MIT philosophy: program:
admission
To enter the doctoral program, students must have done well in their previous academic work and must be formally accepted as candidates for the Ph. D. degree by the department of linguistics and philosophy. Furthermore, an applicant must have received a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university of acceptable standing.
Although there are no formal requirements for admission, successful applicants typically have an undergraduate major in philosophy, or a comparable level of preparation.
A complete application includes the MIT application form, an official academic transcript from each college/university attended, and three letters of recommendation.
In addition to the application, all applicants should submit a writing sample in philosophy, ideally of 15-25 pages in length. The writing sample should allow us to assess the applicant's understanding of a philosophical problem, and ability to evaluate philosophical arguments. This assessment is usually easier if the writing sample explicitly engages with some of the contemporary philosophical literature.
Writing samples can be submitted electronically at https://www.dlp.mit.edu/admissions/. If you can submit your writing sample electronically, please do.
Students are only admitted into the program in the fall. The application deadline is January 2nd for the following September. Decisions are communicated to applicants by early March.
GRE scores are not required for admission to the doctoral program.
MIT requires international applicants whose native language is not English to submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). However, the department of linguistics and philosophy does grant TOEFL waivers.
In general, we grant waivers to students who have received a degree from an American or English-speaking university, or who show an extensive background in English. We ask that students who request a TOEFL waiver have their recommenders comment in depth on their English speaking, reading and writing skills as a part of the recommendation.
Applicants can download the application from the MIT graduate admissions website, or fill it out online (this is the preferred method).
The application fee is $70.00 in US dollars. Credit cards are accepted; please make checks or money orders payable to MIT. Please do not send cash.
If you are applying on-line, you must pay by credit card or by check on-line.
If you do not fill out the application form online, mail it directly to the department:
department of linguistics and philosophy
massachusetts institute of technology
77 massachusetts avenue
d808
cambridge, ma 02139-4307
usa
Please try to include supporting materials (transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) with your application form. Send the supporting materials separately to the department if you fill out the application form online.
How do I get a paper copy of information for prospective applicants?
Download the MIT philosophy graduate information guide (in PDF). (To view and print this document you will need adobe acrobat reader.) In addition to the information on this page, the guide contains information about the faculty and a detailed description of the Ph.D. program.
Do you have a masters program?
No. The philosophy graduate program is a doctoral program only. In the Boston area, Tufts University offers a masters degree in philosophy.
How long is the Ph.D. program?
Five years.
Does the Ph.D. program have a language requirement?
No.
Do students get financial support from MIT?
Yes. Currently, we can support five entering students each year with tuition plus a 9-month stipend. Although MIT regulations prohibit us from guaranteeing funding for more than any one year, we fully expect to be able to support students in good standing throughout the entire five-year period of the doctoral program. However, the department has limited funds for financial aid to graduate students, so we encourage you to apply for graduate fellowships from government agencies and foundations.
I am an international applicant. Am I still eligible for financial support from MIT?
Yes. All admitted students, whether or not they are US citizens, are eligible for support. International applicants should consult the international student office for information about visas, etc.
Where can I find out information about housing?
MIT's housing and student life programs have information on both campus and off-campus housing.
Can I earn a doctoral degree through distance learning?
No, the program does not offer classes through distance learning. (A related point: MIT's OpenCourseWare is not a distance learning program.)
Are interviews required as part of the application process?
No.
Can I visit MIT before I apply, and talk with faculty and students?
Of course. Send an email to any faculty member, who will be happy to arrange some appointments.
The department of linguistics and philosophy -- what's the story?
Classes in linguistics were originally given within the department of modern languages, and a Ph.D. in linguistics was first offered by that department in 1961-62. In 1965 the department of modern languages became the department of modern languages and linguistics and, in 1969, the department of foreign languages and linguistics. Prior to 1964 philosophy was taught in the department of humanities. The philosophy department was formed when a Ph.D. program in philosophy was established in July 1971. In 1976 the curriculum in foreign languages and literatures became part of the responsibility of the department of humanities while the curriculum in linguistics became part of the department of philosophy to form the department of linguistics and philosophy.
The two sections of the department operate independent graduate programs, with separate chairs, one of whom heads the department as a whole. The current head of the department is a linguist, Irene Heim, and the philosophy section head is Richard Holton.
What are the faculty members' research interests?
You can find them on the individual faculty pages. Although we are a small department, most of us are interested in pretty much anything. An individual faculty member is likely to have a serious interest in many fields other than his/her primary research areas.
What are the philosophy Ph.D. students' research interests?
They are listed here. The last 10 philosophy dissertations were in the following fields: political philosophy (3), philosophy of mind/psychology (2), ethics/epistemology (2), philosophy of language (2), metaphysics/normativity (1). Current dissertation topics include the philosophy of perception, epistemic modality, self-locating belief, the relation between ethics and politics, a priori knowledge, desire, and laws in science.
Can philosophy Ph.D. students take linguistics classes?
Yes. We also offer a minor in linguistics.
Can students take classes at Harvard?
Yes. There is also a Harvard/MIT reading group, and an annual Harvard/MIT graduate philosophy conference.
What's that funny-looking building on your home page?
The stata center -- we moved into it in march 2004.
What should I do if I have more questions about admission to the philosophy program?
Send email to lp-admissions@mit.edu, or write to:
philosophy admissions
department of linguistics and philosophy
massachusetts institute of technology
77 massachusetts avenue
d808
usa