Top Philosophy Ph.D. Programs in the USA

Ph.D. which refers to a Doctor of Philosophy or Latin Philosophiae doctor or Doctor Philosophiae is the most common as well as the highest academic level degree awarded after completion of a course of study. Ph.D. is often an important requirement for employment as a professor at the university level, researcher, or scientist in many fields. Ph.D. in philosophy is attached with several philosophy departments and careers which allow unlimited opportunities to the scholars.

The USA is full-loaded with some of the world’s best graduate and postgraduate institutions offering several programs. The USA has a wide range of Universities offering Ph.D. programs for both local and international students. Some of these programs include:

Top Philosophy Ph.D. Programs in the USA for Local students

The Universities in the USA have remarkable options for Ph.D. programs for the local students. Some of these programs are offered by the top-ranked universities of the U.S. These programs and admission information is given as:

1- Ph.D. in Philosophy and Religion with a Concentration in Women’s Spirituality, California Institute of Integral Studies

Fee structure:

• $1,393/credit

Eligibility:

• To be eligible for this Ph.D. program, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a graduate degree from a university.

Time to apply:

• December 2021

Duration:

• Full time

How to apply:

• Admission application
• An application fee of $65 (non-refundable)
• A bachelor’s and master’s degree (or an equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution.
• A GPA of 3.0 or higher in previous coursework is required. Students with GPAs between 2 and 3 are required to submit a GPA statement and advised to contact the Admission office to discuss their options.
• Official transcripts from all accredited academic institutions where he/she earned 7 or more credits.
• An Autobiographical statement of four-to-six page (typed, double-spaced) essay focused on the values, interests, life experiences, and spiritual insights that led to your decision to apply to this program.
• A 1-2 paged Goal Statement (typed, double-spaced) statement that clearly articulates how a Ph.D. in this program will serve your long-term personal and professional aspirations.
• Two Letters of Recommendation Either from professors or academic advisors. Recommenders should use standard business format and include full contact information-name, email, phone number, and mailing address.
• Academic writing sample of 10 pages: A writing sample of eight to ten pages (typed, double-spaced) that demonstrates your capacity to think critically and reflectively and demonstrates graduate-level writing abilities.

2. Ph.D. in Philosophy Harvard University, USA

Fee structure:

• Full time student: $51,904 / year
• Advanced doctoral: fee $2,595 / year
• Health insurance: $5,282

Eligibility:

• To be eligible for this Ph.D. program, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a graduate degree from a university.

Time to apply:

• January 5, 2022

Duration:

• 4 years

How to apply:

Following are the steps and requirements of the application: A complete application is to be submitted by the applicant himself to the GSAS.

• A complete application to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education typically consists of the following, submitted to the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).
• $105 application fee (paid via credit card with the online application)
• Résumé/curriculum vitae
• Statement of Purpose
• Three letters of recommendation
• Standardized test score(s):
• GRE – must be sent directly to GSAS, institution code 3451
• TOEFL or IELTS (if applicable) – must be sent directly to GSAS
• Transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended: uploaded copy of each transcript with the online application
• Supplemental form for the Ph.D. in Education
• Writing sample required
• Once all applications have been reviewed, HGSE will invite selected Ph.D. applicants for a required online interview with members of the admissions committee.

Best Ph.D. Programs in Political Science

3- Ph.D. in Philosophy Princeton University, USA

Fee structure:

• Total tuition and SHP fees are 58,790

Eligibility:

• The applicant must be a master’s degree holder in any field of Philosophy. The students must possess a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.

Time to apply:

• December 15

Duration:

• 5 years

How to apply:

• Statement of Academic Purpose: This should be supplied by the applicant himself with an Application fee of $75.
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae: Containing detailed information of the applicant
• Recommendation Letters: 3 letters recommended by Professors or academic advisors.
• Transcripts: Transcripts containing detailed information from accredited institutions. GPA should be a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.
• Required Tests: GRE is now optional due to Covid-19.
• Additional departmental requirements: Sample of written work no more than 10,000 words.

4- Ph.D. in Philosophy Boston College, USA

Fee structure:

• Fully funded for tuition remission and stipends.

Eligibility:

• To be eligible for this Ph.D. program, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a graduate degree from a university.

Time to apply:

• January 02, 2022

Duration:

• 5 years

How to apply:

• Admission application
• An application fee of $65 (non-refundable)
• A bachelor’s and master’s degree (or an equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher in previous coursework. A GPA of 3.0 or higher in previous coursework is required. Students with GPAs between 2 and3 are required to submit a GPA statement and advised to contact the Admission office to discuss their options.
• Official transcripts from all accredited academic institutions where he/she earned 7 or more credits.
• An Autobiographical statement
• A 1-2 paged Goal Statement
• Three Letters of Recommendation Either from professors or academic advisors.
• Academic writing sample of 10 pages: A writing sample of eight to ten pages (typed, double-spaced).
• GRE scores are optional for 2021 applicants
• A writing sample

5- Doctor of Philosophy, Humanities Studies (Online) Brookings, USA

Fee structure:

• USD 700 / Credit

Eligibility:

• The applicant must be a master’s degree holder in any field of Philosophy. GPA requirement is 3.0.

