Department of Philosophy

The doctoral program consists of two stages. The first stage is that leading to admission to candidacy;the second, to the awarding of the degree. Normally, the first involves at least two years of course work beyond the M.A. in preparation for departmental and language examinations. The second stage involves writing a dissertation and passing an oral examination in its defense. Students must attain certification for Ph.D. candidacy -- that is, fulfill all the requirements for the Ph.D. except for the writing and oral defense of the dissertation -- within four years of admission to the Ph.D. program.