,includingfilingtheREQUESTTOBEADMITTEDTOFINALEXAM(atleasttwoweekspriortothedefense).Notethatyourcommitteememberswillhavetosignanagreementaspartofthatformsayingthatthethesisisreadyfordefense,whichmeansthatyouwillhavehadtogivethemasubstantialdraftofthethesiswellbeforethattime.Yourthesisdefensewillserveasasessionofthatsemester’sPro-Seminar(seeabove).

5.2PleaseseetheMAthesischecksheetreferredtoearlier(linkedonthegraduateschoolwebsitegivenabove)forotherdetails.PayspecialattentiontotheETDsubmissiondeadline:missingthatwillalsonowrequireenrollingagainduringthesummertograduate.Anddon’tforgetaboutdetailssuchastheETDapprovalform,andthearchivingfee,whichcanholdupcompletionofdegree.

5.3ItistheresponsibilityofthestudenttoworkwithhisorherCommitteeChairandAdvisoryCommitteetocoordinateapprovalofaThesisProposal,communicatewiththeCommitteemembers,

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andtoparticipateinarrangingthedateoftheThesisDefense.ThefirstpersontocontactonallmatterspertainingtotheprocessshouldbetheChairofthestudent’sAdvisoryCommittee.

5.4Eachcandidateforamaster’sdegreemustpassafinalexamination.Thisexaminationwilltaketheformofanoraldefenseofthethesis.ThedateoftheThesisDefensewillbedeterminedbymutualagreementamongthemembersofthestudent’sAdvisoryCommittee,theGPD,andthestudent.TheschedulingoftheDefensewillbeunderstoodbythestudentandhisorherCommitteetoindicatethatthewrittendraftissubstantiallycompleteandsignificantrevisionsarenotanticipated.ThepurposeoftheDefenseisprimarilytoensurethestudent’sworkingfamiliaritywiththedetailsandimplicationsofthethesisproject.However,othertopicsmaybeexploredintheDefense,withinreasonandatthediscretionoftheCommitteeChair.TheStudentmustberegisteredduringthesemesterinwhichthefinalexaminationisadministered.

5.5TheoraldefenseisscheduledthroughtheGraduateSchool.Thestudentisresponsibleforschedulingtheoraldefenseandobtainingallnecessaryformsandpermissions.FormsareavailableattheGraduateSchool’swebsite: http://graduateschool.vt.edu/academics/forms.RequeststoscheduleaDefenseshouldbereceivedatleasttwoweeksbeforethedaterequested.StudentsshallobtaintheexaminationcardfromtheGraduateSchoolonthedayoftheDefense,andreturnthesignedcardtotheGraduateSchoolofficeassoonaspossibleaftertheDefense.TopassaThesisDefensethestudentisallowedatmostonedissentingvotefromthemembersoftheCommittee.

5.6AcopyofthedraftofthethesismustbegiventoallmembersoftheThesisCommitteeandacopymustbeplacedondepositintheDepartmentofPhilosophyOfficeatleasttwoweekspriortothedateoftheDefense.Itisthestudent’sresponsibilitytomakeanddistributeallcopiesofthethesis.

5.7IfastudentfailstheDefense,theremustbealapseofonefullsemester(aminimumof15weeks)beforereschedulingtheexamination.ThestudentisallowednomorethantwoopportunitiestopasstheThesisDefense.Thedefenseofthethesiswillbeopentothefaculty,andfacultymembersareencouragedtoattendandparticipateinsuchmeetings.

5.8FollowingasuccessfuldefensethestudentisresponsibleforseeingthatonehardboundcopyofthethesisisdepositedintheDepartmentofPhilosophylibrary,andthataproperlyformattedelectroniccopyofthethesis(ETD)issubmittedtotheGraduateSchool,alongwiththeaccompanyingformsandarchivingfee.

