Awarded to one or more graduate students for excellence in teaching, including (but not limited to) faculty teaching reviews, student evaluations, student performance, and innovative course design. Principal Senior Lecturer Emerita Sandra Dwyer taught at Georgia State University for more than two decades, retiring in 2020.

2024 Dessie Lopez Jimenez and Hayes Phillips
2023 Will Fraker
2022 Paul Murphy
2021 Steven Guillemette
2021 Jacob Hogan
2020 Rachel Lehmann
2019 Tiffany Zhu
2018 Peter Nennig
2017 Shaila Bora
2016 Sam Elalouf
2015 Matt Andler
2014 Archie Fields
2013 Cami Koepke
2012 Kathryn Joyce and Sam Sims
2011 William Baird
2010 Ian Dunkle
2009 Paul Pfeilschiefter
2008 Brandie Martinez-Bedard
2007 Sean Martin and Jim Sias
2006 Tim Crews-Anderson
2005 Jason Lesandrini

Awarded to one or two graduate students each year who are completing the Masters program, on the basis of excellence in philosophical research, including (but not limited to) MA thesis work, research papers, conference presentations, and participation in other academic activities.
Dr. Munster was Chair of the Department of Philosophy from 1965 to 1978.

2024 Jack Romp
2023 Qinyi Luo
2022 Maximiliana Rifkin
2021 Connor Kianpour
2020 Matthew (Gus) Turyn
2019 Caleb Hazelwood
2018 Matthew Schrepfer
2017 James Gillard
2016 Jeff Carroll and Razia Sahi
2015 Dan Mendez
2014 Jennifer Daigle and Michael Nielsen
2013 Andrei Marasiou
2012 Noel Martin
2011 Paul Tulipana
2010 Dylan Murray
2009 Jason Craig and Ben Sheredos
2008 Joe Adams
2007 Justin Coates and Jim Sias
2006 Sean Aas

Earned by graduate students who have
(i) a graduate Georgia State philosophy GPA of 3.85 or better,
(ii) a thesis and thesis defense that, upon vote of the thesis committee, are judged to merit distinction, and
(iii) a record at Georgia State judged by the the Director of Graduate Studies to be one of distinction.

A thesis that deserves distinction is a polished and professional piece of philosophical argumentation that advances knowledge. It will excel on all or most of the following criteria:

• COMPREHENSION: Shows a strong understanding of the relevant positions and arguments
• ORIGINALITY: Advances understanding of its topic by arguing for an original thesis and/or advancing original arguments for its thesis
• ARGUMENT (soundness or cogency of): Makes a strong case for its thesis, and identifies and deals well with important objections
• SCHOLARSHIP: Engages successfully with the scholarly literature on its topic
• WRITING (quality of): Is clearly written and well-organized

2024 Armand Babakhanian, Hayes Phillips, and Jack Romp
2023 Qinyi Luo and Will Fraker
2022 Paul Murphy and Jake Sweet
2021 Steven Guillemette, Connor Kianpour, and Lynn Sun
2020 David Casey and Gus Turyn
2019 Spencer Knafelc, Russ Helder, and Emily Tilton
2018 James Gillard and Bradley Loveall
2017 Leo Feldblyum
2016 Bobby Bingle and Jared Riggs
2015 Jennifer Daigle and Jay Spitzley
2014 Michael Nielsen and Cameron Smith
2013 Kathryn Joyce
2012 None
2011 William Baird, Ryan Born, and Paul Tulipana
2010 Ryan DeChant, Jesse Gero, and Rush Stewart
2009 Dan Burnston, Jason Craig, and Ben Sheredos
2008 Joe Bullock
2007 Jim Sias
2006 Sean Aas and Candice Delmas

This scholarship supports the mission of the department by seeking to increase diversity in its master's program. Applicants for the Altman Scholarship, who may have interests in any area of philosophy, should demonstrate how their experiences and background will promote diversity in the program. Professor Emeritus Andrew Altman taught in the Department of Philosophy from 2001 until 2019.

2021 Trevor Rukwava