How many students do you accept into your program per year?
IT DEPENDS ON OUR ALLOCATION MONEY AND THE NUMBER OF SPOTS OPEN IN THE
DEPARTMENT. THE AVERAGE IS SIX. HOWEVER, LAST YEAR WE ADMITTED 8 STUDENTS.

What you are looking for in an incoming graduate student?
WE LOOK FOR STUDENTS WITH A SOLID BACKGROUND IN PHILOSOPHY AND AN INTEREST IN STUDYING MORAL PHILOSOPHY, POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY AND APPLIED ETHICS. REFERENCE LETTERS, GRE SCORES AND BACKGROUND PREPARATION AS REFLECTED IN A WRITING SAMPLE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN ADMISSIONS DECISIONS.

Is there a minimum GRE score for admission to the program?
NO. BUT GRE SCORES ARE ONE IMPORTANT FACTOR IN ADMISSIONS DECISIONS. IN THE PAST MOST ADMITTED STUDENTS HAVE TENDED TO HAVE GRE SCORES OVER 600 IN BOTH THE VERBAL AND QUANTITATIVE SECTIONS.

Is there a minimum TOEFL score for admission to the program?
WE GENERALLY DO NOT ADMIT STUDENTS WITH TOEFL SCORES BELOW 600.

Is there a minimum GPA requirement for admission to the program?
NO. HOWEVER, MOST ADMITTED STUDENTS HAVE HIGH MARKS IN PHILOSOPHY COURSES.

How should the application materials be sent to the department?
THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT IN ONE PACKET: DEPARTMENT APPLICATION, LETTER OF INTENT, SAMPLE OF WRITING AND THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION IN SIGNED AND SEALED ENVELOPES.

 Should I schedule a campus visit? Will doing so increase my chance of admission to the program?
WE ENCOURAGE ADMITTED STUDENTS TO VISIT THE DEPARTMENT. GENERALLY WE DO NOT ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO VISIT CAMPUS BEFORE ADMISSIONS DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. DOING SO WILL NOT IMPROVE PROSPECTS FOR ADMISSION. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE IN THE BOWLING GREEN AREA YOU ARE WELCOME TO STOP BY AT ANY TIME.

 What percentage of incoming students receive funding?
MOST ADMITTED STUDENTS RECEIVE FUNDING. WE OCCASSIONALLY ADMIT A STUDENT OR TWO WITHOUT FUNDING.

Is funding provided in assistantships such as TAs or through fellowships and grants?
MOST FUNDING IS PROVIDED IN ASSISTANTSHIPS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF GRANTS.

Do you accept Spring Admissions?
GENERALLY NO. WE ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO APPLY FOR ADMISSION IN THE FALL. ON RARE OCCASSIONS, HOWEVER, WE HAVE ADMITTED STUDENTS IN THE SPRING TERM.

If I already have a M.A. in philosophy, will your program give me credit for the courses I have taken?
IT DEPENDS. WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. HOWEVER, WE REQUIRE ALL ADMITTED STUDENTS TO DO AT LEAST ONE YEAR OF COURSE WORK PRIOR TO BEGINNING WORK ON A DISSERTATION.

 What is your placement record for the past 5 to 10 years?
OUR PLACEMENT RECORD IS VERY GOOD.  ALMOST EVERY STUDENT WHO HAS COMPLETED THE PHD HAS FOUND A JOB. MANY OF OUR STUDENTS GET TENURE POSITIONS TEACHING PHILOSOPHY OR APPLIED ETHICS. SOME HOLD JOBS IN THINK TANKS, POLICY MAKING COMPANIES, AND MEDICAL SETTINGS.  (SEE GRADUATE PLACEMENTS).

Do you offer internships in applied ethics settings?
YES. INTERNSHIPS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS AND IN MEDICAL CENTERS. A FEW STUDENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ARRANGING THEIR OWN INTERNSHIPS.

What is the Institution Code for Bowling Green State University and the Department Code for Philosophy?
THE BGSU INSTITUTION CODE IS 1069.  THE PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT CODE IS 2801.

NOTE: THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION AND FINANCIAL AID IS FEBRUARY 1.

Department of Philosophy
305 Shatzel Hall,
Bowling Green State University,
Bowling Green, OH 43403.

Phone: 419-372-2117
Fax: 419-372-8191
Email: mdeluca@bgnet.bgsu.edu