NoteonFormsToensurecompletenessofourrecords,studentsarerequiredtosubmitoriginalsofallcompletedformsbytheappropriatedeadlines(e.g.,SelectionofAdvisoryCommitteeMembers,PlanofStudy,etc.)totheGC.Formsareavailableonlineatwww.phil.vt.edu/HTML/forms/gradforms.html.Studentsshouldretainacopyfortheirpersonalfiles,notingthedateofsubmission.Lettersofself-evaluationgodirectlytotheGPD.

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RequirementsfortheMADegree

TheMAdegreerequiresaminimumof30semesterhoursofgraduate-levelcoursework.Upto6ofthesehourscanbefrom4000-levelcoursesincaseswheretheareasinquestionarenotcoveredatthe5000or6000level.StudentsmaycompletethedegreebyselectingeitheraThesisoraNon-thesistrack.Studentswhowishtopursueeitheroptionmustpetitiontodosoafterconsultationwiththeiradvisors.Ifthestudentchoosesthethesisoption,thischoiceshouldtakeplacebytheendofthesecondsemesterofstudy,sothataplanofindependentresearchcanbesetupforthesummerandadraftofthethesiscanbepresentedtothestudent’sadvisorbyearlyfallofthesecondyear.Latepetitionsmaybeconsideredafterthesummer,atthefaculty’sdiscretion,butgenerallynotafterthefirstmonthofthefallsemesterofthesecondyear.Requirementsforthetwotracks:

• Thesistrackstudentsmustinclude6hoursofResearchandThesistowardtheir30hours,andmayenrollinupto12hoursofResearchandThesis(PHIL5994),butnomorethan6ofthosehoursmaybecountedtowardthe30hourrequirement.Therewillthusbeaminimumof24hoursofregularcourseworkforthethesistrack.Atleast21hoursmustcomefromgradedclasses;independentstudies,ResearchandThesis,andProjectandReportarePass/Failandhencedonotcountasgradedclasses.Thecompletedthesiswillbeevaluatedbythestudent’sadvisorycommitteeandmustbesuccessfullydefendedbeforethatcommitteeinanoralexamination(seedetailsbelow).

• Non-thesistrackstudentsmayenrollinupto12hoursofProjectandReport(Phil5904),but

atleast27ofthe30hoursrequiredforthedegreemustconsistofordinarycoursework(includingindependentstudies).Atleast21hoursmustcomefromgradedclasses;independentstudiesarePass/Failandhencedonotcountasgradedclasses.Studentsonthistrackmustsuccessfullypassacomprehensiveexaminationconsistingofexamsineachofthecoreareas(seedetailsbelow).Note:TheGraduateSchoolrequiresthatatleast20ofthesehoursrepresentgradedcoursework.Thereisamaximumof9creditstotalincoursestakenpass-fail,includingProjectandReportandResearchandThesis,thatmayappearonthestudent’splanofstudy.

TheP/Foptionforgraduatestudentsisavailableonlyforcoursesoutsideofthemajor,andmaynotbeusedforcoursescountingtowardthe30hourdegreerequirement(exceptforindependentstudies,researchandthesishours,projectandreporthours,etc.,whichareallP/Fbutcancountuptothelimitsgivenabove.)

ScholarlyEthicsandIntegrityRequirementYoumustattendallbrownbagsessionsthefallofyourfirstyear,passatest,andhavetheGPDsigntheplanofstudyyousubmitinJanuaryofthe2ndyear.(Seefallofthe1styear,above.)

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LogicRequirementAllstudents,whetherthesisornon-thesistrack,musteithertake5505(logic)inthefalloftheirfirstyear.Thosewhotake5505musteitherpassitwitha‘B’orbetter,orsitinonthecourse(orrelevantpartsofit)thefollowingfallandtakethecomprehensiveexaminlogic--preferablyattheendofthefallsemester.Notethatthesistrackstudents,whodonotgenerallyhavetotakecomprehensiveexaminations,maythushavetotakethisoneiftheydonotgeta‘B’orhigherin5505.

BasicRequirementsStudentsmustcompleteallcourserequirementslistedbelow.

