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PHILO-PMN - Philosophy (PhD Minor)

Overview

Program Overview

Philosophy concerns itself with fundamental problems. Some are abstract and deal with the nature of truth, justice, value, and knowledge; others are more concrete, and their study may help guide conduct or enhance understanding of other subjects. Philosophy also examines the efforts of past thinkers to understand the world and people's experience of it.

Although it may appear to be an assortment of different disciplines, there are features common to all philosophical inquiry. These include an emphasis on methods of reasoning and the way in which judgments are formed, on criticizing and organizing beliefs, and on the nature and role of fundamental concepts.

Students of almost any discipline can find something in philosophy which is relevant to their own specialties. In the sciences, it provides a framework within which the foundations and scope of a scientific theory can be studied, and it may even suggest directions for future development. Since philosophical ideas have had an important influence on human endeavors of all kinds, including artistic, political, and economic, students of the humanities and social sciences should find their understanding deepened by acquaintance with philosophy.

Director of Graduate Studies

Chris Bobonich

Free Form Requisites

Ph.D. Minor in Philosophy

To obtain a Ph.D. minor in Philosophy, students must follow these procedures:

  1. Consult with the Director of Graduate Study to establish eligibility, and select a suitable advisor.

  2. Give to the graduate administrator a signed copy of the program of study (designed with the advisor) which offers:

    1. 30 units of courses in the Department of Philosophy with a letter grade of 'B-' or better in each course. No more than 3 units of directed reading may be counted in the 30-unit requirement.

    2. At least one course or seminar numbered over 99 to be taken in each of these six areas:

      1. Logic

      2. Philosophy of science

      3. Ethics, value theory, and moral and political philosophy

      4. Metaphysics and epistemology

      5. Language, mind and action

      6. History of philosophy

    3. Two additional courses numbered over 199 to be taken in one of those (b) six areas.

  3. A faculty member from the Department of Philosophy (usually the student's advisor) serves on the student's doctoral oral examination committee and may request that up to one third of this examination be devoted to the minor subject.

  4. Paperwork for the minor must be submitted to the department office before beginning the program.

Program Policies

External Credit Policies

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