Each student must successfully complete a graduate seminar in each of the following areas: (i) metaphysics and epistemology, (ii) ethics, (iii) philosophy of science. Requirements (i) and (ii) are generally met by completing the proseminary sequence. Each student must also attend three graduate seminars in the history of philosophy, including at least one in ancient philosophy and at least one in modern/19th century philosophy. None of these seminars can deal with the same historical figure. (For the purposes of this requirement, any philosopher whose major work was largely completed in the mid-20th century is considered historical.) This is a partial summary of the Graduate School requirements. Detailed information on all graduate study requirements can be found in the UW General Catalogue. Students who wish to work particularly intensely in one area of philosophy through additional work either in the philosophy department or in related fields in other departments may be granted waivers that allow them to do less than the norm in other areas of philosophy if necessary to pursue their particular interests. Such deviations require the consent of the department. In addition, there are three specific alternative tracks leading to the PhD. degrees in philosophy, all of which offer special opportunities to combine the study of philosophy with other disciplines: philosophy of science and interdepartmental programs in classical philosophy and political philosophy. Information on special programs can be found on the Special Programs page of our website.
During the first six semesters of the stay, students must consult with the Graduate Chair regarding the choice of courses for each semester. Permission from the Graduate Chair is required to enroll in 699. Students are also encouraged to consult with professors in their future fields regarding courses required to prepare them for specialized studies. Only the Graduate Chair can approve the final course selection and certify compliance with the distribution requirement. In addition, only the graduate holder can interpret the deadlines for compliance with subsequent requirements, which extend up to the thesis phase. Individual faculty members, including the student`s supervisor, cannot exempt students from deadlines set by the graduate group and negotiated by the Director of Graduate Studies. A student supervisory board determines whether a student in the doctoral program is making satisfactory progress. Satisfactory progress for the doctoral program implies steady and substantial progress in the completion of the thesis. The sanctions in case of satisfactory non-progression are the same as those described for the requirements of the Master.
During the third year of residency, students in the doctoral program must pass a preliminary examination in the area of their future thesis. The preliminary examination consists of a chapter-length document on the subject of the thesis and a 10-page thesis prospectus as well as an oral defence of the written documents. The main objective of this exam is to demonstrate the student`s willingness to write a thesis in his chosen field as part of the overall assessment of a student`s philosophical aptitudes and competencies as a prerequisite for admission to the application. Students prepare for the exam in the fall and spring semesters and are enrolled in two units of Phil 999. For this work, a supervisor is assigned by the Graduate Chair in consultation with the student and faculty members during the evaluation of the fourth semester. No later than the beginning of the fall semester, two additional members of the Screening Committee will be appointed. In consultation with their future examination board, students should have prepared a preliminary reading list by the end of their second year so that they can begin preparing for the exam in the summer of Grade 2. The Examination Board is officially appointed in the fall semester of Year 3, and the final reading list and a two-page explanation of the thesis topic must be submitted to the committee and the Chair of Graduate Studies by October 1 of this semester. During the fall semester assignments, students and supervisors should discuss the future thesis topic. Students must present their first ideas for a thesis topic in the thesis workshop, usually in November or December.
Based on this, each third-year student must submit a five-page thesis proposal to the Graduate Chair before the start of the first week of classes in January. The chapter-length document (8,000 to 10,000 words) on the subject of the thesis and the 10-page prospectus must be delivered at noon on the first Monday after spring break. And the scheduled oral defense is expected to take place later in the week. An extension of the submission of the written work cannot be granted. For students in the J.D. Ph.D. program, written work is due on the last day of class and an oral defense is scheduled shortly thereafter. After evaluating the student`s performance in both the written and oral part of the pre-examination, the Examination Board recommends at a meeting of the graduate group for or against admission to the application. The graduate group will determine whether the student`s performance in all previous work of the program as well as in the exam has demonstrated sufficient competence and potential in philosophy, as well as knowledge in the chosen field, to warrant admission to the application; Completion of all required courses with an average grade B or higher as well as satisfactory performance on the pre-examination are necessary, but not sufficient prerequisites for such admission. Based on their evaluation, the graduate group may vote on the student`s admission to the doctoral application, require reconsideration and/or other courses, or withdraw the student from the doctoral program.
No student who has not completed the required thirteen course credits will be admitted to the application; And no student who has not been admitted to the application before the start of the fourth year of residency will be in good standing. The alumni group will inform students in writing of the results of these consultations. Third year: 1 course plus 1 or 2,999s first and second semester. Preparation and attempt of the preliminary examination, second semester; Submission of the SAS thesis proposal and the ten-page thesis proposal; Appointment of the thesis supervisor of the dissertation. Compliance with language requirements. Registration and participation in the thesis workshop. Teach. Each student must enroll in the sequence of two semesters of proseminars during their first year.
The autumn semester proseminar, open only to first-year philosophy students, aims to introduce students to graduate work in philosophy by reading and writing basic texts. The spring semester proseminar, which is open to first-year philosophy students and qualified students from outside the department, shares this goal. Each year, a proseminar is devoted to topics of metaphysics and epistemology, the other to ethics. Candidates for doctoral studies in philosophy are required to take thirteen graduate courses. These thirteen courses must be completed by the end of the semester in which the pre-examination is taken. Ten of the courses must be scheduled courses offered or listed by the Department of Philosophy. The other three may include independent study, courses in other departments, and courses at other institutions participating in the Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium (with the approval of the Graduate Chair). In addition to these thirteen courses, all students must complete four semesters of Phil 998, Teaching Practicum (which involves 1/2 credit of course unit).
In addition, all students must register for the thesis workshop (Phil 700) for one credit course unit in the year in which the pre-examination is taken. Students who wish to take more than thirteen regular courses (e.g., take additional courses in other departments, take additional philosophy courses) may do so with the consent of the Graduate Chair and as part of their scholarship programs. There is no requirement for departmental language. However, when writing a thesis, a student must be able to deal with primary sources in the original language of the source. All language requirements are determined by the student`s supervisory board. A student should develop the required language skills as early in their career as possible. The student should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies during the first and second years of the Master`s program to ensure that he/she develops all necessary language skills.