PhD in Philosophy in Boulder United States | University of Colorado Boulder

The Philosophy Ph.D. program at CU Boulder involves around 2.5 years of coursework followed by 2.5 years dedicated to dissertation work, with five years of assured financial support (see Funding section for specifics). As both a research and teaching department, graduate appointments serve not just as financial support but also as professional training for future careers in philosophical education and scholarship.
Typically, first- and second-year Ph.D. candidates enroll in three courses each semester, completing 12 courses (36 credits) by their second year's conclusion. To maintain satisfactory progress during these initial two years, students must complete at least five courses annually. During their third semester, students submit a Diagnostic Paper for evaluation by three faculty members. By the fifth semester, they must submit an anonymously assessed Qualifying Paper—a crucial requirement for advancing to Ph.D. candidacy. Throughout their fifth semester, students finalize their 45-credit coursework requirement (usually 15 courses). Ideally, students should finish all coursework by their fifth semester and commence work on their Prospectus, aiming to defend it during a sixth-semester oral examination.