Philosophy, PhD
With access to top philosophical thinkers, you can earn an interdisciplinary doctorate in your choice of fields, such as law, medicine, religion and politics, that enables you to make an impact on the world.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Philosophy PhD degree description
The Doctor of Philosophy program in philosophy features a focus on practical and applied philosophy and an interdisciplinary coursework component related to your research topic. General areas of research include ethics, political philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of law, philosophy of science, philosophy of language, philosophy of religion and the history of philosophy.
Practical philosophy includes the fields of ethics, philosophy of law, social and political philosophy, feminist ethics, and political philosophy.
Applied philosophy includes the application of theories developed within any of the subdisciplines of philosophy to everyday problems or phenomena, such as the application of the philosophy of language in relation to hate speech, or the philosophy of mind in relation to computing and artificial intelligence. Applied philosophy also includes the application of research produced by methods used in other disciplines in order for you to understand and address philosophical questions, like the application of data-gathering instruments used in psychology to answer questions in experimental philosophy.
You may design dissertation projects in any of the major subfields of philosophy. For your interdisciplinary coursework supporting the dissertation project, for example, you might pursue a certificate in social transformation, gender studies, responsible innovation in sciences, or engineering and society.
Members of the faculty are involved in interdisciplinary work in a variety of fields and enjoy close ties with the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics, the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law and a number of other graduate programs at the university. The ASU philosophy faculty group sponsors an active colloquium series and regular philosophical conferences on diverse topics. The Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics also sponsors a variety of activities, including large-scale conferences, distinguished visitors and support for graduate study.
Why earn your philosophy PhD at ASU?
You can earn a competitive stipend with a full tuition waiver, health insurance and paid American Philosophical Association membership, plus conference travel and dissertation support.
Each year, the Southwest Graduate Philosophy Conference, organized by philosophy graduate students, gives students across the region a venue to present their work, gather feedback and network with fellow graduate students.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core Areas (15 credit hours) Electives (39 credit hours) Research (18 credit hours) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information In completing the electives requirements, at least nine credit hours and no more than 18 credit hours must be from other disciplines supporting the student's proposed dissertation area; 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree may apply toward this requirement with approval by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College. To ensure breadth in the traditional areas of philosophy, students must pass with a grade of "B" or better (3.00 on a 4.00 scale).
applied philosophy (3)
epistemology (3)
formal methods (3)
metaphysics (3)
value theory (3)
PHI 792 Research (18)
PHI 799 Dissertation (12)
Students should contact the academic unit for the list of courses approved for each required core area.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Achieve competence with philosophical literature and writing
- Achieve professional-level skills in mastering literature and philosophical writing
- Able to identify and articulate a philosophical problem or question in one of the core areas in philosophy --- that is, metaphysics, epistemology and value theory
Achieve competence with philosophical literature and writingAdmission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information The statement of purpose should explain the applicant's scholarly background and training, career goals, the primary field the applicant wishes to pursue and the proposed research specialization (no more than 600 words in length). The writing sample must be a piece of philosophical writing, preferably a seminar paper or published article of no more than 20 pages.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency, a copy of an article or research paper in their native or principal research language, as well as the English writing sample required of all students regardless of their current residency. The philosophy program requires a TOEFL iBT® score of at least 5, or a score of 100 (taken at a testing center) if taken before January 21, 2026; or a score of 7.0 on the IELTS.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 01/15 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this philosophy PhD degree prepares you for
The PhD programs in philosophy helps students develop and hone skills that are highly marketable and easily transferable.
Philosophy teaches its students to think critically, creatively and imaginatively. Though routine jobs are increasingly being lost to advances in automation and artificial intelligence, the skills taught by philosophy are irreplaceable by technology, highly sought-after by employers and transferrable from one occupation to another. Graduates have the ability to read closely and with a critical eye; to analyze complex problems and identify possible solutions, including some creative solutions; to assess the merits of each possible solution; and to articulate and argue for or against various possible solutions in clear, precise and unambiguous language.
As philosophy focuses on honing certain skills rather than acquiring a particular body of knowledge, philosophy prepares its graduates for a wide variety of careers rather than for just one particular occupation. Indeed, philosophy prepares its graduates for any career requiring problem-solving; clear, critical and creative thinking; and excellent reading, writing and communication skills.
The program is designed to prepare students for careers as philosophers, as teachers of philosophy and in areas in which they may benefit from advanced training in philosophy, such as law, civil service and publishing.
Career examples include:
- businessperson
- computer programmer
- counselor
- educator
- journalist
- lawyer
- politician
- public policy analyst
- publisher
- writer
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch
|
COOR 4595
SHPRSGradInfo@asu.edu
480-965-5778
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