TobeeligibletocontinueintheMaster’sProgram,astudentmustmaintainaminimumGPAof3.0(Baverage).StudentswhoseGPAfallsbelowthislevelmaybeplacedonacademicprobationforonesemester.Afterthissemester,thestudent’sGPAmustremain3.0toremainintheprogram.

CurriculumAllstudentsmustcompletetheCore[see(a)below]andtakeaminimumoftwelvehoursfromalistofapprovedcourses[see(b)and(c)below].Insomecases,studentswillbepermittedtotakeappropriatecoursesincognatedisciplineswiththepriorapprovaloftheGraduateProgramDirector.Studentsshouldbeawarethatnotallcoursesareofferedeveryyear.a.TheCore (1)LOGIC:PHIL5505(SymbolicLogic) (2)METAPHYSICS,EPISTEMOLOGY,PHILOSOPHYOFSCIENCE:CoursesfromTWOofthefollowing

threecoreareas: (a)Metaphysics:PHIL5214G(IntermediateMetaphysics) (b)Epistemology:PHIL5224G(IntermediateEpistemology)

(c)PhilosophyofScience:PHIL5614GorPHIL5604G(Phil.ofBiology)orPHIL5305/6(ThemesinPhil.ofScienceandTechnology)orPHIL6334(Adv.TopicsinPhilofScience)

(3)HISTORY:TWOofthefollowingcourses: PHIL5204(TopicsinHistoryofPhil.) PHIL5344(HistoryofEthics PHIL6204(Adv.Top.inHist.ofPhil.)* PHIL6314(Hist.ofthePhil.ofScience)(4)VALUETHEORY:ONEofthefollowingcourses: PHIL5324(Metaethics) PHIL5334(NormativeEthics) PHIL5344(HistoryofEthics) PHIL6324(Adv.Top.inEthics/PoliticalPhil.)**NOTE:Thesame“Topics”coursenumber(e.g.,Phil6204)maybeusedtwicetosatisfyacorearearequirementprovidedthatthecontentisdifferentforthetwocourses.Also,Phil6014,andcertaincoursesinSTSandASPECTmaybesubstitutedwhereappropriate,subjecttoapprovalbytheGraduateProgramDirector.

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b.AdditionalCourses

PHIL5204GIntermediatePhilosophyofMindPHIL5214GIntermediateMetaphysicsPHIL5224GIntermediateEpistemologyPHIL5304GIntermediateTopicsinSocialandPoliticalPhilosophyPHIL5604GIntermediatePhilosophyofBiologyPHIL5614GIntermediatePhilosophyofScience

(NOTE:theabove5000G-levelcoursesareconjointcoursesthatoverlapwithcorresponding4000-levelcoursesforclassmeetings.)

Philosophy5204(TopicsintheHistoryofPhilosophy) Philosophy5305-6(STS5305-6)(MainThemesinthePhilosophyofModernScienceand

Technology) Philosophy5324(ContemporaryMetaethics) Philosophy5334(ContemporaryNormativeEthics) Philosophy5344(HistoryofEthics) Philosophy5506(SymbolicLogic) Philosophy5904(ProjectandReport) Philosophy5974(IndependentStudy) Philosophy5984(SpecialStudy) Philosophy5994(ResearchandThesis) Philosophy6014(SpecialTopicsinPhilosophy)

Philosophy6204(AdvancedTopicsintheHistoryofPhilosophy)Philosophy(ASPT)6224(DistributiveJustice)Philosophy6314(STS6314)(HistoryofthePhilosophyofScience)

Philosophy6324(AdvancedTopicsinEthicsandPoliticalPhilosophy)Philosophy6334(STS6334)(AdvancedTopicsinPhilosophyofScience)

