Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Offered by: Philosophy (Faculty of Arts)
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
The Ph.D. in Philosophy offers training in a wide range of areas of philosophy, with specializations in ancient and medieval (especially Arabic) philosophy; early modern philosophy; Kant; philosophy of mind; philosophy of Artificial Intelligence; aesthetics; moral and political philosophy; feminist philosophy; history and philosophy of science and mathematics; and contemporary European philosophy. The program includes a candidacy paper and the preparation and defence of a thesis.
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 (6 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 701 | Candidacy Examination. | 0 |
Candidacy Examination. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Preparation and submission of a candidacy research paper that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program. | ||
| PHIL 704 | ||
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. | ||
Complementary Courses (21-27 credits)
Students admitted to Ph.D. 1 require 27 credits.
Students admitted to Ph.D. 2 require 21 credits.
6 credits 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: Fall 2025 An advanced course on contemporary European philosophy or some important issue in the Continental tradition. | ||
and/or any other course at the 500 level or higher in the history of philosophy recommended/accepted by the student's advisory committee.
6 credits 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: Winter 2026 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: Winter 2026 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 level or higher in value theory recommended/accepted by the student's advisory committee
6 credits from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 606 | Seminar: Philosophy of Mind. | 3 |
Seminar: Philosophy of Mind. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course devoted to specific topics in the philosophy of mind. | ||
| 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: Fall 2025 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.
3-9 credits of complementary courses must be at the 500 level or higher and are to be chosen in consultation with the student's advisory committee.
Skills Requirement
One research language at the advanced level or two research languages at the intermediate level. Students whose research specialization does not require linguistic competence in other languages may choose, with approval from their supervisors and the Director of Graduate Studies, to take a complementary course that will enhance their research skills instead of satisfying the language requirement.
Logic Requirement
The Logic requirement is satisfied in one of three ways:
1. The student sits a deductive logic examination set by the department.
2. The student takes and passes a deductive logic course approved by the department.
3. The student has taken an approved deductive logic course at another institution.
These credits do not count towards this program's credit requirements. The requirement must be satisfied by the end of the second year in the program.