Degree Requirements for the Graduate Program

Requirements for the PhD

The program is an integrated MA/PhD program.  The MA portion of the degree consists of coursework and the MA Exam.  The PhD portion consists of some additional coursework plus the writing and defense of a dissertation.

MA Portion

In order to satisfy the MA portion of the integrated degree, students must complete

1. Coursework
   a. 6 required coursed (PHIL 6000, 6030, 6110, 6120, either 6210 or 6220, and 6500 (unless not serving as a GA/GI)
   b. At least two seminars in value theory, and at least one in metaphysics and epistemology (broadly construed).
   c. At least one additional course, either in philosophy or in some cognate area
   d. A course to prepare students for teaching philosophy.
2. MA Exam (See below)

PhD Portion

In order to satisfy the PhD portion, of the integrated degree students must complete

1. Coursework
   a. An additional seminar in value theory, and an additional seminar in metaphysics and epistemology (broadly construed)
   b. An additional seminar in philosophy, if the requirement in 1.c above was satisfied by a course in a cognate area.
   c. Students may also do an internship as part of their preparation for the dissertation.
2. Dissertation
   a. Cognate studies and proficiency in a foreign language are required if and only if appropriate in light of the student's dissertation topic.
   b. Preliminary exam
   c. Writing and defense of the dissertation.

The Special Masters Degree

• A core requirement of six three-hour courses or seminars in philosophy of the student's choosing
• A core supplement of either (a) an internship together with an internship report or (b) three additional three hour courses or seminars in Philosophy
• Six additional credit hours
• The M.A. examination

The M.A. Exam:

A portfolio is required to demonstrate a student’s ability (a) to understand, analyze, and evaluate positions and arguments in classical and contemporary philosophical literature, and on a variety of topics, (b) to engage in robust philosophical research (where this includes judgments about the proper assimilation of secondary literature); and (c) to formulate and defend original philosophical theses.  These virtues must be displayed at a level of sophistication indicating the student’s ability to write a doctoral dissertation.

To satisfy this requirement, a student must submit an extended writing sample.  A successful portfolio can be expected to consist of 3-4 papers totaling around 40-60 double-spaced pages, standard fonts and margins.  These may be revisions of seminar papers.  Each paper should present and defend a definite thesis and should be accessible to faculty members unfamiliar with the literature in question.  The papers in the portfolio need not be of publishable quality, but they must, collectively, demonstrate the specified skills.  Students must include at least one paper on normative philosophy and at least one paper on non-normative philosophy.

The portfolio must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies by the first day of    classes of the student’s fifth semester (not counting summers) in residence.  Portfolios will be evaluated by the entire graduate faculty of the Philosophy Department.  Toward the end of fall semester, the graduate faculty will meet to evaluate the year’s portfolio(s).  Each faculty member will read at least one paper from each portfolio, and each paper will be read by at least one faculty member.  The possible outcomes of the Department’s deliberations are (a) pass, (b) neither pass nor fail, with specific conditions to be met by a given date (e.g., a rewrite of one or more papers), (c) fail, with permission granted for complete or partial resubmission by a given date, (d) fail, with permission to apply for a terminal M.A., (e) fail.  Portfolio candidates will be informed of the Department’s decision by the Director of Graduate Studies.