Philosophy6504(AdvancedLogic) Philosophy6514(STS6514)(CognitiveStudiesofScienceandTechnology)(ALLCOURSESARESUBJECTTODEPARTMENTREVISION.)EquivalentCourses1. VirginiaTechundergraduatesadmittedtotheMAprograminPhilosophywhohavealreadytakena

requiredcourseandobtainedagradeofBorbetterwillnotberequiredtorepeatthecoursetosatisfythecorerequirement.Thecoursemaynot,however,counttowardthe30hourrequirement,i.e.itmaynotbe‘doublecounted’forthatpurpose(exceptasallowedincasesinvolvingthe5-yearBA/MAprogram).AnystudentmaypetitiontohavecoursestakenatotherinstitutionssatisfytherequirementforaspecificrequiredcourseprovidedheorshepresentsadequateinformationonthecoursetotheGraduateCommittee.TheGraduateSchoollimitstransfercreditsto20%ofthetotalcreditsrequired;thismeansamaximumofsixcreditsforthePhilosophyMasters.

2. SpecificallydesignatedgraduatecoursesinMetaphysics,Epistemology,orPhilosophyofSciencemaybetakeninsteadofPhilosophy4214,4224,and4614,respectively.

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Substitutions1. SubstitutionsforrequiredcoursesmaybegrantedonlywiththeapprovaloftheStudent’sAdvisory

CommitteeinconsultationwiththeGPDandtheDepartmentHead.

InthosecaseswherethereisnoAdvisoryCommitteeforthestudent,substitutionsmaybegrantedonlywiththeapprovaloftheAdvisor,theGPD,andtheDepartmentHead.TheGPDwillcoordinateappropriateconsultations.

2.Inordertomakecoursesubstitutions,astudentwillusuallyfilloutaCourseSubstitutionForm.In

caseswherenosubstitutionformisemployed,thestudentshouldhavesomewrittenindicationofthissubstitutionenteredintohisorherfile.

3. Incomingstudentswithastrongbackgroundinlogichavetheoptionoftakinganexam,thepassing

ofwhichwillallowtherequirementofPhil5505tobewaived.ThosewishingtopursuethisoptionshouldarrangewiththeGPDtotaketheexampriortothefirstweekofclasses.

StudentswhohavetakenbothPhil3505andPhil3506atVirginiaTech,andpassedwitha‘B+’orbetter,areexemptfromthe5505requirement.Studentswhohavetaken3505butnot3506maywishtoconsidertakingthepreliminaryexamtowaivetherequirementfor5505.

Note:TheDepartmentwishestoencouragebreadthinphilosophicaltraining.Coursesubstitutionsthatsignificantlydiminishachievingthisobjectivearediscouraged.

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Ph.D.intheSTSProgram-PhilosophyTrack

StudentswhowishtocontinuetheirstudiesinphilosophyatthePh.D.levelmayconsidertheGraduatePrograminScienceandTechnologyStudies-PhilosophyPh.D.Track(STS/Philosophy).TheSTSprogramisacooperativeventureofthedepartmentsofPhilosophy,History,Sociology,PoliticalScience,andtheCenterforScienceandTechnologyStudies.StudentstakingtheSTS/PhilosophyTrackcompletebasiccoursesintheSTScore(seebelow)andthencandevotetheremainderoftheirstudiestophilosophicaltopics.Additionalrequirementsincludeknowledgeofaforeignlanguage,preliminaryexaminationsandadissertation.FormoreinformationseetheSTSwebsite.

DegreerequirementsforSTSPhilosophyTrackPh.D.

I. STSCoreRequirement-18Credits! 5305,5306:MainThemesinthePhilosophyofModernScienceandTechnology! Selectfourfrom:

! STS5105,5106:ContemporaryIssuesinScienceandTechnologyStudies! STS5205,5206:MainThemesintheHistoryofScienceandTechnology! STS5614:IntroductiontoScienceandTechnologyPolicy

II.STSTrackRequirement-6Credits Select2coursesfromthefollowinglist:! STS/PHIL6314:HistoryofthePhilosophyofScience! STS/PHIL6334:AdvancedTopicsinPhilosophyofScience! STS/PHIL6514:CognitiveStudiesofScienceandTechnology! STS/PHIL6634:AdvancedTopicsinNaturalPhilosophy! AnySTScourseclassifiedbyinstructorasahistorycourse(maybetakenmorethanonce)

