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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Arts (MA), course-based (full and part-time) and thesis-based (full-time)

The Department also offers a Master of Arts degree with a specialization in the History and Philosophy of Science and a Master of Arts degree with a specialization in the Philosophy of Religion. These two degrees are offered in cooperation with the Departments of History and Religious Studies respectively.

Note: Normally, in both Master’s and Doctoral programs, no more than one half course of Directed Reading can be taken to satisfy the minimum course requirement.

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

Master of Arts (thesis-based)
a) A minimum of six half-course equivalents
b) In the specializations History and Philosophy of Science or Philosophy of Religion, courses taken in History or Religious Studies, may, with departmental approval, count as fulfilling course requirements for the degree

Master of Arts (thesis-based) with Specialization in the History and Philosophy of Science
a) Two half-course equivalents (two terms) in the philosophy of science
b) Two half-course equivalents (two terms) in the history of science
c) Two half-course equivalents (two terms) in the history and philosophy of science
d) Proficiency in a second language or logic, depending on the department of enrolment

Master of Arts (course-based)
a) A minimum of ten half courses, including at least two half courses in the History of Philosophy and two half courses in 20th Century or Contemporary Philosophy
b) Students to remedy background deficiencies, if any, in a certain area or areas of philosophy by taking course work below the 500-level
c) Students must complete at least one half course in each annual registration period

Doctor of Philosophy
a) Normally, a minimum of six half courses for students with a Master of Arts degree
b) Normally, a minimum of twelve half courses for students entering directly from an honours undergraduate program
c) Students to show competence in logic, which may be done by achieving a grade of "B" or better in Philosophy 379

Doctor of Philosophy

Departmental Preliminary Examinations
Students will be required to show competence in three of the following four areas:

Area I – metaphysics and epistemology
Area II – history of philosophy
Area III – philosophy of language and logic
Area IV – moral and political philosophy

The student chooses three areas. Competence in an area is shown by submitting a satisfactory essay or passing an examination. At least one area must be passed by either a sit-down or take-home examination. Exams are administered, and essays accepted, four times yearly. All three areas must be passed within 20 months of registration. Students who have not passed three areas within 20 months of registration will not normally receive further Departmental support.

Oral Candidacy Examination
After completion of required course work and preliminary examinations, the doctoral student must pass an oral candidacy examination prior to beginning the doctoral thesis. Before the examination, the student must submit a thesis proposal (approximately 20 pages) that will serve as the basis of discussion at the examination. The purpose of the examination is to ascertain whether the student’s academic preparation and ability is adequate to pursue profitable research on the issues proposed.  Questions on the research proposal will  be included in the oral candidacy examination.

Master of Arts (course-based)
The course-based Master of Arts has a research constituent.  This constituent is to be satisfied by passing all components, written and oral, of the final Master's examination.

A final Master's examination of overall competency is required after completion of all course work, consisting of written and oral components.  Effective July 1, 2009, the Department of Philosophy will be monitoring and overseeing this examination.

a) Details of the written component:
i. The written component will consist of two three-hour written examinations.  The written examinations are to be completed within one week. 
ii. The written component of the examination must be judged to be either acceptable ('Pass') or unacceptable ('Fail').
b) The student shall not be permitted to proceed to the oral component if the student does not secure a 'Pass' on the written component.
c) The oral examination will be held within two weeks following the written component.  The oral examination will not be limited to the questions in the written examinations but will test the student's general knowledge of the areas selected for examination.
d) Details of the oral component:
i. The oral examination is a formal examination, not an informal discussion with the student.
ii. All examiners must be given an opportunity to question the student early in the examination, e.g. by rounds of questioning.
iii. The oral examination shall not exceed two hours.  This does not include deliberation time of the committee.
iv. The oral component of the examination must be judged to be either acceptable ('Pass') or unacceptable ('Fail').
e) Each examiner is required to submit a written assessment of the student's written examination performance, to be submitted to the Chair of the examination committee prior to the examination.
f) The result of the Final Master's Examination shall be either 'Pass' or 'Fail'.  To secure a 'Pass', the student must obtain a 'Pass' on both the written component and the oral component of the exam.  In the event of a failure, the examining committee may recommend that the student be given an opportunity to take the failed component of the examination again between two and six months from the date of the first attempt.  No more than two attempts will be permitted.

Thesis Programs
The candidacy exam has a written component, the student’s research proposal. This proposal must be submitted to all members of the candidacy examining committee at least two weeks before the examination. The candidacy oral can include questions on the research proposal.

Thesis oral examinations are open.