Requirements

A. Coursework: 4 graduate level courses must be completed. At least two courses must be taken in philosophy, related to the area of public engagement of the student. In addition, two or more courses must be taken in another field, again related to the area of public engagement of the student. Students will select their courses in consultation with their Certificate Advisor.

 

B. Engagement: A minimum of 40 hours of engagement with members of the public. This can take several forms (subject to approval of the Certificate Advisor). These include (but are not limited to) teaching and/or facilitating discussion among pre-college students or members of other community groups, and making presentations to out-of-discipline audiences at conferences/events.

 

C. Research Seminar: Participation for at least one semester in the research seminar under the leadership of faculty members involved in public philosophy. The research seminar will focus on readings about the nature of public philosophy, cross-disciplinary work that includes philosophy, aspects of engagement with non-academic communities, and similar topics. The specific topics to be addressed will be generated by participants in the research seminar and will change from year to year depending upon interests of the group. 

 

D. Capstone Experience: This could take a wide variety of forms, for example: a research paper; a presentation at a professional conference or Penn Public Philosophy Workshop; creation of new materials for public philosophy; a series of public philosophy publications; development of a new partnership; etc. Final capstone could be identified through the advising process.

 

E. Advising: Students will be advised by the Faculty Certificate Coordinator or another Certificate Advisor designated by the Coordinator.  The student will have an initial planning meeting with their Advisor upon commencement of the Program, and then meet periodically to plan service opportunities as well as pre-approve electives and capstone experiences. Student advising for this Certificate will be coordinated with advising by the Graduate Chair (especially in the early years to ensure proper training in philosophy through course work) and the supervisor so as to ensure that pursuing this Certificate will enhance the students' overall performance as a graduate student.

 

A Few Examples of Forms the Certificate Could Take 

A. Teaching pre-college philosophy: Any two philosophy graduate courses, and two from a wide range of EDUC course, including: Teaching & Learning in Student Centered Classrooms; Development of the Young Child (TLL); and Literacy in Elementary/Middle Schools.

B. Teaching philosophy in prisons: Any two philosophy graduate courses, and two from a wide range of SWRK courses, including: Social Policy Through Literature; Social Work Values and Ethics; Criminal Justice Policies: Implications for Social Work; The Social Entrepreneurial Approach to Community Reintegration; and Critical Race Theory; or two from a wide range of courses in LAW or PSCI

C. Public Understanding of Science: Any two philosophy graduate courses, and two from a wide of COMM courses, including: Communication and Cultural Studies; Misinformation/Disinformation in the Age of Digital Media; Introduction to Political Communication; and Social Psychology of Communication

D. Inducing Behavioral Changes for Public Good: Any two philosophy graduate courses, and two from Behavioral and Decision Sciences, including Behavioral Economics and Psychology; and Norms and Nudges; also relevant would be some courses from the Psychology Department such as Seminar in Decision Making; Social Psychology; Science of Behavioral Change; and and Neuroeconomics.