Philosophy Doctorate
PROGRAMS OF STUDY
The Department offers a program of study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The doctoral program emphasizes continental philosophy, historical study in philosophy across different traditions, and ethics, social and political philosophy. Students in the Philosophy PhD program may also pursue an interdisciplinary specialization through courses in Philosophy and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies. The Department is committed to pluralism in teaching and research and supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its activities.
THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM
Course Requirements. Students are required to complete 48 credits of course work. Students who follow the interdisciplinary philosophy and theology track are required to complete a total of 54 credits of course work, of which 42 credits will be in Philosophy and 12 credits in Theology and Religious Studies. Students who have completed an MA in Philosophy or the equivalent prior to starting at Villanova may request to transfer up to 9 credits. Transferred courses must generally correspond to Villanova courses, and requests are considered on an individual basis by the Director of Graduate Studies in Philosophy.
Language Requirements. Students must pass an examination or obtain a satisfactory grade in a Villanova University-offered course in one natural language other than English related to their research.
Examinations. Students must successfully complete the MA Qualifying Portfolio and Oral Examination. This examination normally takes place in the fifth semester. It is based on the previous four semesters of work.
Master of Arts. The MA is awarded to students in the PhD program who have completed 30 credits of course work, passed the language exam, and the MA Qualifying Portfolio and Oral Examination. No independent MA is offered.
Dissertation. After passing the Portfolio Examination and completing all coursework, students begin to develop a dissertation topic. The dissertation process formally begins with a written proposal defended before the student’s dissertation committee. Students also present their projects at the Department's Dissertation Proposal Colloquium.
Maximum time in program: Students must complete their coursework within a four- year time period. By the end of their sixth year in the program, students must have defended a dissertation proposal. The University requires students to complete the PhD within eight years. By recommendation of the Director of Graduate Studies in Philosophy, the Graduate Dean considers requests for up to two additional two years. The Graduate Program Director consults with the dissertation committee and the graduate faculty in order to make a recommendation to the Dean.
Full details on course requirements, comprehensive examinations, language and preliminary examinations, and the dissertation are available from the Director of Graduate Studies in Philosophy.
Each year the University makes available a certain number of graduate assistantships to students in the doctoral program. One graduate assistantship is generally awarded to a student interested in the interdisciplinary program. All graduate assistants automatically become part of a supervised teacher training program.
GREATER PHILADELPHIA PHILOSOPHY CONSORTIUM
The Villanova University Philosophy Department is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium, a co-operative arrangement which includes the graduate philosophy programs at the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. The graduate programs in the Consortium co-operate and share facilities in a number of different ways. Villanova students are invited to take or audit graduate philosophy courses offered by the schools in the Consortium. Consult the Director of Graduate Studies for further details.