PhD
in Philosophy
Course Work
The Doctor of Philosophy degree requires the
completion of 16 courses, passing examinations
for reading knowledge of a foreign language, passing
the logic examination, passing the written Comprehensive
Examinations, writing a doctoral dissertation,
and passing a final oral examination on the dissertation.
Students are expected to acquire a broad knowledge
of the field of philosophy and to demonstrate
such knowledge in a written Qualifying Examination
at the completion of course work. Completion of
at least 16 courses is required, 4 of which must
be at the 600/800/900 level. At least 12 of the
16 courses must be in philosophy. Up to three
Directed Studies and two language courses may
count towards the degree contingent on the approval
by the Director of Graduate Studies.
Qualifying Examination
Students who have completed their course work,
and have met the language and logic requirements
are required to take the Qualifying Examination.
This should take place at the latest by the spring
of the student's third year. The Examination is
based on the reading list (please contact the
Department for further information regarding the
reading list) and takes place over three days.
Each day the student will have five hours to answer
three questions, and will have several questions
to choose from. On the first day, questions focus
on a single philosopher. On the second day, comparative
questions are given. On the third day, there will
be thematic philosophical questions that may be
answered by using any of the figures mentioned
on the reading list. Students may schedule their
examination any time during the academic year
and may do so before they have completed their
course work.
Logic Exam
Every graduate student must demonstrate competence
in logic by either passing a designated upper
level logic course with a B+ or higher, or by
passing a logic examination. The student will
not be permitted to submit a dissertation proposal
until the logic requirement is satisfied. The
logic requirement is normally satisfied by the
end of the third year at the latest.
Language Exam
By the end of the third year of graduate study,
every graduate student must demonstrate a high
level of proficiency in reading at least one language
other than English. The language should be French,
German, Greek or Latin (unless the student’s
native language is French or German, in which
case the requirement may be waived at the discretion
of the DGS). Any language other than English may
fulfill the requirement if (a) it is needed for
dissertation work and (b) approval is granted
by the DGS.
The Dissertation
The Dissertation Prospectus must be submitted
and defended by post-BA students by the Fall of
the fifth year at the very latest. The Prospectus
is ordinarily 12 -15 pages long and is developed
in consultation with the student's prospective
first reader. The Prospectus should include a
statement of the principal problems to be addressed
and why it is of general scholarly importance
that they be addressed. The student is also responsible
for choosing a committee consisting of the first
reader and two other faculty members to read the
Prospectus prior to the oral presentation.
The Dissertation Defense takes place when the
Readers have approved the final draft of the Dissertation.
Normally the committee for the examination consists
of three faculty members chosen by the Director
of Graduate Studies in addition to the first and
second readers. For further details, please see
the Graduate School Bulletin.
Time Limits
In the case of post-BA students, the expected
completion time for the Ph.D. is four to five
years, and is seven years at the maximum. In the
case of post-MA students, the expected completion
time for the PhD is three to four years, and is
five years at the maximum.
For more detailed information regarding PhD
program requirements please see our Regulae.
|
