Philosophy

Opportunities for graduate studies

Distinguished by its focus upon environmental philosophy, UNT's Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies emphasizes an applied approach to philosophic problems, including contemporary issues concerning the relation between nature and society, the construction of identity, and the dynamic nature of technology.

This nationally prominent program offers unique graduate and postdoctoral opportunities for study and research in environmental ethics. You can study with eight nationally and internationally known specialists in the field of environmental ethics - J. Baird Callicott, Pete A.Y. Gunter, Robert Frodeman, Eugene C.Hargrove, George A. James, Robert Figueroa, Irene J. Klaver, and Ricardo Rozzi - and with an interdisciplinary graduate faculty representing 18 departments at UNT.

Options available for study in environmental philosophy meet 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 doctoral-level work in philosophy and other environment-related fields. It also provides a good background for 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 a one-year leave of absence from their jobs.

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 plan, in which you study in three or more related areas.

Master's degree in philosophy

Admission 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. In addition, you must meet the following program requirements:

• acceptable scores on the GRE's verbal and quantitative sections [Verbal score may be replaced by completion of the Graduate Preparation Course (GPC). The GMAT or LSAT may be substituted for the GRE.]
• statement of purpose sent to the Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies when 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.)
• three letters of recommendation, a CV and a writing sample

Degree requirements

Thesis and nonthesis options exist for completing the M.A. degree with a major in philosophy. For the thesis option, you will 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. Of the 30 total semester hours, 6 may be selected 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 hours total. Students normally take a minimum of six courses in philosophy. A 9-semesterhour minor in a supporting field is required.You may choose 9 additional semester hours in philosophy or in one or more supporting fields.

A final oral examination is also required for the nonthesis option. 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.

No matter the option pursued, you are expected to complete one of the following courses:

• PHIL 5450, Seminar in Philosophy of Ecology
• PHIL 5451, Environmental Ethics (or a related section of PHIL 5960, Seminar in Problems of Philosophy)
• PHIL 5700, Seminar in Environmental Ethics
• PHIL 5750, Environmental Ethics and Public Policy

You must also complete one graduate course in Environmental Science.

Master's degree in interdisciplinary studies

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

Admission requirements

You must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies in addition to the following program requirements:

• 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 are based on higher of either 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.)
• consent of the department chair and admissions committee

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

Degree requirements

Both master's degrees with a major in interdisciplinary studies require a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate course work.However, the program offers a high degree of flexibility in the selection of courses. Interdisciplinary studies are coordinated directly with the associate dean of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies.

The master's degrees with a major in interdisciplinary studies must include three or more separate fields of study with at least 6 semester hours in each field.No more than 18 hours (including thesis and special problems) may be taken under any one course prefix or subject field.You must complete at least 36 semester hours and are not required to write a thesis.

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 plan a program designed to serve a particular intellectual interest not met by any specific degree program available through the traditional disciplines.

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.

Doctoral degree in philosophy

The Ph.D. program is in conjunction with the University of Texas at Arlington and draws upon the expertise of the faculty of both institutions. Detailed information on requirements for this degree can be obtained from the department or online at www.phil.unt.edu/programs/graduate/phd.

Research projects and centers

Cape Horn Field Station

As part of the Omora Consortium, the department has created the world's first field station in environmental philosophy, science and policy at Cape Horn, Chile.When completed, this new field station will house 15 students and faculty during courses and research expeditions and provides a basic laboratory for processing and storing samples, a libraryclassroom and computer facility.

The Philosophy of Water Issues

Launched in 2003, this program approaches water issues from a perspective combining cultural, social-political, philosophic and scientific analyses. Research explores different aspects of the rising tide of water-problems: water-scarcity, quality and quantity of reserves, restoration of riparian areas, and the cultural perceptions of water.

New Directions

New Directions seeks to develop the theory and practice of wide interdisciplinarity, integrating the values-dimensions of societal challenges with on-going scientific research and education. It accomplishes this by funding case studies, running a series of workshops, and producing white papers and publications.

Center for Space Exploration Policy Research

This cooperative effort with the Department of Space Studies at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo., stimulates discussion and research on the ethical, cultural and philosophic aspects of space policy. Initial projects involve the nature of public support for space exploration, and the scientific and ethical issues of potential biological contamination.

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 works closely with the Institute of Applied Sciences, which consists of seven major program areas: aquatic toxicology, environmental archaeology, remote sensing and landuse analyses, environmental chemistry, environmental modeling, reservoir limnology, and water research.

Financial assistance

The department offers several graduate assistantships and fellowships each year. Applications are due by Feb. 1 each year. Additionally, the Richardson Environmental Action League (REAL) awards a $500 fellowship each fall and spring semester to a secondyear student. A limited number of graduate awards of $1,000 may also be offered by the Graduate School each year. These awards qualify out-of-state students for in-state tuition rates.

For more departmental financial aid information, visit www.phil.unt.edu/programs/graduate/graduate_support.php. For additional information, call Financial Aid and Scholarships at 940-565-2302 or access essc.unt.edu/finaid.

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.