PhD Program

 

The Philosophy Department seeks to enroll about 7 students each year in the doctoral program leading to the PhD degree. The Department has streamlined requirements for the degree to increase students' ability to gain depth in their areas of specialization and reduce the length of time students must spend in the program. It is designed to be completed in 5 years.

Students must be continuously registered, excluding summer sessions, unless granted a leave of absence by petition to the Graduate Studies Committee. Students must register for at least nine hours unless granted an exception by the Graduate Adviser for health or financial reasons.

Doctor of Philosophy

The requirements for the PhD are listed below.

In the first year:

• PHL 384F (First-year Seminar) - an intensive introduction to a central area of philosophy
• PHL 389, Logic

Within the first two years:

• a graduate course in metaphysics or epistemology
• a graduate course in ethics
• a graduate course in history of philosophy
• five additional graduate courses in philosophy

Within the first three years:

• Completion and defense of a dissertation prospectus
• Completion of PHL 398T - a one-semester teaching course
• Foreign Language Proficiency - four semesters study or equivalent in a language other than English (can be satisfied with coursework completed before enrolling in the program) or two additional graduate philosophy seminars or upper-division or graduate courses in a related area (approved by the GSEC)

Finally:

• Completion and defense of a dissertation

An M.A. is not required for the PhD but may be earned after completing all relevant requirements.

Students in special programs, such as the Ancient Philosophy Program, may need to do supporting coursework or language study at an earlier stage.