III. OtherTrackRequirements-12CreditsSelect4coursesinphilosophy,including1courseinhistoryofphilosophy,1courseinethics,and1courseineithermetaphysicsorepistemology

IV. ElectiveCourses-NoneV. AdditionalSTSRequirement-6Credits

! OneadditionalSTScoursenotinII.(anyfield)! STScapstoneseminar

VI. ExitRequirement! Logic(byexamorcoursework)

VII. ResearchandDissertation! STS7994

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OfficeProcedures

OfficesanddepartmentfacilitiesAllgraduatestudentswillbeprovidedwithofficeanddeskspace(givenavailability)aswellasaccesstoaninternetconnection.PriorityinthedailyuseofofficeswillbegiventoTeachingAssistantsmeetingwiththeirundergraduatestudents.Otherwise,graduatestudentsarewelcometouseofficespaceforstudyandotherclassrelatedactivitiesandarefreetoenterthebuildingatanytime(keysareprovided).

! Officesandotherdepartmentfacilities(computerlab,copyroom,androoms225and227)mustbekeptlockedwhennotoccupied.Itisnotallowedtopropanydooropen.

! OnlyPhilosophydepartmentfacultyandgraduatestudentsareauthorizedtohaveregularaccesstothecomputerlab,copyandmailrooms,andRooms225and227.Graduatestudentsarerequirednottoallowanyoneelse,includingundergraduatestudentsatTech,accesstotheseroomsorthekeystotheserooms.Failuretoobservethispolicycouldresultinlossofyourownkeyprivileges,orinprosecutionbytheUniversityiftheftofUniversitypropertyresults.

CopyingandPrintingStudentsaregivenaccesstothedepartment’scopymachineaswellaslaserprintersconnectedtocomputersinGraduateStudentoffices.Studentsareaskedtouselaserprinterssparinglyandonlyforclassorresearchmaterial.Usethecopierifpossible,andpleasemakedouble-sidedcopies.

MailandFaxStudentsareassignedmailboxspaceandcansendandreceiveprofessionalmail,butnopersonalmail,throughthedepartment.Thereisabinforoutgoingmailinthemainoffice.On-campusmailmaybesentwiththedepartment’sorindividual’snameandthefour-digiton-campusmailcode.On-campusenvelopesareavailableinthemainoffice.Philosophy’scodeis0126.Thedepartmentmailingaddressis:

DepartmentofPhilosophyVirginiaTech220StangerStreet229MajorWilliams(MC0126)Blacksburg,VA24061-0126

Thedepartmentfaxnumberis540-231-6367,andisfordepartmentbusinessonly.(Faxingofficialpaperworktoanon-campusoffice,suchasStudentServices,isallowed.)Askastaffpersonforinstructionswhenfirstusingthemachine.

ComputersandtheComputerLabGraduatestudentshaveaccesstothefacilitiesofthedepartmentComputerLab.Thecomputersinthegraduatelabandgraduateofficesareshared.Thecomputersarenotbackedup,andthedepartmentreservestherighttodeleteanyfilefromthesecomputersatanytime.Itisuptoeachstudenttoprovideabackupsystemfortheirownmaterials,usuallyaflashdrive,aharddrive,orthecloud.Overthesummer,olderlabandofficecomputersmaybereplacedandcontentsmaynotbetransferred.

! Pleasedonotsaveyourfilesonthelabcomputers;keepthemonyourbackupdrive.Filesonlabcomputersmaybedeleted.

! Pleasekeepthesefacilitiesclean!

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FAQMail

1) Howshouldwelistourdepartmentaladdress(forjobapplications,conferences,etc)?