Time to apply:

• December 2021

Duration:

• 4-6 years

How to apply:

• Online application for Ph.D.
• Application fee of $55 (non-refundable).
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions. Transcripts must be directly sent to the admission office.
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.
• Three letters of recommendation from a professor or academic advisor.
• GRE (Graduate Record Exam) score must be submitted with Verbal: 150, Quantitative: 150, Writing: 4.5 IELTS Institution Code for the GRE is 4500.
• An official Photo ID
• An Admissions Interview with the Director of the Ph.D. Program
• Online application for Ph.D.
• Application fee of $55 (non-refundable).
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions. Transcripts must be directly sent to the admission office.
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.
• Three letters of recommendation from a professor or academic advisor.
• GRE (Graduate Record Exam) score must be submitted with Verbal: 150, Quantitative: 150, Writing: 4.5 IELTS Institution Code for the GRE is 4500.
• An official Photo ID
• An Admissions Interview with the Director of the Ph.D. Program

Top philosophy Ph.D. programs in the US for international students

Universities in the USA offering Ph.D. programs for local students also offer some seats for International students as well. While some universities are limited to local students and others offer Ph.D. programs to just International students. The most important criteria of admission are the scores of language tests like IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo.

1-   Ph.D. in Philosophy Harvard University, USA

Fee structure:

• Full time student: $51,904 / year
• Advanced doctoral: fee $2,595 / year
• Health insurance: $5,282

Eligibility:

• To be eligible for this Ph.D. program, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and graduate from a university. The applicant must be a master’s degree holder in any field of Philosophy. In addition to this, international students must pass essential language tests to be qualified for admission.

Time to apply:

• January 5, 2022

Duration:

• 4 years

How to apply:

Following are the steps and requirements of the application: A complete application is to be submitted by the applicant himself to the GSAS.

• A complete application to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education typically consists of the following, submitted to the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).
• $105 application fee (paid via credit card with the online application)
• Résumé/curriculum vitae
• Statement of Purpose
• Three letters of recommendation
• Standardized test score(s):
• GRE – must be sent directly to GSAS, institution code 3451
• TOEFL or IELTS (if applicable) – must be sent directly to GSAS
• For international students, an overall score of 26 is required for TOEFL, and for IELTS the minimum required band is 8.0.
• Transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended: uploaded copy of each transcript with the online application
• Supplemental form for the Ph.D. in Education
• Writing sample required
• Once all applications have been reviewed, HGSE will invite selected Ph.D. applicants for a required online interview with members of the admissions committee.

2- Ph.D. in Philosophy Princeton University, USA

Fee structure:

• Total tuition and SHP fees are 58,790

Eligibility:

• The applicant must be a master’s degree holder in any field of Philosophy. In addition to this, international students must pass essential language tests to be qualified for admission. The minimum GPA required is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Time to apply:

• December 15

Duration:

• 5 years

How to apply:

• Statement of Academic Purpose: This should be supplied by the applicant himself with an Application fee of $75.
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae: Containing detailed information of the applicant
• Recommendation Letters: 3 letters recommended by Professors or academic advisors.
• Transcripts: Transcripts containing detailed information from accredited institutions. GPA should be a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.
• Required Tests: GRE is now optional due to Covid-19.
• English Language Tests: Applicants whose native language is not English(International students) are required to submit a score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) not more than two years old.

For TOEFL scores are:

• Speaking section: 26
• Writing section: 24

For IELTS the scores are:

• Speaking section: 8
• Writing section: 6.5

Additional departmental requirements: Sample of written work no more than 10,000 words.

3- Ph.D. in Philosophy Boston College, USA

Fee structure:

• Fully funded by tuition remission and stipends.

Eligibility:

• The applicant must be a master’s degree holder in any field of Philosophy. In addition to this, international students must pass essential language tests to be qualified for admission.

Time to apply:

• The deadline is January 2, 2022

Duration:

• 5 years

How to apply:

• Admission application
• An application fee of $65 (non-refundable)
• A bachelor’s and master’s degree (or an equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher in previous coursework. A GPA of 3.0 or higher in previous coursework is required. Students with GPAs between 2-3 are required to submit a GPA statement and advised to contact the Admission office to discuss their options.
• Official transcripts from all accredited academic institutions where he/she earned 7 or more credits.
• An Autobiographical statement
• A 1-2 paged Goal Statement
• Three Letters of Recommendation Either from professors or academic advisors.
• Academic writing sample of 10 pages: A writing sample of eight to ten pages (typed, double-spaced).
• GRE scores are optional for 2021 applicants
• A writing sample
• Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score reports are essential for international students. These scores vary and usually depend upon the program.

