Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School.

Candidates for the doctoral degree must complete 66 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, including 48 credits of coursework and 18 credits of dissertation directed study. In order to continue in the program and gain admission to candidacy, a student must satisfy the following:

1. Pass PHI 5050 or the Departmental Examination in elementary logic before the second year in the doctoral program;
2. Satisfy the 48 credits of coursework and course area requirements in metaphysics/epistemology, value theory, and history of philosophy by the end of the third year;
3. Complete preliminary essay by the beginning of the fourth year; and
4. Pass an oral examination on the dissertation prospectus by the end of the fourth year;

The required 18 credits of dissertation directed study is fulfilled by registering for PHI 9991, PHI 9992(Doctoral Dissertation Research and Direction I, and II, in consecutive semesters, with 9992 being repeatable.) The candidate’s doctoral committee must approve the doctoral dissertation prior to an oral presentation open to all interested faculty and students.

Academic Scholarship: All course work must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.