Philosophy

Students must pass the Graduate Study Qualifying Examination (GSQE) during the first year of study as a matriculated student. S

PhD students must also pass the Comprehensive Examination, which involves writing a paper of publishable quality and defending it in an oral examination. To advance to the dissertation, students must prepare, defend, and have approved a dissertation prospectus. The PhD dissertation is supervised by a faculty committee of five members and is to be defended in a public oral examination.

Graduate School rules govern all students; however, each student's course of study is prepared in consultation with an advisor. Consult the department's graduate handbook for more detailed information about PhD requirements.