Doctor of Philosophy

Instructors indicate which courses may satisfy particular distribution requirements. If a course potentially satisfies more than one requirement, the student may use it for only one of those area requirements; no units may be double-counted. Students must develop broad competencies in all these areas. Those without strong backgrounds in these areas would typically satisfy these distribution requirements by taking more basic courses rather than highly specialized and focused courses. Students should consult with their advisor in making these course decisions and be prepared to explain them when reviewed for candidacy.

Part 1:

Second-year students must submit a dossier of two seminar-length papers (approximately 5000-6000 words each). The dossier must be turned in no later than the end of the 5th week of the Spring quarter of the student’s second year. These papers are polished versions of papers that have their origin in classes, seminars, tutorials (independent studies) or the student’s independent research. Each paper should include a bibliography.

Part 2:

An examination committee of three faculty reads both papers. The examination committee is comprised of at most two faculty members who have worked with the student on the dossier papers, and at least one faculty member who serves as an independent examiner (i.e. who has not worked with the student on the dossier papers). The examination committee also conducts an oral examination of the student no later than the 9th week of Spring quarter. The examination will test the student’s understanding and facility with the relevant research on which the dossier papers are based. The committee gives a letter grade on both the papers and the oral examination; both oral and written work should demonstrate that students are capable of working independently and successfully to complete a PhD thesis. A holistic judgment of written work and the oral examination taken together form the basis of the candidacy decision.

This workshop is mandatory for those who have achieved candidacy in their second year. The workshop will emphasize long-form writing and revision preparatory to work on the thesis. Students will also complete an annotated bibliography on their intended area of dissertation research and a short (5-7 page) statement of their research interests. The annotated bibliography and research statement are due the first day of the Fall quarter of the student's third year.

In Autumn and Winter quarters of the third year, students register for and satisfactorily complete Phil 301. Students meet to present their work in progress and discuss their thesis project. A completed Prospectus should be submitted for a grade no later than the last day of Winter quarter. Participation in these seminars is required.

During the third and fourth years in the program, students must complete at least three graduate-level courses/seminars by the end of the fourth year, as professional development. At least two of these courses should be in philosophy and at least two should be completed in the third year. This light load of courses allows students to deepen their philosophical training while keeping time free for thesis research.

Courses used to satisfy this seminar requirement can be taken for only two units and credit/no credit, if offered. Any Philosophy seminar numbered in the 302-399 range can fulfill this seminar requirement.

By no later than the end of Spring quarter of their third year, students should meet with their entire committee to discuss a chapter-length piece of writing. This discussion is meant to ensure that students have identified a thesis topic and have assembled a suitable thesis committee.

Students present a research paper in a 60-minute seminar open to the entire department no later than the end of Fall quarter of their fourth year. This paper should be on an aspect of the student’s dissertation research. This is an opportunity for the student to make their work known to the broader department and to explain their ideas to a general philosophical audience.

Fourth-year students must enroll in and attend Phil 500 in Fall and Winter. This course is a workshop for thesis writers with weekly presentations of work-in-progress led by a faculty member.

By the end of Spring quarter, fourth-year students should meet with their entire committee to discuss two chapters of their thesis. The discussion is meant to ensure that students are making good progress on their thesis.

• Teaching is core to the academic and professional training of doctoral students in our program. All students are required to complete three quarters of teaching by the end of their fourth year in the program regardless of their financial support. Typically, students complete more than the required number of teaching quarters as part of their professional training and financial support.

• Students are typically expected to complete at least two additional quarters of teaching beyond the minimum required for the degree to further their pedagogical and professional skills development.

Admission to candidacy is a prospective judgement by the faculty of a student’s potential to successfully complete the requirements of the degree program. Students are expected to complete qualifying procedures and apply for candidacy by the end of their second year in the program. Qualifying procedures in the Department of Philosophy include required coursework and passing the Second-year Writing and Oral exam. A holistic judgment of written work and the oral examination taken together form the basis of the candidacy decision.

In the Philosophy department, the University Oral Exam is a defense of the dissertation presented upon the completion of a substantial portion of the dissertation or upon completion of a pre-final draft. Students consult with their dissertation advisor and reading committee members on the timing of the defense.

PhD students must submit the pre-final draft of the dissertation to the reading committee at least one month before the student expects to defend the thesis in the University Oral Exam. If the student receives consent to go forward, the University Oral Exam can take place approximately two weeks later. A portion of the exam consists of a student presentation based on the dissertation and is open to the public. A closed-question period follows. If the draft is ready by the autumn quarter of the fourth year, the student may request that the University Oral Exam counts as the fourth year colloquium.

Students are required to submit an approved dissertation that makes an original contribution to scholarship in the field of Philosophy.

Students interested in interdisciplinary work relating philosophy to artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science, linguistics, or logic may pursue a degree in this program.

Admitted students should have covered the equivalent of the core of the undergraduate Symbolic Systems Program requirements described in the SYMBO-BS: Symbolic Systems (BS) section of this Bulletin, including courses in artificial intelligence (AI), cognitive science, linguistics, logic, and philosophy. The subplan is designed with this background in mind. Students missing part of this background may need additional coursework. In addition to the required coursework below, the PhD requirements are mostly the same as for the regular program, with the exceptions noted below.

Graduate students in the Philosophy PhD program may pursue a PhD subplan in History and Philosophy of Science. The subplan is declared in Axess, and subplan designations appear on the official transcript but are not printed on the diploma.

Students must fulfill Departmental degree requirements and the following requirements:

Students must attend the HPS colloquium series.

Complete one elective seminar in the History of Science.

Complete one elective seminar (in addition to the course satisfying requirement 2) in Philosophy of Science.

Philosophy participates with the Computer Science, Linguistics, and Psychology departments in an interdisciplinary program in Cognitive Science. It is intended to provide a multidisciplinary education, as well as a deeper concentration in philosophy, and is open to doctoral students. Students who complete the requirements within Philosophy and the Cognitive Science requirements receive a special designation in Cognitive Science and a PhD in Philosophy. To receive this field designation, students must complete 30 units of approved courses, 18 of which must be taken in two disciplines outside philosophy. The list of approved courses can be obtained from the Cognitive Science program in the Department of Psychology.