4- Doctor of Philosophy, Humanities Studies (Online) Brookings, USA

Fee structure:

• USD 700 / Credit

Eligibility:

• The applicant must be a master’s degree holder in any field of Philosophy. In addition to this, international students must pass essential language tests to be qualified for admission.

Time to apply:

• December 2021

Duration:

• 4-6 years

How to apply:

• Online application for Ph.D.
• Application fee of $55 (non-refundable).
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions. Transcripts must be directly sent to the admission office.
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.
• Three letters of recommendation from a professor or academic advisor.
• GRE (Graduate Record Exam) score must be submitted with Verbal: 150, Quantitative: 150, Writing: 4.5 IELTS Institution Code for the GRE is 4500.
• An official Photo ID
• An Admissions Interview with the Director of the Ph.D. Program
• Applicants whose native language is not English (International students) are required to submit a score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) not more than two years old.

For TOEFL scores are:

• Speaking section: 26
• Writing section: 24

For IELTS the scores are:

• Speaking section: 8
• Writing section: 6.5

5- Ph.D. in Philosophy and Religion with a Concentration in Women’s Spirituality, California Institute of Integral Studies

Fee structure:

• $1,393/credit (Additional charges of residence will be included)

Eligibility:

• The applicant must be a master’s degree holder in any field of Philosophy. In addition to this, international students must pass essential language tests to be qualified for admission.

Time to apply:

• December 2021

Duration:

• Full time

How to apply:

• Admission application
• An application fee of $65 (non-refundable)
• A bachelor’s and master’s degree (or an equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution.
• A GPA of 3.0 or higher in previous coursework is required. Students with GPAs between 2 and 3 are required to submit a GPA statement and advised to contact the Admission office to discuss their options.
• Official transcripts from all accredited academic institutions where he/she earned 7 or more credits.
• An Autobiographical statement of four-to-six page (typed, double-spaced) essay focused on the values, interests, life experiences, and spiritual insights that led to your decision to apply to this program.
• A 1-2 paged Goal Statement (typed, double-spaced) statement that clearly articulates how a Ph.D. in this program will serve your long-term personal and professional aspirations.
• Two Letters of Recommendation Either from professors or academic advisors. Recommenders should use standard business format and include full contact information-name, email, phone number, and mailing address.
• Academic writing sample of 10 pages: A writing sample of eight to ten pages (typed, double-spaced) that demonstrates your capacity to think critically and reflectively and demonstrates graduate-level writing abilities.
• Applicants whose native language is not English (International students) are required to submit a score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) not more than two years old.

For TOEFL scores are:

• Speaking section: 26
• Writing section: 24

For IELTS the scores are:

• Speaking section: 8
• Writing section: 6.5

Some additional charges are applicable for residence or other expenses.

Frequently Asked Question:

·         How competitive are philosophy Ph.D. programs?

There is a tough competition for admission to a philosophy Ph.D. program in the USA. Most applicants though have excellent grades in the upper-division undergraduate philosophy courses as well as an overall grade. Students who aim to apply for a Philosophy Ph.D. program should have a GPA of 4.0 when applying for the Ph.D. program. But the chances of admission are not only dependent upon the great GPA value. Philosophy students must also have at least two letters of recommendation of impressive value. These letters must be from published philosophy professors for college administrators.

·         Is a Ph.D. in philosophy useful?

Ph.D. in Philosophy is useful for the scholar as there is a variety of jobs of high levels available for them. Some of these jobs can pay much higher salaries than the national average income of $53,490 in the USA. Some of the higher authority jobs a Ph.D. in philosophy can pursue includes:

• Postsecondary Education Administrators working at colleges and universities in the areas of admission, registration, or student affairs.
• Survey Researchers
• Market Research Analysts
• Political Scientists
• Postsecondary Philosophy Teachers

Despite this much salary and job opportunities, Ph.D. holders in Philosophy acquire great respect in the society and education sector.

·         What university has the best philosophy department?

The USA has a variety of Universities with a good philosophy department. The universities with the best philosophy department include:

• New York University
• Harvard University
• Rutgers University, New Brunswick
• Princeton University
• University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

·         Is a philosophy Ph.D. hard?

Earning a Ph.D. degree in Philosophy requires hard work, determination, and perseverance. Almost all programs from different universities require the same coursework, intense research in the relevant field, and a completed thesis. The process of getting your Ph.D. degree in Philosophy varies and it depends upon the university and Ph.D. program.