The Center’s Certificate of Mastery in Philosophy for Children is intended for University of Washington graduate students interested in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully lead philosophy sessions in K-12 classrooms.

The Center is also developing a ten-week, entirely virtual program, that will begin in March 2022 and be available to anyone interested in philosophy for children. The program will involve synchronous two-hour weekly Zoom meetings, as well as an asynchronous forum for further interaction among participants, and will include an online Capstone event at the program’s conclusion. The program will include philosophical and pedagogical discussions about such topics as how to foster a community of philosophical inquiry, choosing prompts, philosophical sensitivity, epistemic injustice, social inequalities, and philosophical recognition of young people. After the program has ended, the Center will provide ongoing resources and mentorship for all participants. More information and an application process will be available in September 2021.

Certificate Requirements for University of Washington Graduate Students

1. Completion of Phil 595 (Philosophical Inquiry in Schools) (5 credits)
2. Completion of the following, after consultation with the certificate advisor:
   • At least two ETHICS or Philosophy Courses – Recommended Courses:
     • ETHICS 511 (especially advised for students with little or no philosophy background)
     • ETHICS 512 (especially advised for students with little or no philosophy background)
     • PHIL 406
     • PHIL 410
     • PHIL 412
     • PHIL 440
     • -OR- A 400- or 500-level philosophy course approved by the certificate advisor
   • At least two of the following Education Courses:
     • EDPSY 302 (through a 400-level independent study) Child Development and Learning
     • EDPSY 404 Adolescent Development
     • EDPSY 501 Human Learning and Educational Practice
     • EDPSY 502 Developmental Foundations of Early Learning (EDPSY501 is prerequisite)
     • EDSPE 503 Classroom Management for Elementary School Educators
     • EDLPS 520 Education as a Moral Endeavor
     • EDLPS 521 Philosophy of Education
     • EDLPS 530 History of Education in the US
     • EDLPS 538 Education for Liberatione
3. A minimum of 40 hours in K-12 classrooms (observing, assisting, and/or facilitating philosophy sessions), at least half of which should be facilitating philosophy sessions as the lead instructor, and including successful evaluation from a trained philosophy facilitator to certify readiness to be a lead facilitator for philosophy sessions. Students can earn up to three credits for their work in classrooms through PHIL 584.
4. A Capstone Experience, involving either completion of the Center’s annual June workshop or a talk given in the Philosophy Department, College of Education, or at a school or similar location, which must be approved by the certificate advisor, about the Certificate Candidate’s work in schools.

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