YourNameDepartmentofPhilosophyVirginiaTech220StangerStreet229MajorWilliams(MC0126)Blacksburg,VA24061-0126

AllUPS,FedEx,andothersuchdeliveriesaremadedirectlytothemainoffice(229).Iftheitemsfitinyourbox(asingledeskcopy,forexample),thefrontdeskwillputtheminyourmailbinand,iftheyhavetime,willletyouknowbyemail.Ifthepackageistoolargeforthemailbin,theywillletyouknowbyemailthatyouhaveapackageintheoffice.

2) Howdowesend(workandschoolrelated)mailtootherplaces,bothonandoffcampus?

• On-campus:usename,departmentname,and4-digitmailcode.Youcanusearegularenvelopeorinner-officemailingenvelope.

• Off-campus:Addressmailasyouwouldnormally.Putin“outgoingmail”bin;themainofficewillattachpaperworkforpostage.Thedepartmentprovidesthisforprofessionalbusinessonly,notpersonalmail.Wedonotkeepstampsinthemainoffice.

TrashCollectionandCleaning

3) Howdoesthetrashcollectionforourofficeswork?Onceaweekformostrooms;putanyfooditems,includingemptycontainers,intherestroomtrashcansasthoseareemptieddaily.Restroomsandclassroomsarecleaneddaily(facilitiesstaffforthelatterworkatnightbycontract).Officesaresupposedtobesweptonceaweek,onThursdays.

4) Howdoesitworkforthecommonrooms(Copyroom,Mailroom,Seminarroom)?Housekeepersemptythetrashandsweep(Ithink!)onaregularbasis.Theymop/waxthefloorsonceortwiceayear.Therestisuptous.

5) Whatplaces/thingsareweresponsibleforcleaning?Everythingexceptasmentionedabove.

PrintingandCopying

6) Whatareweallowedtoprintandcopy?Academicitems(class,research).Pleasefollowcopyrightlaws.

7) Istherecolorprinting/copyingavailableforuniversityactivities(class,discussionsections,conference)?Yes,seeHollyandTerry.

8) Howdoesthepaperwork,i.e.whichpaperisforwhichmachine?Readthesigns(Leisawillexplain).

9) Isthereafaxmachineavailableforofficial,school-relateduse?Yes,inmainoffice.Thenumberis(540)231-6367.

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Rooms,KeysandLibrary

10) Whatdoorsdomykeysopen?

a. CLM1-2 Room225,theseminarroom

b. 85-2 Outsidedoors

c. 85-PG Passkeytomailroom,library,Rm.227(conf.rm.),copy/workroom

11) WhatifIlosemykey(s)?First,trytofindthem—seeHolly,checkwithSquires,PoliceDept.,housekeepers,anddepartmentofficesonthefloorwhereyouthinkyoulostthem.Ifyoucan’tfindthemafterlookingintheseplaces,seeHollyforreplacements.

12) CanIreservetheseminar/conferenceroom,andifso,how?

Yes.Signinondept.calendar,locatedonHolly’sdeskinthemainoffice.

Alluseoftheseroomsshouldbenotedonthecalendar.

13) WhatisthepolicyforborrowingfromtheMonad?

Currently,it’sonthehonorsystem.(Butthismaychangethisyear:wewillkeepyouposted.)Returnitemstotheirproperspace.AcopyofthelibraryinventoryisavailableontheM.A.Scholarsite.

RegistrationandRosters

14) WhatifIneed/wanttotakeagraduateseminarbutitisfull?Contacttheprofessorforpermission.Oncegiven,emailTerry(tzapata@vt.edu)withthenecessaryinfo.CRNisneeded!

15) HowmanyhoursdoIneedtoberegisteredfor?

Itdepends.Seeabove,ProceduresandPolicies.

16) AsaGTA,howcanIobtainclassrostersformyrecitationsections?ConsultwiththeprofessorteachingthecourseandsupervisingtheTA’s.Thereisanolderformatprovidedasapapercopythatsomeliketouseforattendance,especiallyduringthefirstweek.Hollycanprovidethese,givenadequatenotice.

