Graduate Study in Philosophy

The philosophy student who wishes to explore whether to apply for graduate study in philosophy should first discuss this with his or her Philosophy Program Mentor. In some cases, one plan of course work may be better than another in preparing for graduate study.
 
The student interested in graduate study in philosophy may wish to consider future employment possibilities. Usually today only those job applicants who have Ph.D.s in philosophy are considered for positions at four-year colleges and universities. Some community colleges consider applicants with masters degrees, but this is becoming rarer.
 
Getting a doctorate in philosophy will generally take an absolute minimum of four years of full time study. Masters degrees usually take two years.
 
The academic job market is currently highly competitive. The student considering a career in professional philosophy should take this into account and plan his or her courses of study, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, accordingly. In some cases, this may include a decision to attend one graduate program rather than another.