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Dec 07, 2025
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2025-2026 University Catalog
Philosophy, PHD
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About the Program
The Department of Philosophy offers courses of study leading to the M.A. in Philosophy for International Students and Ph.D. Purdue Philosophy is a large and active intellectual community. Graduate students in the program acquire a solid grounding in four traditional areas of philosophy while developing their own specialized research programs. They are guided by faculty whose research strengths span the philosophic spectrum: from PPE to the history of philosophy, from continental European philosophy to cognitive science and AI, and from the philosophy of religion to contemporary ethical theory to the philosophy of science. Overlapping faculty research areas reflect departmental research strengths that provide a range of opportunities for graduate students. An excellent faculty-student ratio and a commitment to sound graduate education allow for close and informal relations among faculty and students, particularly in graduate seminars and reading groups. Program Website Program Requirements
90 Credits Required (30 credits from a Master’s may be applied.) Required Courses (24 credits)
Students must pass twelve graduate level courses (totaling 36 credit hours, including electives) with a cumulative Purdue GPA of 3.3 or higher. At least eleven of these courses must be philosophy courses-that is, either Purdue courses with a PHIL prefix or approved transfer courses. Any non-philosophy course counted towards satisfying this requirement must be taken at Purdue. The following PHIL courses may not count towards satisfying this requirement: 561, 562, 564, 571, 572, 680 (when it is a Dissertation Seminar), 698, and 699. No more than two Directed Reading courses (PHIL 590s) may count towards satisfying this requirement. Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Science Courses (9 credits)
Students must take 525 or 532, and two other courses from the list below. History of Philosophy Courses (6 credits)
Choose two. Value Theory Courses (6 credits)
Students must take 524 or 624 and one other course, listed below. Formal Methods Course (3 credits)
Students must pass one course with a grade of B or better or a written exam (on material equivalent to PHIL 553) administered by the department. The course normally used to fulfill this requirement is 553. Substitutions for 553 are permitted only in years in which 553 is not offered. Electives (12 credits)
Students should choose 500/600-level PHIL courses or approved courses outside the department to fulfill remaining credit requirements, keeping in mind the requisite eleven courses that must be from the philosophy deparment. Since the required course list comprises eight of the eleven PHIL courses, students should take at least one 3-credit PHIL course as an elective, and may choose to take more. Dissertation Research (xx credits)
Students should choose a dissertation topic, form a committee, and start working on their dissertation during their third year. It is expected that students defend their prospectus by the end of the third year or early in their fourth. Students who have begun working on their dissertation must register for the minimum number of research credits (3) every semester until the degree is granted. Concentrations
Departmental concentrations and programs: - Communication and Philosophy Concentration (GR)
- Human Rights Studies Concentration (GR)
- Philosophy and Literature Concentration (GR)
- Philosophy and Literature, PHD
Interdisciplinary concentrations and programs: Foreign Language Requirement
Before a student may advance to Ph.D. candidacy, they must satisfy this requirement in one of two ways: - Option 1 (default): reading competence in one foreign language is required. This language must be German, Ancient Greek, French, or Latin unless the Director of Graduate Studies and the Department Head recommend that some other language be substituted if it is deemed useful to the student’s research. This requirement may be satisfied one of two ways:
- Coursework: by passing (with a grade of B or better) the third semester course (201 or analogous) taught by the Purdue’s School of Languages and Cultures.
- Exam: by means of a written translation examination administered by the Department of Philosophy.
(Additional languages may be required by the nature of the student’s Ph.D. research; this shall be determined by the student’s dissertation committee.) A student sitting for the translation examination will be allowed the use of a lexicon and a dictionary. The exam time will be 90 minutes. The examiner(s) will be appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies from among the faculty of the Philosophy Department. - Option 2 (special permission required): An alternative way to satisfy this requirement is by taking two courses of a similar subject matter outside of philosophy that are deemed useful to a student’s dissertation research. Students desiring to take this alternative pathway must do all of the following:
- Discuss with and get the approval of their advisory committee.
- Submit a one-page written justification laying out the grounds for taking this pathway and stating how it will benefit their planned research.
- Get the approval of the Graduate Committee.
GPA Requirements
Students must pass graduate level courses with a cumulative Purdue GPA of 3.3 or higher. Graduate Programs Disclaimer
- The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Students should consult with their advisor/department for more information.
- Not all graduate programs may be actively recruiting students and course modality availability may vary.
- Please refer to the Explore Graduate Programs website for a list of currently available graduate programs.
- Transfer credit policy: Credits earned for graduate study at other universities (both domestic and international) may be applied toward an advanced degree. Only credit hours associated with graduate courses for which grades of B- or better were obtained will be eligible for transfer. Any additional conditions under which credit transfers may be made are determined by the various departments.
- Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
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