Admission to the Ph.D. program is restricted to students who have graduated with distinction from our M.A. program and who wish to work in the history of philosophy. The degree requires a minimum of 72 units.
Course Requirements
Advancement to candidacy requires 20 units beyond the M.A. degree (40 units), including two additional seminars. The remaining 12 units required for the Ph.D. may be earned after advancement.
Folio
The folio is the program's main basis for determining whether a student has acquired the abilities necessary for successful dissertation work. It should demonstrate the student's capacity for both original and exegetical work, breadth of knowledge, and mastery of technical skills. It consists of three substantial papers on topics formulated by the student in consultation with the faculty, along with a dissertation prospectus. The student is advanced to candidacy after passing a qualifying oral examination on the folio.
Transdisciplinary Requirement
Doctoral students must satisfy the institutional transdisciplinary course (T-course) within a year of their admission to the Ph.D. program. For more information, please see the T-course page.
Research Tools
The institutional requirement of two research tools may be met with two foreign languages or with one foreign language and an advanced course in logic.
Preliminary Oral Examination
No later than one year after advancement to candidacy, the student must sit for a preliminary oral examination on the subject of the student's proposed dissertation. The examination is designed to test the viability of the proposal and the student's command of the area in which the dissertation falls.
Final Oral Examination
On completion of the dissertation, the student must sit for a final oral examination. This public examination aims to test both the quality of the dissertation and the student's general philosophical competence. The Ph.D. is awarded only if the committee approves both the dissertation and the oral examination.
How to Apply to CGU
