Admissions
Admissions criteria:
- Second-, third-, and fourth-semester students may apply.
- Students must demonstrate the ability to complete university-level coursework and maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average.
- Students must be self-motivated and able to engage in a sustained program of academic discovery, culminating in a capstone project or thesis that is shared with others.
- Support of a faculty member who will serve as a mentor and adviser is required.
- Students must demonstrate that their undergraduate educational goals cannot be met through an existing major at Penn State but rather requires a unique program of courses and activities.
Application steps:
- Meet with a Bachelor of Philosophy coordinator (email bphil@psu.edu) to discuss the program. You should be prepared to discuss possible courses, capstone projects, and faculty mentors.
- Work with a faculty mentor to create an academic plan that details the remaining semesters of coursework, including 18 credits at the 400- to 500-level, as well as an outline of your capstone project.
- Complete the application form. Ask your faculty mentor to complete the faculty mentor support form.
- Attend a B.Phil. admissions interview. The Bachelor of Philosophy Degree Committee will discuss the feasibility and rigor of the proposed plan with the student and mentor.
- Exceptions may be approved by the Bachelor of Philosophy Degree Committee.
Finding a Faculty Mentor
Students select a Penn State faculty member to serve as a mentor. Mentors are Penn State tenure-track faculty and do not need to be members of the Bachelor of Philosophy Degree Committee. Mentors help students plan their academic programs and classes. They also certify to the Bachelor of Philosophy Degree Committee that their students have achieved their academic goals, including the satisfactory completion of coursework and the fulfillment of the capstone project.
Students should seek mentors who are able to provide them with intellectual and practical guidance around their topics, fields, and/or methods of interest. The Bachelor of Philosophy coordinators are available to provide prospective students with guidance around how to search for an appropriate mentor.