Philosophy for Children Graduate Fellowships
Philosophy for Children Graduate Fellowships, established in 2013, are offered by the Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO) (formerly the Center for Philosophy for Children), through an affiliation with the UW Department of Philosophy. Two fellowships are available each year for graduate students in any University of Washington department or college.
Fellows are involved primarily in the “Philosophers in the Schools” program, which sends UW graduate and undergraduate students into Seattle K-12 schools to lead philosophy sessions, as well as the Washington State High School Ethics Bowl and other related activities.
For the 2022–2023 academic year, each Philosophy for Children fellowship is $5,000.
Previous Philosophy for Children fellows who have served less than two years are welcome to apply.
Fellow Responsibilities
1. Enrollment in our fall quarter course (PHIL 205, Philosophy for Children, taken as PHIL 584), and our winter quarter graduate seminar (PHIL 595, Philosophical Inquiry in Schools).
2. Involvement in the “Philosophers in the Schools” program, including facilitating philosophy sessions in K-12 classrooms and mentoring undergraduate students involved in the program.
3. Participation in the Washington State High School Ethics Bowl, including attendance at and involvement in the competition.
Total time commitment is expected to be an average of 4-5 hours per week (not including the philosophy courses) for the three quarters of the academic year. Each fellow is assigned a mentor to help guide and support their fellowship work.
Application Process
The application process involves the following, to be submitted online no later than May 26, 2023:
1. A one-page statement describing your interest in the “Philosophers in the Schools” program. Please include complete and current contact information. Experience in philosophy, K-12 teaching, or philosophy for children is not required for this fellowship.
2. One letter of support from a faculty member in the applicant’s department who can speak to the student’s suitability for this fellowship. If you are not yet at UW, please submit a letter of support from a faculty member at another institution.
For more information about PLATO see https://www.plato-philosophy.org
Questions about the fellowships? Contact PLATO Executive Director Jana Mohr Lone at mohrlone@uw.edu
