The Howard University Student Journal of Philosophy

Mission Statement

The Howard University Student Journal of Philosophy was established to address the lack of platforms for the publication of exceptional undergraduate philosophy and critical theory from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Reemerging from a hiatus, The Howard University Student Journal of Philosophy has a long history in the production of philosophical knowledge by undergraduate students. The goal of the journal is to produce an annual issue of accessible, scholarly writing that spans a variety of academic disciplines and demonstrates the breadth of philosophical interpretations of current topics. Reflecting the Journal’s diversity, our Editorial Board is comprised of students pursuing degrees in a plethora of disciplines. 

The Journal is invested in the production of philosophical ideas on the campus of Howard University. In honor of this ideal, the Howard University Student Journal of Philosophy hosts and interviews a guest lecturer on campus every year. This conversation, edited and condensed for clarity, is included in the journal as the penultimate section. 

The final section of the journal speaks to our core mission, that is, the philosophical interpretation of current topics. In this section students from across the nation write about philosophical issues within the realm of current events. While all philosophy can be connected to current events it is often esoteric and built from theory to practice. This section reverses that paradigm by allowing students to make observations about the world around them and to then build the philosophical implications from their observations. 

The Howard University Student Philosophy Journal is a project hosted by The Department of Philosophy. The views expressed in the journals are not those of the University, but rather those of individual students.  The essays do not represent University position or opinion on any issues discussed.  

Submission Guidelines for Student Authors

Call for Submissions

The Howard University Student Journal of Philosophy is accepting submissions of original essays from current undergraduate students in all areas of philosophy. Interested undergraduate students are encouraged to submit a paper written for class, seminar, summer institute, or special program in philosophy to be considered for the 2019/2020 academic year. Students with papers from other disciplines (eg. African American studies, Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies, Sociology, Political Science/Theory) that have strong philosophical ideas are also encouraged to submit.

Submission Details

Citation Format: Chicago Style, Footnotes

Format: Papers should not include your name or other identifying information. In your initial email submission, please include two separate word documents: (1) the article submission, and (2) a title page with your name, college or university, major, and preferred email. Please do not submit previously published material, and alert us if you’re accepted and prefer to be published with a different journal.  Submissions should ideally be less than 4,000 words with an abstract of no more than 250 words.

Instructions for Authors: Please email submissions to corbin.covington@bison.howard.edu and include ‘Philosophy Journal Submission’ in the subject heading. 

The Howard University Student Journal of Philosophy asks that each undergraduate submit only one paper for the journal per year.

Current Affairs Essay Call for Submissions

The Howard University Student Journal of Philosophy is accepting submissions of original essays from current undergraduate students relating to current events. Interested undergraduate students are encouraged to submit a paper written for class, seminar, summer institute, or special program in any area of interest to current events to be considered for the 2019/2020 academic year; include ‘Current Events Journal Submission’ in the subject heading.

A non-exhaustive list of ideas for this section are a philosophical exploration of a book, movie, or television show; the implications for democracy, authoritarianism, capitalism, socialism, etc., of a governmental/political action at the local, state, or federal level; or a celebrity interaction with a fan, the police, or moneyed institution. 

Submission Details

Citation Format: Chicago Style, Footnotes

Format: Papers should not include your name or other identifying information. In your initial email submission, please include two separate word documents: (1) the article submission, and (2) a title page with your name, college or university, and preferred email. Please do not submit previously published material, and alert us if you’re accepted and prefer to be published with a different journal.  Submissions should ideally be less than 2,500 words with an abstract of no more than 250 words.

Instructions for Authors: Please email submissions to corbin.covington@bison.howard.edu and include ‘Philosophy Journal Submission’ in the subject heading. 

The Howard University Student Journal of Philosophy asks that each undergraduate submit only one paper for the journal per year.

Editor-In-Chief

  • Corbin Covington
  • Carl Romer

Managing Editor of Articles

  • Eric Adeyemon

Managing Editor of Current Event Essays

  • Zora Robinson

Managing Editor of Interviews

  • Lanai Huddleston