COURSE CURRICULUM

In the Philosophy PhD program at DePaul University, students gain extensive teaching and research experience alongside their coursework. During the first two years, each student serves as a Teaching Assistant for two of the three academic quarters each year, attending classes, assisting with grading (up to 50% of total grading), teaching one or two sessions when appropriate, and holding weekly office hours. From the third through sixth years, students advance to the role of Teaching Fellow, teaching up to three courses per year but no more than one per quarter. Alongside teaching responsibilities, doctoral candidates work closely with leading scholars in areas including contemporary continental thought, German idealism, social and political theory, history of philosophy and ethics, feminist philosophy, psychoanalytic thought, and Latin American philosophy. The program emphasizes professional development as both a scholar and teacher, offering a teaching practicum during the second and third years that guides students in transitioning from assistant to fellow and prepares them for tenure-track positions or postdoctoral opportunities. Doctoral students must advance to candidacy within four years of admission, and the period from candidacy to dissertation defense typically ranges from eight months to two years, ensuring structured progress toward completion while fostering both academic and pedagogical expertise.