Graduate Programs in Philosophy

Many philosophy majors choose to obtain an M.A. or a Ph.D. in philosophy after graduating from UD. If you would like to explore this option, you should begin by the beginning of your junior year. Don't wait until your senior year to begin planning for graduate school. It takes a lot of time to

  1. decide on an area of concentration
  2. locate graduate schools that offer the concentration in question
  3. select at least three schools that best satisfy your interests and needs (which may involve visiting some of them)
  4. apply for acceptance (which includes preparing a polished writing sample, and asking several faculty members to write letters of recommendation on your behalf)
  5. apply for and secure financial aid
Graduate programs in philosophy tend to be very competitive. To be accepted into the program of your choice, you will need to show the graduate selection committee that you will excel in their program. In order to impress the graduate selection committee, you should do two things: get your grade point average as high as possible, and submit a first-rate application for admission.

The two best sources at UD to help you accomplish (a) - (d) above are the Philosophy Department and the University Honors Program, Graduate Guidance at http://honors.udayton.edu/GraduateGuidance_08/GG08_index.htm

The Philosophy Chairperson, Dr. John inglis,  and the Director of the Center for Graduate Guidance, Dr. John McCombe, will help you each step of the way. Ask for their help.

Here are some resources that you should find useful in researching graduate programs in philosophy that match your interests and needs:
  • American Philosophical Association (APA), Guide to Graduate Programs (2006)
    Available in the Philosophy Department office. Contains useful statistical information about all Philosophy graduate programs in the US.
  • Lingua Franca, "The Real Guide to Grad School: Philosophy Departments" provides links to grad programs that are highly regarded in various areas of philosophy.
  • GradSchools.com contains internet links to every US graduate program in philosophy.
  • Peterson's Guide to Graduate School contains a wealth of information about how to select a graduate program of study as well as links to all graduate philosophy programs in the US.
  • EpistemeLinks: Philosophy Resources on the Internet contains a variety of helpful information about philosophy graduate programs.
  • Brian Leiter's "The Philosophical Gourmet Report"  Leiter's rankings should be used with caution. His discussions of graduate study in philosophy might be eye-opening.
  • Talk to your philosophy professors. They have spent years in one or more graduate programs, and they have direct and indirect knowledge of dozens more besides. It would be especially beneficial to talk to professors whose area of specialization is the same or similar to the area that you're most interested in pursuing.
  • Contact recent UD philosophy majors who are pursuing graduate study. The Philosophy Department maintains an up-to-date list of recent Philosophy alums and their areas of post-baccalaureate study.