Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Philosophy

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements and Faculty of Arts requirements, the Department requires:

a) Students must normally complete a minimum of 18 units for students with a Master of Arts degree, or a minimum of 36 units for students entering directly from an honours undergraduate program, including course (normally taken in the first year in program).

b) All students must show competence in logic. This requirement may be met by:

• successfully completing course or course as part of the program course requirements; or

• serving as a Graduate Assistant (Teaching) for course; or

• completing course or course (with a grade of B or better) in addition to the program course requirements*.

*Students who have completed Philosophy 279 or 377 (or its equivalent at another university) may request an exemption from the logic requirement from the Graduate Program Director.

c) In addition to a) and b), students must complete course after course and candidacy requirements are completed. Philosophy 700 is normally taken in the year after advancing to candidacy.

Note: Normally, in both master's and doctoral programs, no more than 3 units of Directed Reading can be taken to satisfy the minimum course requirement.

Advanced Credit

The Department does not normally give advanced credit for courses taken previously. However, in special circumstances, a request for advanced credit may be considered if it is made as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to raise the grade point average to a level required for admission. Normally, advanced credit may be given for a maximum of 9 units.

Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade)

The Department of Philosophy will allow students to pursue the Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade).

Students may choose the CG grade for a course taken extra to load.

The use of the CG grade will not affect students' eligibility for internal awards.

Credit for Undergraduate Courses

Normally, undergraduate courses will not be credited towards completion of course requirements in a graduate program.

Time Limit

Expected completion time for full-time students is four years in a doctoral program. Maximum completion time is six years.

Supervisory Assignments

Students are assigned an interim advisor until they have an opportunity to become acquainted with members of the faculty. Each student must have an assigned supervisor by the end of the second regular academic session after first registration (April for September registrants and December for January registrants). The choice of supervisor must be by mutual arrangement between the student and faculty member concerned, and approved by the Department.

A doctoral student shall be under the general supervision of a supervisory committee. After consultation with the student, the supervisor will submit a list of possible members of the supervisory committee to the Graduate Studies Committee for approval. The supervisory committee should be established as soon as possible and no later than three months after the supervisor’s appointment.

Candidacy

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies candidacy requirements, the program requires:

Doctoral students must complete two field of study papers, a field of study oral examination, a written thesis proposal and an oral examination on the thesis proposal. For complete details of the candidacy requirements, see the Philosophy Doctoral Candidacy Requirements.

Thesis Examinations

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate studies thesis requirements, the program requires:

Scheduling of the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The Internal Examiner may be internal to the home program.

PhD students are guaranteed funding for the first four years of their program.

For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar.

Students applying for scholarships must submit their applications to the Department by January 15.

Satisfactory academic progress in the student’s program is required for funding.