The department aims, first, at developing the philosophical capacities and interests of each student, and, second, at offering a diverse program of instruction dealing with philosophers and philosophical issues both historically and in terms of the logic of arguments. Attention is also given to the bearing of philosophical ideas within other disciplines.
The Philosophy Program
Womens’ Table sculpture on Yale campus
Student Body
There are approximately 35 students in the PhD degree program every year. Students in years 1–3 are doing coursework and preparing to be admitted to candidacy. Students in year 4+ have been admitted to candidacy and are working on their dissertations.
Facilities
In addition to the holdings of Sterling Memorial Library, there is one room devoted solely to philosophy books and journals.
In the philosophy department building, we have TF offices, graduate students study room, and the department lounge.
Combined Programs
We have two combined Ph.D. programs, one with classics and one with psychology.
Mentoring and Advising
The Director of Graduate Studies serves as official advisor to all graduate students. In addition, students in the first two years have a faculty mentor, and later a dissertation committee.
Incoming graduate students are assigned a faculty mentor. The faculty mentor meets with the student at the beginning of each semester to discuss course selection, and at other times as requested. At the end of the fourth semester, the faculty mentor meets with the student to give recommendations about which of the term papers might be turned into qualifying papers.
At the beginning of the fifth semester graduate students choose a dissertation committee. The committee normally consists of a main advisor and two readers. The composition of the committee can be changed any time before the dissertation defense. Main advisors are expected to meet with their advisees regularly and at least once every month. Every year at the end of the spring semester the entire dissertation committee meets with the graduate student.
During the registration period of each semester, students should consult with their mentors or advisors to plan their courses and/or discuss their programs. All schedules must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.
Financial Aid
Students are normally given six years of full support – tuition, plus stipend, plus health care. One year of support is a dissertation fellowship available to every graduate student in good standing; it may be taken in either the 5th or the 6th year. The others are two non-teaching fellowship years, which must be taken in the first and second years, and three teaching fellowship years. In past years, the stipends have increased every year for both incoming and current students. See the Graduate School’s Financial aid page for further details.