Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy

Loyola’s doctoral program is a premier institution for graduate study in continental philosophy, social and political philosophy, and the history of philosophy. It is also renowned for its strengths in feminism, ethics and value theory, critical philosophy of race, and bioethics. Our department values philosophical pluralism and faculty are informed by a variety of traditions and methodologies, so students are exposed to a range of approaches, both analytic and continental, through their coursework. Loyola thus offers doctoral students a uniquely well-rounded education as well as a diversity of research paths that they can pursue.Program HighlightsOutstanding Mentorship and Professional Development: In addition to outstanding individual mentorship and advising, our faculty collaboratively designs and conducts programming to support student success. This includes a first year proseminar to prepare students for graduate coursework and professional development workshops throughout the year to prepare students to present and publish original research.Developing Research Skills: Doctoral students can take on research assistantships that cultivate relevant research and professional skills, for instance, by serving as editorial assistants for academic journals, directing our MAP chapter, and engaging in faculty directed research. Doctoral students are also encouraged to participate in at least one of our research groups to expand their scholarly networks and present their research.Teaching Excellence: Loyola will prepare you to be an agile teacher who can design and deliver courses across the core areas of philosophy and adapt to the needs of students in an increasingly complex world. Our teaching assistantships prioritize pedagogical development, and we offer teacher training through pedagogy seminars and one-on-one mentorship as well as the opportunity to teach courses as instructors of record.