PhD and MA Programs
Welcome to the Philosophy Graduate Program!
Loyola’s graduate program in philosophy prepares students to be scholars and teachers who are grounded in the history of philosophy as well as contemporary philosophical methodologies. It supports specialization in a variety of contemporary fields, including those that expand the purview of philosophical inquiry beyond its traditional boundaries. Our department values philosophical pluralism, and our faculty represent diverse philosophical schools and perspectives, offering students a uniquely well-rounded education. We also take seriously the commitment of our Jesuit institution to social justice, providing opportunities to pursue philosophical inquiry that is socially engaged, interdisciplinary, and oriented toward the betterment of the world.
At Loyola, we offer four graduate degree programs:
Loyola’s graduate faculty boasts a wide range of research strengths across the core areas of philosophy, offering a diversity of research paths that students can pursue. These strengths include:
-
Social and Political Philosophy/Ethics
-
Continental Philosophy
-
History of Philosophy
-
Critical Philosophy of Race
-
Feminism
-
Bioethics
Why Loyola?
Excellence in Research and Teaching: As a graduate student at Loyola, you will be mentored by nationally and internationally renowned scholars in your field and receive training through research assistantships, workshops, and seminars that prepare you to present and publish original research. Loyola will also prepare you to be an excellent teacher who can design and deliver courses across the core areas of philosophy and adapt to the needs of diverse student bodies.
Professional Development and Placement: Loyola offers extensive training for doctoral students interested in pursuing the academic job market as well as MA students applying to PhD programs. This includes our first year proseminar to prepare students for graduate coursework, research assistantships, and placement and professional development workshops throughout the year.
Diversity at Loyola: The Loyola Philosophy Department is committed to cultivating a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming philosophical community. Our graduate faculty is uniquely positioned to support research in underrepresented fields such as critical philosophy of race, feminism, and queer theory. Loyola’s philosophy department also houses a graduate student led Minorities and Philosophy chapter that hosts events and provides mentoring to undergraduate students.
Chicago’s Philosophical Community: Loyola graduate students are at the heart of one of the most vibrant philosophical communities in the world. Our students can participate in research opportunities at universities in the Chicago area including Northwestern, DePaul, University of Chicago, University of Illinois-Chicago, as well as other landmark universities in the Midwest region including Marquette, Saint Louis University, and Notre Dame. In addition, Loyola houses four research groups that host speakers, organize conferences, and provide opportunities for Loyola graduate students and faculty to present their research: The Phenomenology Research Group (PRG), the Social, Political, and Legal Philosophy Workshop (SPLW), the History of Philosophy Roundtable (HOPR), and the Loyola Ethics and Values Symposia (LEAVS).
Career Pathways: While Loyola provides an exceptional education for those pursuing careers in academia, we recognize the importance of serving students who are interested in alternative paths. Loyola offers training and internship opportunities that prepare students to enter such fields as academic publishing, education administration, public policy, social work, and computer programing.
Applying
You can learn more about how to apply to our graduate program through our website. Feel free to reach out to our Graduate Program Director, Jennifer Gaffney with any questions.
