Why Graduate Study in Philosophy at UAlbany?

Graduate programs in Philosophy enable students to develop their own interests with guidance from expert faculty. Which program is right for you?

 

The Ph.D. program is a traditional comprehensive program culminating in a thesis. Funding packages are available for doctoral students, in the form of a fellowship for the first year of study and teaching assistantships in subsequent years. Since 2020, our Ph.D. graduates have been placed in various positions including tenure-track assistant professorships, permanent or long-term renewable teaching positions, post-doc fellowships, and lab director positions, among others.

The M.A. program is customizable depending upon a student's interests. Some students use the M.A. as a launching-point into doctoral programs in Philosophy and cognate fields. Our M.A. also provides preparation for a variety of fields where logical analysis and critical thinking skills are essential, such as legal and public health professions, and can serve as a useful credential for some working professionals. As a SUNY program, it is a great value, especially for students who can take advantage of in-state tuition rates. Some admitted M.A. students may be eligible for the Dean's Merit Award or the Great Dane Grad Scholarship. 
 

Check out some of the amazing things our alumni are doing!

Flexible Programs

  • Students in the Ph.D. and M.A. programs choose courses aligned with their interests, from cutting-edge areas like Bioethics, Social Justice and Law, and Philosophy and Ethics of AI to traditional areas of Metaphysics and Epistemology, Ethics, and History of Philosophy.
  • Advanced Ph.D. students are mentored by expert faculty. Our Department has special strengths in Global Justice & Human Rights and in Philosophy & Ethics of AI. Other faculty work in Bioethics, History of Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Logic, Philosophy of Art, and other areas.
  • The M.A. program includes a faculty-mentored capstone project and has a standard length of three semesters that can be compressed into one year or completed over a longer span of time for part-time students.
Logic
Philosophy Department Picnic

Philosophy Department Picnic

A Thriving Community

  • Our active colloquium series gives students the opportunity to learn about new developments in the field and meet leading scholars from around the world who visit campus to talk about their research.
  • The UAlbany Philosophy Association (UAPA) hosts an annual conference and has organized work-in-progress talks and other events. The UAPA is organized by Philosophy graduate students.
  • UAlbany has an active Minorities and Philosophy (MAP) chapter that organizes events, movie screenings, and workshops. The chapter is organized by undergraduate students, and graduate students are actively involved.
2022 Philosophy Grad Contest Winner Talk
2023 UAPA Philosophy of AI Conference 

2023 UAPA Philosophy of AI Conference

A Great Area to Live

  • Albany is the Capital of New York. Albany and the surrounding Capital District offer an affordable place to live that was recently ranked as the best place to live in New York and one of the best places to live in the United States.
  • The Capital District provides access to the Arts as well as many outdoor venues for recreation in the broader region (including the magnificent Adirondack Park). Graduate students can take advantage of skiing, hiking, biking, and river kayaking all within a short distance from the UAlbany campus.
  • Albany is a hub for transportation. It is within driving distance of New York City, Boston, and Quebec, and also has rail connections to many major cities. Locally, UAlbany students can ride CDTA buses at no charge by using their UAlbany ID.

 

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