Marquette University

What you'll study

The degree requires a total of 60 hours: 48 credits of coursework and 12 credits for the dissertation. At the PhD level students take graduate courses across several concentrated areas including the history of philosophy, ethics and values, phenomenology and existentialism, and philosophy of mind and science. Students must satisfy a foreign language requirement (typically French, German, Latin, or Ancient Greek, though other languages may be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies as relevant to a student’s research). After completing coursework, students submit a Doctoral Qualifying Paper the following semester and then proceed to a doctoral dissertation focused on a specific research topic.

Entry requirements

To be eligible for admission applicants must hold a bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) and typically have a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants are expected to have a master’s degree in philosophy to be competitive; applicants without an MA may be denied admission to the PhD program and instead be admitted to the MA program. Prospective students should ensure a faculty member at Marquette works in their intended area of study before applying. Required application materials include a completed online application and fee, transcripts (with course-by-course evaluation for international coursework), a statement of purpose, at least three letters of recommendation, and a philosophical writing sample of 15–25 pages. International applicants must provide proof of English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL). The department notes February 1 as the deadline to have application materials received for fall consideration.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue traditional academic paths—teaching and research at colleges and universities—and also a range of non-academic careers that utilize advanced critical thinking and ethical reasoning. Marquette PhD alumni have obtained faculty positions at institutions such as Molloy College, Canisius College, Creighton University, Universidad Alberto Hurtado (Santiago de Chile), and Mumbai Institute of Technology. Alumni have also moved into non-academic roles including librarian, paralegal, client-side developer, software developer, ethics and compliance manager, chief of staff, chief of research and development, and senior content marketing manager.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Merit-based funding for PhD students is available through graduate assistantships and fellowships; assistantships typically include tuition benefits plus a stipend for research and teaching work. Private scholarships may also be possible. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible for need-based federal student loans. Applicants are encouraged to consult the Graduate School Bulletin and departmental contacts for details on available packages and application procedures.