Special Programs

Logic and the Philosophy of Science Track

Properly qualified graduate students in philosophy who wish to do intensive work in logic and philosophy of science may wish to enroll in the track in Logic and the Philosophy of Science. Applicants should indicate their interest, including a fuller account of their specialized interests, objectives, and previous training, in the statement of academic purpose, or create a document and upload it into one of the “additional information" fields found in the application section “Documents to be Uploaded-2.”

The programs of students who specialize in logic and philosophy of science are subject to an alternative set of distribution requirements. Students in this track must complete the logic requirement and the language requirement (or an alternative to it), as in the Standard Program, and, in addition must:

A1. demonstrate proficiency at the graduate level in a field of science (mathematical or empirical), or in an area in the history of science. Normally this will involve doing satisfactory work in two graduate level courses (or their equivalents) in the science, or in the relevant area in the history of science;
A2. earn two units in logic or the philosophy of science (beyond satisfying the logic requirement);
A3. demonstrate an adequate basic knowledge of other areas of philosophy. This is done by earning four units in the areas of (i) history of philosophy, (ii) ethics, and (iii) epistemology and metaphysics. Of these four units, at most two may be in any one of the listed areas.

No course, unit, or piece of work may be 'double-counted' (used to help satisfy more than one of the above clauses A1, A2, and A3). At least two units must include an oral examination, administered by a minimum of two members of the faculty. Oral examinations shall be preceded either by a written examination on the same topic, or the submission of a unit paper on the same topic.  The first oral exam must be completed by the end of September of the second year.  The second oral exam must be completed by the end of May of the second year.  Students must achieve a high standard of performance in order to pass these oral exams.

To help guard against overspecialization, the department asks students opting for the Logic and the Philosophy of Science track to submit an overall plan of study for approval by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The plan should indicate the proposed field of science or history of science, the manner in which proficiency in that field is to be demonstrated (e.g. by listing courses), and the general program of study in philosophy proposed to satisfy the remaining requirements. The proposed plan need not be fully specific, especially with respect to exactly how most of the philosophy requirements ("the other four units") are to be met, but enough information should be provided to allow the DGS to draw reasonable conclusions about the distribution of work by area and other relevant parameters of the student's program.

Although there is no fixed time at which the student must submit such a plan, late in the second semester or early in the third semester would be reasonable choices. Prudence counsels securing approval before embarking too seriously on a program of work that might fail, upon review, to satisfy distribution requirements because it was too specialized. Subsequent modifications to an approved plan must be cleared with the DGS. Students who elect to follow the track in Logic and the Philosophy of Science must take the General Examination in philosophy of science.
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Interdepartmental Program in Classical Philosophy

Properly qualified graduate students in philosophy who wish to do intensive work in ancient philosophy may wish to enroll in the Interdepartmental Program in Classical Philosophy. Applicants should indicate their interest in the first sentence of their Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose should also contain a fuller account of their specialized interests, objectives, and previous training. Applicants must submit a paper in some area of ancient philosophy.

This program is a cooperative undertaking of the Departments of Classics and Philosophy. It is administered by an interdepartmental committee which is composed as follows:

  •     Joshua H. Billings, Classics
  •     Mirjam Kotwick, Classics
  •     Melissa Lane, Politics
  •     Hendrik Lorenz, Philosophy, Director
  •     Benjamin Morison, Philosophy

The program provides training, special skills, and knowledge not normally included in the education of professional classicists or philosophers, while equipping students for scholarly work and teaching in either classics or philosophy.

Students may apply for admission to either of the cooperating departments, in accordance with their interests and qualifications. Those who are admitted to this program by the Department of Philosophy are considered graduate students in philosophy and receive their doctorate in philosophy. The program offers them the opportunity of taking seminars in classics as a substantial part of their regular course of study. They will thus be able to improve their knowledge of the classical languages, extend their acquaintance with classical literature, history, and culture, and do intensive work on classical philosophical texts.

Language Requirement
A knowledge of Greek and Latin is required of all students enrolled in the program, if not on entry then as soon as possible afterwards. Applicants to the Philosophy Department who wish to enroll in the Classical Philosophy Program should possess a basic knowledge of Greek, up to the level of Plato's Socratic dialogues, and are recommended to have comparable abilities in Latin. (Applicants to the Classics Department must fulfill that department's language requirements for entering students.) Sight examinations are given at the beginning of the first year, to determine the student's level of competence in the classical languages. When advisable, the study of the classical languages is carried on as part of the first-year graduate program of candidates in Philosophy. Philosophy students in the program must demonstrate a reading knowledge of French or German, and Classics students a knowledge of both these languages, before taking the general examination. Philosophy students will gain a unit for passing this language test in accordance with the rules for units outlined on the main Philosophy page, but those who are native speakers of one of the languages are expected to pass the language requirement in the other.

