Philosophy student accepted to prestigious summer seminar

Philosophy major Jorgen Hansen has become the first UVU student to be accepted to the prestigious Summer Seminar in Philosophy at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

The University of Colorado’s Department of Philosophy is one of the largest philosophy programs in the nation offering undergraduate as well as MA and PhD degrees in a wide range of topics.

The seminar is to be held July 13 through the 31 and will focus on the metaphysical and ethical questions concerning identity.

Jorgen Hansen was chosen along with 20 others to attend this summer’s seminar out of 70 total applicants. Students who have attended the seminar in the past have gone on to attend prestigious schools such as Oxford and Rutgers.

“Jorgen is one of the best students we have in the major,” said Dennis Potter, associate professor of philosophy at UVU and advisor for the Philosophy Club. “He is really passionate about his study of philosophy. It doesn’t surprise me at all that he was accepted to the seminar.”

Students will attend class a total of six hours a day, five days a week. The classes are split up into two three hour periods to include both lecture and student lead discussions. Courses aim to introduce students to the type of graduate-level seminars they would encounter before they commit to a graduate program.

Jorgen has already begun preparing for the reading intensive program. Students receive three graduate level credit hours by the end of the three weeks.

“I really hope I can bring something back from Boulder to UVU’s philosophy program as well,” Hansen said. ” Our philosophy club is now alive and kicking again, so I hope I can also help propel that to a new level. Overall, though, I’m just really excited to have the opportunity to participate in the seminar.”