Philosophy

Opportunities for graduate studies

The Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies offers unique graduate and postdoctoral opportunities for study and research in environmental ethics. It is a leading program, nationally and internationally. The two options available for study in environmental ethics, allows the University of North Texas to meet all your needs whether you are pursuing academic or nonacademic career objectives.

You may pursue the master of arts degree with a major in philosophy as preparation for Ph.D.-level work in philosophy and other environmentally related fields. It is also a good background if you plan a career in environmental law.

A nonthesis option is available if you are pursuing a nonacademic environmental career in business, government and nongovernmental organizations. Because this option can be completed in one year, environmental professionals can develop expertise in the value aspects of environmental policy and decision-making during one-year leave of absence from their job.

The Ph.D. program is lead in conjunction with the University of Texas at Arlington and draws upon the expertise of the faculty of both institutions.

The department offers several graduate assistantships each year. For information, access www.phil.unt.edu/graduate.

You will study with six nationally and internationally known specialists in the field of environmental ethics - J. Baird Callicott, Pete (A.Y.) Gunter, Eugene C. Hargrove, George A. James, Irene J. Klaver, and Ricardo Rozzi - and with an interdisciplinary graduate faculty representing 18 departments at UNT.

Graduate courses in philosophy also may be taken as part of the master of science degree with a major in interdisciplinary studies through the Center for Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. This program permits you to create your own degree plans, in which you study in three or more related areas.

The Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies provides office space and limited secretarial services to scholars and scientists pursuing postdoctoral research and professional development in environmental ethics.

M.A. degree

Admission requirements

In addition to the following program requirements, you must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. Access the graduate catalog online at www.unt.edu/catalog for graduate school requirements and possible exceptions.

Program requirements include:

• course requirements for an undergraduate major in philosophy at UNT. Deficiencies will be evaluated on an individual basis.
• acceptable scores on the GRE's verbal and quantitative sections. An acceptable score on each section is the median score minus one standard deviation. The verbal score also may be replaced by completion of the Graduate Preparation Course (GPC). The GMAT or LSAT may be substituted for the GRE. A minimum score of 450 is required on the GMAT. Computer-based GRE testing is available at UNT.
• letter of intent sent to the Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies (at the same time that you apply to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies). This letter should briefly summarize your background, specific interests in environmental ethics and future career plans. One or more letters of recommendation are required.

Degree requirements

Thesis and nonthesis options exist for completing the master of arts degree with a major in philosophy. For the thesis option, you take 24 semester hours of approved course work and complete a thesis carrying 6 hours of credit (PHIL 5950). You normally take a minimum of six courses in philosophy. Six of the 30 total semester credit hours may be selected by you in supporting fields with the department's consent. An oral examination is scheduled after the completion of the thesis.

The nonthesis option consists of 36 semester credit hours total. You normally take a minimum of six courses in philosophy. A 9-semester-credit-hour minor in a supporting field is required. You may choose nine additional semester hours in philosophy or in one or more supporting fields. A final oral examination is also required.

The examiners at the oral examination include a faculty member representing the minor field and, at the department's option, one or more representatives of supporting fields.

You are expected to complete PHIL 5450, Seminar in Philosophy of Ecology; PHIL 5451, Environmental Ethics (or a related section of PHIL 5960, Seminar in Problems of Philosophy); and PHIL 5700, Seminar in Environmental Ethics no matter the option you pursue.

Ph.D. degree

Detailed information on requirements for this degree can be obtained from the department or online at www.phil.unt.edu/programs/graduate/phd .

Financial assistance available

Teaching assistantships are available in the first year of study and teaching fellowships in the second year. Teaching assistants and fellows are required to participate in the undergraduate instructional program, which offers a traditional bachelor of arts with a major in philosophy, a minor in philosophy and an interdisciplinary minor in religion studies.

Teaching assistantships and fellowships are available for students with undergraduate backgrounds in philosophy. The stipend is $10,000 per year. It includes health insurance and an out-of-state tuition waiver. Applications are due by Feb. 1 each year. Two letters of recommendation are required.

The Richardson Environmental Action League awards a $500 fellowship each fall and spring semester to a second-year student.

Because the concentration in environmental ethics is considered a unique program within the Academic Common Market, students in 15 Southern states are eligible to apply for out-of-state tuition waivers.

Graduate support awards of $1,000 each are given whenever funds are available. Everyone applying for teaching assistantships is considered automatically for these awards. There are no scholarships specifically for philosophy graduate students. However, you are eligible to apply for scholarships through Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. Call 940-565-2302 for more information or access essc.unt.edu/finaid.

Center for Environmental Philosophy

The Center for Environmental Philosophy encourages and supports workshops, conferences and other special projects, including postgraduate research in the field. It is the home of a reprint book series, Environmental Ethics Books, and Environmental Ethics, the major journal in the field.

Institute of Applied Sciences

The Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies works closely with the Institute of Applied Sciences and participates in its environmental science program. The M.S. and the Ph.D. in environmental science are available if you are seeking a career as an environmental professional in government or business or as university professor.

Faculty of environmental ethics

The faculty of environmental ethics is drawn from 18 UNT departments engaging in interdisciplinary research and instruction involving ethical issues related to U.S. and global environmental problems. The faculty's teaching areas include art; biological sciences; business law; chemistry; communications; economics; education; English; finance; foreign languages and literatures; geography; the health sciences; history; management; philosophy; political science; psychology; radio, television and film; religion studies; social work; and sociology.

Interdisciplinary Studies Program

The Center for Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies is responsible for the master of science and master of arts degrees with majors in interdisciplinary studies.

The center also is involved in the sponsorship of universitywide efforts to bring together faculty with interests and concerns in specific interdisciplinary topic areas.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the following program requirements, you must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies.

Program requirements include:

• completed Toulouse School of Graduate Studies application form
• complete transcripts
• written statement outlining the course work areas to be combined on the degree and the goals you hope to accomplish by completing the degree
• satisfactory scores on standardized tests such as the GRE or GMAT or other admission materials such as a portfolio, as determined by the participating academic departments. Numerical standards for admission are based on the higher of the following: the highest standardized requirements among the participating departments at UNT; or the highest mean score on relevant standardized tests for applicants to these programs nationally. Non-quantified admissions materials must be evaluated directly by the relevant participating departments, with standards no less stringent than those used for admission by those departments.

All of these materials and scores must be submitted before any enrollment for courses leading to the degree.

Degree Requirements

The master of science degree with a major in interdisciplinary studies requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate course work. However, the program offers you a high degree of flexibility in the selection of courses.

The major in interdisciplinary studies is coordinated directly by the associate dean of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. You should discuss your plans with the associate dean.

The master of science degree with a major in interdisciplinary studies must include no fewer than three separate fields of study with at least 6 hours in each field. For all sequences, no more than 15 hours (including thesis and special problems) may be taken under any one course prefix or subject field. A special committee, representative of each of the several disciplines of your program, will be formed to help you develop a degree plan and to supervise your progress. You must complete at least 36 hours and are not required to write a thesis. You must plan a program designed to serve a particular intellectual interest not met by any specific degree program available through the traditional disciplines, making use of existing courses from any graduate area of the university.

A comprehensive final examination, oral and/or written, must be completed, ordinarily during the final semester of enrollment. The examination is prepared, administered and evaluated by the members of your advisory committee.