Learning Outcomes

  • Argumentative skill. Philosophy Ph.D. students will demonstrate a high level of skill in formulating, defending, analyzing, and critiquing complex philosophical arguments.
  • Research excellence. Philosophy Ph.D. students will develop the skills necessary to engage primary, secondary, and archival sources in order to produce original academic research in their areas of competence and specialization. They will be prepared to revise and submit this work to academic conferences and/or publication.
  • Historical expertise. Philosophy Ph.D. students will exhibit broad familiarity with and deep expertise in mobilizing concepts, arguments, and methodological approaches drawn from the history of philosophy, including ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary thought.
  • Contemporary engagement. Philosophy Ph.D. students will be prepared to engage, assess, and participate in cutting-edge contemporary disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and extra-disciplinary academic debates.
  • Professionalization. Philosophy Ph.D. students will be able to produce well-structured dossiers for doctoral or professional school applications, grant and fellowships, academic faculty and postdoc positions, and alt-academic careers. They will be able to competently contribute to discussions about a range of professional practices in the discipline and higher education more generally.

  • Linguistic competence. Philosophy Ph.D. students will develop or hone their capacity to work with philosophical material written in two languages other than English, including primary texts and scholarly literature.

  • Pedagogical facility. Philosophy PhD program students will develop the skills necessary for effective pedagogical practice, course development and planning, classroom management, and assessment of student learning. They will be able to put these skills to work teaching introductory-level undergraduate classes while preparing for upper-level teaching

Requirements for the
Ph.D. Degree

Program Structure

Philosophy PhD students are intended to complete the program in six years, with the first two years structured primarily by coursework (three seminars per semester), the third year by final coursework (two seminars per semester) and dissertation prospectus formulation, and the fourth, fifth, and sixth years by dissertation research and writing. PhD students transferring coursework credits from a previous MA in philosophy are expected to complete the program on an accelerated schedule.

Coursework

The Philosophy PhD program requires a minimum of 55 total credits: 45 coursework credits (15 seminars), four credits through Graduate Teaching Seminar (three for GTS 1 and one for GTS 2), and six Dissertation credits. In the rare cases of students who will not be teaching as part of their degree, the 55 credits are fulfilled through 48 coursework credits (16 seminars) and seven Dissertation credits.

Historical area requirement

PhD students must take two courses designated in each of four historical areas: ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary philosophy. Historical area designations are specified on seminar syllabi. Not all seminars satisfy an historical area requirement and some courses qualify for multiple areas (though each may be counted only once toward the requirement).

Independent studies

With the agreement of a faculty supervisor and a course contract approved by the Chair and Director of Graduate Studies, PhD students may enroll in two three-credit Readings in Philosophy independent studies that count as coursework. PhD students who transfer nine credits or more in advanced standing from a prior graduate program may count only three independent study credits (one Readings in Philosophy enrollment) toward the coursework credit requirement.

Extra-Departmental Courses

Six coursework credits (two seminars) may be taken through another academic department or at another Pittsburgh-area university when relevant to a student’s research agenda. Extra-departmental course enrollments require prior approval by the Chair and Director of Graduate Studies. PhD students who transfer nine credits or more in advanced standing from a prior graduate program may count only three extra-departmental credits (one seminar) toward the coursework credits requirement.

Continuing Enrollment Credits

Continuing enrollment credits maintain fulltime enrollment status after completion of coursework. The doctoral program funding package includes tuition credits to cover six semesters of continuing enrollment. through PHIL 701 Dissertation. After these six credits, students who have not yet graduated must register for fee-based continuation credits (GRAS 701) each semester.

Exchange Programs

PhD students are welcome to participate in our formal exchange with the Philosophy Department at the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, or with other exchange programs as approved by the Chair and Director of Graduate Studies.

Transfer Credits

PhD students are permitted to transfer up to 18 credits (six courses) from a previous Philosophy MA program. PhD students may first petition the Chair and Director of Graduate Studies to transfer up to nine credits (three courses) at the start of their second semester. Conditional on excellent academic performance and the absence of outstanding incompletes, PhD students may then petition to transfer an additional nine credits (three courses) at the start of their fourth semester. Non-philosophy courses or pure research credits (e.g., thesis enrollments, etc.) may not be transferred.

Language Requirement

PhD students must demonstrate research competence in two research languages (typically ancient Greek, Latin, French, or German). Other languages may be substituted when demonstrably relevant to planned dissertation research. Language course credits do not count the coursework requirement total.

Grant Submission Requirement

All PhD students are required to submit at least one application for an external grant (for research, travel, language study, or other relevant purpose) before submitting a dissertation prospectus. A copy of the grant application should be sent to the Chair and Director of Graduate Studies.

Dissertation Prospectus

PhD students achieve ABD (all-but-dissertation) status once a prospectus detailing plans for a dissertation is filed with the Graduate Office. A prospectus may be submitted after all coursework is complete and the language- and grant-submission requirements have been satisfied. A prospectus is developed and revised in consultation the project’s proposed faculty director and formally filed once approved by the director and other members of the dissertation committee. Prospectus submission is expected during the first semester of the fourth year of the program or earlier (and sooner for students transferring in credits).

Preliminary Research Presentation

PhD students with newly submitted prospectuses publicly present their projects to the entire department at a Forum event each semester. All faculty and graduate students attend these events and have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion about the project.

Dissertation

A dissertation is a book-length work that advance disciplinary knowledge, engages the relevant existing literature, and demonstrates the author’s capacity to engage in professional philosophical research. They are typically 250-350 pages including apparatus. A dissertation may be submitted for public defense once revised to the satisfaction of the director and all readers.

Teaching Responsibilities

In return for stipend funding, during the first two years of the program PhD students are assigned to individual faculty members as Teaching Assistants for one class each semester. During the next three years, PhD students teach their own introductory-level classes (one class per semester during the third and fourth years; two classes per semester during the fifth).

Pedagogical training

In addition to direct mentorship while serving as Teaching Assistants, during their second year Philosophy PhD students enroll in Graduate Teaching Seminar 1 (a seminar on course development, syllabus preparation, classroom practices, strategies for student assessment, time-management, and critical pedagogy). During the same semester they begin teaching their own classes, PhD students enroll in Graduate Teaching Seminar 2 (a workshop engaging the challenges and successes they are actually encountering in their classrooms). Additional pedagogical training is provided through Center for Teaching Excellence workshops and through regular observation and assessment by members of the Philosophy faculty.

Satisfactory Progress

The Chair and Director of Graduate Studies periodically review progress toward degree. Students deemed not to be making satisfactory progress may be placed on probation or asked to leave the program. University policy requires all work leading to a Ph.D. degree to be completed no more than eight years after matriculation.

Degree Conferral

Ph.D. candidates must make a formal application for the degree at the office of the Registrar prior to the date specified in that year's University Calendar and should be present at graduation. Students must make complete settlement of their financial accounts with the University before any degree will be conferred.