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The Ph.D. program provides subjects and seminars in such traditional areas as logic, ethics, metaphysics, history of philosophy, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, social and political philosophy, and philosophy of science. Interest in philosophical problems arising from other disciplines, such as linguistics, psychology, and mathematics is also encouraged. The Philosophy Department encourages interdisciplinary study and candidates for the doctorate may take a minor in a field other than philosophy. 

Graduate students in residence usually number around twenty-five. Graduate students normally complete their formal course work and other predissertation requirements within three years, and then devote two or three more years to their dissertations. Many graduate students serve as teaching assistants, thereby both obtaining financial aid and also gaining experience that is an important part of their graduate training. Many students are also awarded fellowships to focus on researching and the publication process. Beginning in their third or fourth year, students are typically given the opportunity to plan and teach their own sections of introductory courses.