Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Required Courses (18 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 607 | Pro-Seminar 1. | 6 |
Pro-Seminar 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A series of seminars on selected topics designed for professional training to graduate students. Topics will be selected from the general area of Value Theory. | ||
| PHIL 682 | Pro-Seminar 3. | 6 |
Pro-Seminar 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A series of seminars on selected topics designed to provide professional training to graduate students. Topics will be selected from the general area of Metaphysics/Epistemology. | ||
| PHIL 685 | Fundamentals of Logic. | 3 |
Fundamentals of Logic. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A course in intermediate logic for graduate students in Philosophy, covering such topics as axiomatic systems, formal semantics, consistency, completeness, the limitative results, intuitionistic logic, formal theories of truth, aspects of the development of logic. | ||
| PHIL 690 | Candidacy Paper. | 3 |
Candidacy Paper. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Preparation and submission of candidacy research paper. | ||
Complementary Courses (21-27 credits)
Students admitted to Ph.D. 1 require nine complementary courses.
Students admitted to Ph.D. 2 require seven complementary courses.
Minimum of two courses from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 651 | Seminar: Ancient Philosophy 2. | 3 |
Seminar: Ancient Philosophy 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course on a philosopher or philosophical issue articulated in antiquity. | ||
| PHIL 656 | Medieval Philosophy. | 3 |
Medieval Philosophy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course devoted to a particular topic in medieval philosophy. Subject varies from year to year. | ||
| PHIL 661 | Seminar: 18th Century Philosophy. | 3 |
Seminar: 18th Century Philosophy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course on an eighteenth-century philosopher or philosophical issue. | ||
| PHIL 667 | Seminar: 19th Century Philosophy. | 3 |
Seminar: 19th Century Philosophy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course on 19th-century philosophy or philosophical issue. | ||
| PHIL 675 | Seminar: Contemporary European Philosophy. | 3 |
Seminar: Contemporary European Philosophy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course on contemporary European philosophy or some important issue in the Continental tradition. | ||
and/or any other course at the 500, 600, or 700 level in the History of Philosophy recommended/accepted by the student's advisory committee. Depending on the topics covered, PHIL 607 Pro-Seminar 1. and PHIL 682 Pro-Seminar 3. may count toward the area requirements.
Minimum of 2 courses from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 627 | Seminar: Critical Philosophy of Race. | 3 |
Seminar: Critical Philosophy of Race. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course examining a question, theme, or thinker in the critical philosophy of race. | ||
| PHIL 634 | Seminar: Ethics. | 3 |
Seminar: Ethics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar on a particular topic in ethics. Topic varies by year. | ||
| PHIL 643 | Seminar: Medical Ethics. | 3 |
Seminar: Medical Ethics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course devoted to a particular philosophical problem as it arises in the context of medical practice or the application of medical technology. | ||
| PHIL 644 | Political Theory. | 3 |
Political Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar on a particular topic in political theory. | ||
| PHIL 648 | Seminar: Philosophy of Law. | 3 |
Seminar: Philosophy of Law. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course devoted to a particular topic in the philosophy of law. Subject varies from year to year. | ||
and/or any other course at the 500, 600, or 700 level in the Value Theory recommended/accepted by the student's advisory committee. Depending on the topics covered, PHIL 607 Pro-Seminar 1. and PHIL 682 Pro-Seminar 3. may count toward the area requirements.
Minimum of 2 courses from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 610 | Seminar on Advanced Logic 2. | 3 |
Seminar on Advanced Logic 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar on a particular topic in advanced logic. Topic varies by year. | ||
| PHIL 611 | Seminar: Philosophy of Logic and Mathematics. | 3 |
Seminar: Philosophy of Logic and Mathematics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar on a particular topic in philosophy of logic and mathematics. | ||
| PHIL 615 | Seminar: Philosophy of Language. | 3 |
Seminar: Philosophy of Language. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course devoted to a topic in the philosophy of language. | ||
| PHIL 619 | Seminar: Epistemology. | 3 |
Seminar: Epistemology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course devoted to a topic in the theory of knowledge. | ||
| PHIL 621 | Seminar: Metaphysics. | 3 |
Seminar: Metaphysics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course devoted to a topic in metaphysics. | ||
| PHIL 670 | Seminar: Contemporary Analytic Philosophy. | 3 |
Seminar: Contemporary Analytic Philosophy. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course on some major analytic philosopher, or some issue of central importance in the analytic tradition. | ||
and/or any other course at the 500 level or higher in Metaphysics and Epistemology recommended/accepted by the student's advisory committee. Depending on the topics covered, PHIL 607 Pro-Seminar 1. and PHIL 682 Pro-Seminar 3. may count toward the area requirements.
The remaining course(s) must be at the 500, 600, or 700 level and are to be chosen in consultation with the student's advisory committee.
Language Requirement
One research language at the advanced level or two research languages at the intermediate level.