Examinations
Graduate students who are enrolled in the Program will take the sight-reading tests in Greek and Latin and, as soon thereafter as possible, examinations on reading lists on Greek and Latin authors. The General Examination will be especially adapted to meet the student's interests and aptitudes.

Distribution Requirements
Philosophy students enrolled in the Interdepartmental Program in Classical Philosophy must complete fourteen units. These will include the ten units of the standard philosophy program (except that no alternative unit may be substituted for French or German). One of these ten may be achieved by passing a non-philosophical course with graduate credit in the Classics Department. The additional four units must be obtained by satisfying the following:

  1. passing a sight-reading test in Greek;
  2. passing a sight-reading test in Latin;
  3. passing the Greek reading list exam;
  4. passing the Latin reading list exam.

The schedule for completing units is the same for the first two years as in the regular program. Classical philosophy program students are further expected to have completed eleven units by the end of their fifth semester, thirteen by the end of their sixth semester, and fourteen before generals.  Students are typically expected to complete the General Examination by the end of their third year.

Rules for Sight-Reading, Reading List or French/German Language Exams:

For Latin or Greek Sight-Reading Exams:

  • These are 1-hour exams.
  • You are given a passage to translate into English.
  • A dictionary, including digital or online, can be used, but no translation program or other online help is allowed.
  • After completing the exam, email the translation and return the hard-copy exam to the Graduate Program Administrator.
  • One of the Classical Philosophy faculty members will read and grade the exam.
  • You can read the comments once the grades are in.
  • A passed exam counts as a unit.

For Latin or Greek Reading List Exams:

  • You should put together the list of texts you intend to write about, in consultation with your adviser.
  • These are 3-hour exams.
  • Using a computer is allowed, but you must close your browser and only use a word processor during the exam.
  • A Latin or Greek dictionary (hard copy or online) can be used. Other than that, you can only use your word processor during the exam (your browser must be closed).
  • No other books, notes or resources are permitted, unless approved by your adviser.
  • Email your results to your adviser, with a copy to the Graduate Program Administrator.
  • A passed exam counts as a unit.

For French or German Language Exams:

  • Let the Graduate Program Administrator know if you knew French or German prior to joining the Graduate Program.
    • In this case, the unit will count against the quota of units satisfied by work done before joining the program.
  • These are 1-hour exams.
  • You are given a passage to translate into English.
  • A dictionary, including digital or online, can be used, but no translation program or other online help is allowed.
  • After completing the exam, email the translation and return the hard-copy exam to the Graduate Program Administrator.
  • Your exam will be graded by two faculty members. If one grades a Pass and one grades a Fail, a third faculty member will grade your exam.
  • You can read the comments once the grades are in.
  • A passed exam counts as a unit.

Dissertation
After passing the General Examination, the student writes a dissertation for submission to the department and takes a final examination as provided for in the general regulations of the University. The departmental length limit applies.

Work in Classical Philosophy for Students Not Enrolled in the Program
The seminars of the program are open to all departmental students who meet the relevant prerequisites, whether or not they are enrolled in the Interdepartmental Program in Classical Philosophy. With the permission of the department, students who wish to concentrate in Greek philosophy, but do not meet all the requirements of the Interdepartmental Program, may pursue courses of study planned to suit their particular interests and qualifications.

Colloquium in Classical Philosophy
There is an annual two-day Classical Philosophy Colloquium in early December at which outside speakers and commentators present papers on a common theme, varying year by year. Additional meetings of the Colloquium are held from time to time during the academic year, providing an opportunity for listening to and discussing papers by visiting scholars.
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Interdepartmental Program in Political Philosophy

Properly qualified graduate students in philosophy who wish to do intensive work in political philosophy may wish to enroll in the Interdepartmental Program in Political Philosophy. Applicants should indicate their interest in the first sentence of their Statement of Purpose.  The Statement of Purpose should also contain a fuller account of their specialized interests, objectives, and previous training.

Those who are admitted to this program by the Department of Philosophy are considered graduate students in philosophy and receive their doctorate in philosophy.

Additional information can be found on this website

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