Future students: Graduate admissions

Although the M.A. is not a prerequisite for the Ph.D. program, students who do not have a substantial background in philosophy are advised to apply first for admission to the M.A. program. A student who performs well in the M.A. program may later be admitted to the Ph.D. program and credits earned toward the M.A. may be applied to the Ph.D.

Financial aid

We currently provide financial support to over 80% of our Ph.D. students in the form of university fellowships, graduate teaching assistantships, and adjunct teaching work. If you are applying to the Ph.D. program and wish to be considered for such support, please indicate this in your cover letter. For more information about opportunities for financial aid, please see the Philosophy Graduate Student Handbook and the Graduate School funding site.

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  • Master of Arts in Philosophy

    Requirements

    Students are expected to have a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 from an accredited college or 3.0 from an unaccredited college, in upper-division (approximately the last 60 credits) undergraduate courses. Any applicant whose GPA falls below this standard may be asked to submit scores from a recent Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Otherwise, the university does not require GRE scores.

    It is desirable to have taken courses on logic, value theory, and the history of philosophy, though applicants without any (or minimal) undergraduate philosophy courses are not discouraged from applying. Students applying for admission to the M.A. program whose preparation is deemed insufficient may be asked to take courses as a non-degree student before being considered for admission. Some credits earned under non-degree status can be applied to the M.A. once the student is admitted.

    Application procedures

    To be assured of consideration, students should apply before May 1 for admission to the fall semester and Oct. 1 for admission to the winter semester.

    Students may apply after these deadlines but there may be insufficient time to process such applications. Students who wish to be considered for graduate teaching assistantships (GTAs) or fellowships are encouraged to submit all application materials by Jan. 15, although we will continue to consider students for aid after that date as resources permit.

    In addition to meeting the university requirements, applicants must also submit the following as part of their online applications:

    • Personal statement
    • Writing sample (preferably on a philosophical topic)
    • Three letters of recommendation (preferably from instructors who are in a position to assess the applicant's capacity for graduate work in philosophy)
  • Ph.D. in Philosophy

    Requirements

    An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.

    Application procedures

    To be assured of consideration, students should apply before May 1 for admission to the fall semester and Oct. 1 for admission to the winter semester.

    Students may apply after these deadlines but there may be insufficient time to process such applications. Students who wish to be considered for graduate teaching assistantships (GTAs) or fellowships are encouraged to submit all application materials by Jan. 15, although we will continue to consider students for aid after that date as resources permit.

    In addition to meeting the university requirements, applicants must also submit the following as part of their online applications:

    • Personal statement
    • Writing sample (which must be on a philosophical topic)
    • Three letters of recommendation (which must be from instructors who are in a position to assess the applicant's capacity for graduate work in philosophy)
  • Graduate Certificate in Health Care Ethics

    Requirements

    Students must have completed an undergraduate degree at an accredited institution of higher education in a field allied with health, law, or philosophy, with a GPA of at least 3.0.

    Application procedures

    The certificate program accepts applications for the fall (deadline: Feb. 1) and winter semesters (deadline: Nov. 1).

    Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School of Wayne State University. To apply for admission to the graduate certificate, visit the online application system maintained by the Office of Graduate Admissions.

    Review of applications will begin approximately one month before the application deadline. Applications completed after the deadline will be considered if space is available; if there is no space available, applicants who meet our qualifications will be admitted for the next available semester.

Contact 💬

Questions concerning admission to our graduate programs, the application process, and the status of applications should be directed to the director of graduate studies, assessment and admissions at Philosophy_DGS@wayne.edu.