Philosophy PhD

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.

The Philosophy Department does not have a terminal master's program but a student may receive the MA degree after two years of satisfactory work in the PhD program.

Students must take at least one Philosophy Department course, at the 300- or 400-level, in each of the following areas:

• Ancient Philosophy
• Modern Philosophy
• Contemporary Philosophy Category A: moral or political philosophy
• Contemporary Philosophy Category B: metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, or philosophy of science.

• PHIL 401-1,2 Proseminar (first year): 2
• PHIL 402-1,2 Proseminar (second year): 2

During the first and second year, students take a total of 18 courses, 12 of which must be seminars taught in the Northwestern philosophy department.

During the third year, students take an additional 6 seminars taught in the Northwestern philosophy department. This requirement is waived if student already has an MA degree.

1. Competence in a second language other than English;
2. Completion of a course in advanced logic (above 200-level); or
3. A skills requirement involving work in a related discipline (Linguistics, Cognitive Science, Mathematics, etc.) or a complementary philosophical area. By the end of the first year, students should declare to the DGS what his or her proposed competence (or competences) will be, and the DGS will arrange a course of study (or an equivalent) that will demonstrate the needed level of training.

Standardly, students attend lectures for PHIL 250, and enroll with the instructor of the class in an independent study. Graduate students are expected to undertake additional work so that their coursework is at the 300- or 400- level.

Alternative arrangements may be made to fulfill this requirement with the approval of the logic advisor.

• Research/Projects: two qualifying papers, one to be completed in each of the first two years.
• Dissertation Prospectus and Oral Defense
• Dissertation Research Seminars: one presentation in each of the third and fourth years.
• PhD Dissertation
• Final Evaluations: oral defense of dissertation
• Other: annual review by faculty