The Washington University Philosophy Department houses two PhD programs: a program in Philosophy — with strengths in philosophy of mind, epistemology, political philosophy, philosophy of science, metaphysics, and the history of philosophy — and a special interdisciplinary program in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology (PNP) that maintains a core faculty in philosophy and draws on Washington University's exceptional psychology and neuroscience programs.

The department accepts about 10% of the applicants to these PhD programs and maintains about 25 students in both programs. We are especially open to interdisciplinary work, and we are committed to providing methodologically and substantively broad training. We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, and the most successful applicants have evidence of philosophical talent and promise.

Contact Info

Phone:	314-935-6670
Email:	philosophy@wustl.edu
Website:	http://philosophy.wustl.edu/graduate-programs

Chair

Professors

Associate Professors

Lecturers

McDonnell Postdoctoral Fellows

Professors Emeriti

The following requirements apply to all students in the Philosophy and PNP PhD programs.

Colloquium Attendance

Students are expected to attend departmental colloquium talks. Exceptions may be granted by the director of graduate studies (DGS) when appropriate (e.g., if a student needs to attend a class that is scheduled at the same time).

Course Work

All students are required to take the following courses:

• During the first semester, Phil 502 Proseminar in Philosophy.
• Six semesters of Phil 514 Survey Seminar, which surveys a different area of philosophy each semester.
• Four semesters of Phil 516 Research Seminar, which focuses on a specific topic, question, or figure each semester, with an emphasis on philosophical research methods and writing.
• At least one course in formal methods, either Phil 509 Formal Methods for Philosophy or another course approved by the DGS (for philosophy students) or the director of PNP (for PNP students).

PNP students are additionally required to take five graduate-level empirical courses:

• One course in research methods or statistics
• Four other courses in the sciences of the mind/brain or behavior

Students in their first three years are expected to maintain full-time status by taking at least 9 units (three courses) of 500-level course work each semester. Thus, all students must take at least 18 500-level courses (54 units) in total (although they may take more) and so must take a certain number of electives.

Students are expected to supplement their required courses by auditing or taking additional courses that are relevant to their research.

To fulfill course work requirements, courses must be passed with at least a B-.

Credits cannot be transferred from other institutions.

Qualifying Examinations

Each section of Phil 514 Survey Seminar includes a final comprehensive examination taken at the end of the course (but which may be retaken in the event of an unsatisfactory performance). The form of the final comprehensive examination (e.g., written or oral, in-class or take-home) varies and is determined by the instructor. All students must complete six such examinations and obtain a grade of at least a B- on each one; these examination grades are distinct from the course grades for the six semesters of Phil 514 Survey Seminar.

Dissertation Seminar

Starting in the fourth year, for each spring semester in residence, all students must satisfactorily complete Phil 8000 Dissertation Seminar, which is devoted to research training and dissertation project development. (Phil 8000 is a 0-unit course and does not count toward the fulfillment of course work requirements.)

Mentored Teaching Experiences

All students are required to complete four Mentored Teaching Experiences, normally in their second and third years.

Prospectus

All students must successfully defend a dissertation prospectus before a committee of at least three faculty members, one of whom (the “prospectus advisor”) will supervise the preparation of the prospectus and who will normally go on to serve as the dissertation advisor (see below). Normally, students defend their prospectus before the end of their fourth year of study.

A dissertation prospectus states a problem, a response to the problem, a reckoning of how this response contributes to existing philosophical literature, and an overview of the case for the response. The prospectus should be accompanied by a working bibliography. The structure and length of individual prospectuses varies and is to be determined in consultation and collaboration with the prospectus advisor.

The possible outcomes of a prospectus defense are Pass and Fail. Students may make additional attempts in the event of a failed prospectus defense. The prospectus advisor will inform the DGS and the Graduate Program Administrator when a student has successfully defended their prospectus.

Dissertation

All students must defend a dissertation before a committee of at least five people, the chair of which (the “dissertation advisor”) will supervise the preparation of the dissertation. The Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, establishes requirements concerning the composition of the dissertation committees, dissertation defense scheduling, and the nature of the defense itself.

A dissertation is a substantial piece of original philosophical research. The structure and length of individual dissertations varies and is to be determined in consultation and collaboration with the dissertation advisor.

The possible outcomes of a dissertation defense are Pass, Revisions, and Fail. When revisions are required, the dissertation advisor will provide, in writing, a description of what revisions are required and a deadline for revisions that is no more than 3 months after the dissertation defense. When the dissertation is resubmitted, the dissertation advisor will determine if the revisions are satisfactory.

Master's Degree Requirements

Students in our PhD programs can receive a Master of Arts once they have completed their required course work and fulfilled the qualifying examinations requirement.