IV. Special Programs, Organizations and Awards

Programs

The Department is home to the Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law (PPEL) program.  This interdisciplinary program can be taken as a major or a minor for those with an interest in combining public policy and law with the rigorous thinking of philosophy.

The Department also sponsors a team (or teams) to compete in the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.  This is an annual competition in which teams from colleges across the country debate against each other over a number of real cases involving ethical issues.  Teams compete in regional “bowls” in the fall and then winning teams move on to the national finals the following spring.
They also sponsor a team to compete in the Bioethics Bowl, which is similar to Ethics Bowl, but with a narrower focus on bioethics rather than ethics broadly construed.

The Department also sponsors a colloquium series in which noted philosophers present papers on topics of philosophical interest.

Organizations

The Philosophy Club is an organization of students interested in Philosophy.  It co-sponsors the Great Debate series, and holds activities throughout the academic year.  A number of Philosophy students are also members of the Law Society, a group of students who intend to apply to law school at the end of their undergraduate studies at BGSU.

The PPEL Club, an informal group for those interested in PPEL (see above) is also hosted by the Department and meets weekly.

Awards

The department also recognizes up to three outstanding junior or senior majors each spring with the Ramona Cormier Book Award, the Robert Goodwin Book Award, and the Tom Tuttle Book Award.  For these awards, a GPA of 3.5 or higher is required.  Each award carries a $200 award.  Students are recognized at a College of Arts & Sciences ceremony in the spring.

The Jonathan S. Heskett Memorial Book Award is given annually to the graduate or undergraduate philosophy student pursuing a degree in environmental policy with a concentration in environmental ethics or philosophy.  Candidates for this award must submit a one-page paper demonstrating their perspective on the meaning of life to the department chair.  The deadline for application is the end of February.  A monetary award accompanies this honor.

The James W. Child Scholarship was established by his family and friends’ help deserving rising junior or senior Philosophy majors with at least a 3.25 GPA pursue their love of philosophy. The award is based on financial need and a short essay, double-spaced, on a topic in a field that Dr. Child specialized in. Essay guideline details are established by the award committee on an annual basis.  Contact the Philosophy Department secretary for application details.