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AppendixGraduateProgramStandardsandPoliciesDepartmentofPhilosophyWhatfollowsistheDepartment’sofficialStandardsandPoliciesonfilewiththeGraduateSchool.ThisdocumentispursuanttoPresidentialPolicyMemoranda126/152(April27,1992,April3,1995).I.StatementofNon-Discrimination

VirginiaTechdoesnotdiscriminateagainstemployees,students,orapplicantsonthebasisofrace,color,sex,sexualorientation,disability,age,veteranstatus,nationalorigin,religion,orpoliticalaffiliation.

TheUniversityissubjecttotitlesVIandVIIoftheCivilRightsActof1964,TitleIXoftheRehabilitationActof1973,theAgeDiscriminationinEmploymentAct,theVietnamEraVeteranReadjustmentAssistanceActof1974,FederalExecutiveOrder112146,GovernorAllen’sStateExecutiveOrderNumberTwo,andallotherrulesandregulationsthatareapplicable.AnyonehavingquestionsconcerninganyofthoseregulationsshouldcontacttheEqualOpportunity/AffirmativeActionOffice.

II.FacultyRolesandDuties

1.TheGPDwillserveasliaisonwithappropriatecollegedeans.Inhis/herabsence,theDepartmentHeadwillserveinthiscapacity.

2.Advising.AllfacultywithPh.D.degreesareeligibletoserveonstudentadvisorycommitteesandthesiscommittees.Theresponsibilitiesofparticularmembersofadvisoryandthesiscommitteeswillbenegotiatedamongthemembersofthecommitteesandthestudent,inconsultation,whennecessary,withtheDepartmentHeadandGPD.AllfacultywithPh.D.degreesareexpectedtomakethemselvesavailabletoserveonadvisoryandthesiscommittees,butthedepartmentmakeseveryefforttoensurethatnofacultymemberisover-burdenedwithadvisingduties.Anyquestionsregardingthemake-uporproceduresofadvisorycommitteesshouldbereferredtotheDepartmentHead(or,ifnecessary,totheGPD).

III.AdmissionsProceduresandRequirements

1.ThedepartmentrequiresthatallapplicantstotheGraduateProgramsupplythefollowingmaterials:(i)CompletedGraduateSchoolapplicationform;(ii)Undergraduatetranscripts;(iii)Threelettersofrecommendation;(iv)GraduateRecordsExam(GRE)scores;and(v)Onewritingsample.

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Materialslistedunderii-vmaybewaivedatthedepartment’sdiscretioninspecialcases.

2.ApplicationsrequestingfinancialassistanceintheformofaGraduateAssistantshipshouldbereceivedbyFebruary1,thoughinspecialcircumstancestheDepartmentwillconsiderapplicationssubmittedatalaterdate.Applicationsforadmissiontotheprogramwithoutfinancialsupportmaybeconsideredatanytimepriortothebeginningofthesemesterinwhichthestudentwishestoentertheprogram.

TheDepartmentmakesitsdecisionsbothaboutadmissiontotheprogramandGraduateAssistantshipsbasedonundergraduateandothergraduateperformance,GREscores,lettersofrecommendation,thestudent’sanswerstoparticularquestionsonthegraduateapplication,andthequalityofthewritingsample.AllfacultyparticipateindecisionsconcerningadmissionsandGraduateAssistantships.

IV.Orientation

PriortothebeginningoftheFallsemester,theDepartmentholdsaformalorientationmeetingforallstudents.Atthismeeting,studentsaregiven,amongotherthings,generalinformationaboutthefollowing:Departmentalrequirementsandprocedures,plansofstudy,officeproceduresandprivileges,advising,thesispreparation,andtimetablesformeetingcourserequirementsandcompletionofthethesis.Thestudentsarealsointroducedtothefacultyandtocontinuinggraduatestudentsatthismeeting.

Departmentalpoliciesconcerningreviewofstudentprogressandexpectationsforadequateprogressarespecifiedattheorientationmeeting.Aprovisionaladvisorisassignedtoeachstudentatthismeeting.Subsequently,thestudentmaychoosetochangehisorherprovisionaladvisor.