Philosophy

Master of Arts

Of the 30 credits required for the master’s degree, students are expected to complete a minimum of 24 credits of graded coursework.

Students are expected to complete a qualifying paper.  Two submissions to obtain approval of the qualifying paper are permitted, with a missed deadline counting as one submission.

Doctor of Philosophy

Of the 72 credits required for the doctoral degree, students are expected to complete a minimum of 36 credits of graded coursework.

Students are expected to obtain approval of two qualifying papers by a committee of faculty readers assigned by the Director of Graduate Studies, the first by the beginning of the third semester and the second by the beginning of the fifth semester. Students are permitted a total of four submissions, with a missed deadline counting as one submission. One of the two papers may be waived for a student who enters the program with a master of arts degree, in which case a total of two submissions will be permitted.

Students are expected to achieve an average grade of at least B+ in two courses approved by the faculty in each of three areas, including Metaphysics and Epistemology; Ethics; and History of Philosophy. No more than one course each in ancient, medieval and modern philosophy will be counted toward the History of Philosophy requirement.

Students are expected to demonstrate qualification in logic by achieving a grade of at least B in PHIL 2420, a grade of at least B on the final exam of PHIL 2420, or a grade of at least B- in PHIL 5420, as well as completing one of the following courses: PHIL 5470 (Philosophy of Mathematics), PHIL 7440 (Philosophical Logic), PHIL 5450 (Language and Logic), PHIL 7450 (Topics in the Philosophy of Language) or PHIL 8510 (Vagueness).

Students are expected to obtain approval of a dissertation proposal.

Students are expected to complete all requirements stated above by the conclusion of the seventh semester of study.

Students are expected to write and defend a dissertation.