Applied Philosophy, PhD

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Since 1979, when the Philosophy Department at Bowling Green State University began teaching its MA in Applied Philosophy, its graduate program has occupied a unique place in North American philosophy. This uniqueness was augmented in 1990 by the addition of a PhD program, also in Applied Philosophy, which remains the only one of its kind. This is not to say that only Applied Philosophy is taught here. A graduate student at Bowling Green will receive a well-rounded education in all of the traditional areas of philosophy as well.

The department encourages graduate students to undertake cross-disciplinary studies whenever courses in other departments and programs bear on their research. The Department has curricular ties of one kind or another to several departments and cross-disciplinary programs.

A variety of topics in applied ethics can better be understood if the theoretical approaches and empirical results of other disciplines are taken into account. Students working in environmental ethics might benefit from studying related issues in courses in environmental policy, for example. Students in medical ethics might want to take courses in public health. Courses in Women’s Studies are relevant to work in many areas of moral philosophy.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the doctoral program, students in the Philosophy program are expected to be able to:

Comprehend difficult historical and contemporary philosophical texts.
Demonstrate mastery of important philosophical concepts and methods in both oral and written contexts.
Critically evaluate philosophical arguments.
Formulate appropriate research questions.
Investigate and synthesize the literature relevant to selected research questions.
Develop, construct, and defend original research (to professional standards).

Admission Requirements

Documents required:

Submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Statement of Purpose
Three Letters of Recommendation
Writing Sample

Application Requirements

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements

Curriculum Requirements

Required Courses (18 credits)

Electives (56 credits)

Please see graduate coordinator for a list of approved courses for each area.

1. Value Theory. Select 3 courses.

2. Metaphysics and Epistemology. Select 2 courses.

3. Additional Electives. Select 7 hours from:

PHIL 7800 - Seminar in Philosophy

4. Additional PHIL courses. Select 34 credits from:

PHIL 5000 to PHIL 7980

Other Requirements

Preliminary Exam

Culminating Experience (16 credits)

PHIL 7990 - Dissertation Research

Minimum Total Credits (90 credits)

Additional Requirements

Minimum 3.0 graduate cumulative grade point average
Maximum of 10 credits of 5000-level coursework may be counted toward degree requirements
Preliminary Examination or Project
Minimum of 16 credits of dissertation research (maximum of 30 credits of dissertation research are applicable to degree requirements)
Dissertation Defense and Publication of Manuscript on OhioLINK
All requirements must be completed within eight years from the end of the earliest course used to fulfill degree requirements.