notre dame philosophy phd

as a Way of Life

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Many traditions in philosophy have aimed at helping individuals think more deeply and rigorously about the good life. From 2018-2022,  Notre Dame and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation partnered with universities across the world to imagine new and higher impact ways to teach these traditions. Efforts included hosting an in-person conference in 2019, a series of online summer curriciulum development workshops in 2020 and 2021, investment in growing existing PWOL courses and subgrants to launch new ones.  Faculty in the network developed and shared curricular materials.  Two doctoral students, two postdoctoral/staff positions and dozens of undergraduate fellowships were supported off of the grant.  Faculty and grant personnel developed and implemented training programs for undergraduate dialogue leaders.  Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko published a book with Penguin based on its approach to teaching philosophy as a way of life, The Good Life Method . Stephen Grimm further developed Oxford's successful Guides to the Good Life series, and Steve Angle contributed a volume on Confucian approaches to PWOL.  In 2023, Sullivan published a feature review in Ethics on " Philosophy as a Way of Life" . In total, 139 faculty members from a wide variety of institutions directly participated in grant programs.

This project wrapped up in the summer of 2022, and Sullivan and the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study is now in the process of launching an interdisiplinary course development grant focused on cross disciplinary approaches to flourishing.  More information about that program, including the 2024 call for proposals, will be available soon on the NDIAS webpage.

Latest News

CFP: Teaching Philosophy as a Way of Life

May 11, 2021

Philosophy as a Way of Teaching: A Handbook

October 27, 2020

New Webpage for Brill Series "Philosophy as a Way of Life: Text and Studies"

October 16, 2020

Call for Papers: Philosophy as a Way of Life in a Time of Crisis

July 01, 2020

Key Principles

• Pursuit of the Good Life
• Diverse Classrooms
• Student-Led Dialogue
• Immersive Assignments

Philosophy as a Way of Life Project

c/o Meghan Sullivan

109 Malloy Hall, Notre Dame IN 46556

Email: [email protected]

A project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

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University of Notre Dame

Department of Mathematics

College of Science

Math/Philosophy Math Graduate Programs

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MSIM PROGRAM FOR PHILOSOPHY PhD STUDENTS, MAMP PROGRAM FOR MATHEMATICS PhD STUDENTS, AND JOINT MATH/PHILOSOPHY PhD PROGRAM

In collaboration with the Philosophy Department, the Mathematics Department at Notre Dame offers several joint programs for students interested in Mathematical Logic as well as Philosophy. The acronym MSIM stands for Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Mathematics, and this degree is given by the Mathematics Department. The program is available also to students from fields besides Philosophy. See this link: https://math.nd.edu/graduate/msim-degree/ for more information about joint Mathematics/Philosophy graduate degrees at Notre Dame. If you are a PhD student at Notre Dame interested in the MSIM degree with your primary area of interest not in Mathematical logic and Philosophy, the MAMP (Master of the Arts in Mathematical Philosophy) program may be of interest. See https://philosophy.nd.edu/graduate-program/mathematical-philosophy-minor/ for additional information about MAMP. This page gives instructions for how to apply for the MSIM, MAMP, or the joint PhD program in Mathematical Logic and Philosophy. Please contact the Math or Philosophy DGS if you have additional questions.

Admission to either of these degree programs requires the approval of both the Mathematics and Philosophy Departments. Similarly, any extension of the deadlines discussed below need the approval of the Mathematics and Philosophy Departments. Approval by the Philosophy Department requires primary approval by the Logic Group within that department, and final certification by the Philosophy DGS. Approval by the Math department requires approval by the Logic Group within that department in consultation with the Math DGS and if necessary, the graduate committee. As these degrees are additional degrees beyond the student’s Ph.D. program, they are not funded separately. We expect that the students earning these degrees will be exceptional.

A student in the joint PhD program will have to find a Mathematics adviser and a Philosophy adviser. The student will write a single PhD thesis, but it may have separate parts with a Math or Philosophy focus.

Philosophy Primary

An essential criterion for admission to the MSIM or Joint Degree for a Philosophy graduate student by the mathematics department is the approval of a mathematics department faculty member who agrees to oversee the student’s work. This will normally require that the student has become integrated into that faculty member’s research group, and has proposed a viable area for research. It is the student’s responsibility to find their own advisor. Given that, the path towards admission to the MSIM or Joint Degree is as follows:

• Year 1 and 2 (coursework): In addition to Philosophy coursework, the student takes the Mathematics department’s Logic Sequence Math 60510 and Math 60520 in Year 1. The student is also required to take two additional basic courses in mathematics. Basic Algebra I and II is a common choice, but other choices are possible. These courses should be completed in the first two years. S/he also, in this period, plays an active role in some part of the Mathematics department’s on-going research seminars, lectures, etc. 
• Year 2: The student finds a faculty member willing to supervise some advanced work in that faculty member’s area. This might be over the first summer, during the second year, or during the second summer. The student should become well-integrated into the research group of the intended supervisor and take topics courses in Logic.
• Application to the MSIM program is made prior to the start of Year 3, and we encourage applicants interested in continuing to do the joint PhD program to apply well before the start of year 3. The application will include a description of the courses to be taken for the degree, and of the proposed Master’s thesis topic, both of which will have been designed in consultation with the proposed advisor along with letters of support from their advisors.  It is expected that the student’s work in Mathematics classes outside Logic will be above average and similarly with their work in philosophy.  
• If the student is admitted to the MSIM program, s/he will work during Year 3 with the Mathematics advisor on their thesis topic.  
• Students interested in pursuing the joint PhD program, which is called Philosophy and Mathematics, should take the oral exam in Mathematics by the beginning of Year 4. This oral is understood to be similar to the one taken by students pursuing a Ph.D. in Mathematical Logic. Passing this oral exam is required to earn the Joint Ph.D. 
• While working towards the MSIM degree, a student interested in pursuing the joint PhD program must express an intention to apply by the end of May of Year 3 and apply by the beginning  of Year 4. An application consists of a description of the courses to be taken for the degree, a research proposal, hopefully some completed research and letters of support from their advisors. If the decision at that stage is that the student needs further work, then the student may submit a revised application during Year 4.  In any event, if a philosophy student is to be accepted to the joint PhD program, this must happen by the first day of classes in the 5th year.
• If the student in the MSIM program is not admitted to the Joint PhD program, s/he will normally finish the requirements for, and be awarded, the MSIM degree on route to completion of the Philosophy PhD.  In this case we expect the MSIM thesis to be completed by the end of Year 4.  A public defense of the Master’s thesis is expected. The defense should happen by early in Year 5. 
• If the student is admitted to the Joint PhD program in Philosophy and Mathematics, s/he need not complete the requirements for the MSIM degree. Research completed in pursuit of the MSIM thesis might be incorporated into the research for the joint PhD dissertation.  We do expect this degree to be completed within 6 years. 

Mathematics Primary

An essential criterion for admission to the MAMP or Joint PhD for a mathematics graduate student by the Philosophy Department is the recommendation of a Philosophy Department faculty member who agrees to oversee the student’s work. This will normally require that the student has articulated a viable area for research and demonstrated to the satisfaction of the faculty member relevant competence to undertake a research project in the area. It is the student’s responsibility to find their own advisor. The joing PhD program for graduate students in the Department of Mathematics is called the PdD in Mathematics and Philosophy.

• Years 1 and 2: The student should enroll in approximately 1 research seminar in the Philosophy Department each semester. [Generally, four philosophy seminar courses with a heavy writing component are needed for a student applying to the MAMP or joint PhD program.] Knowing that the application to the MAMP includes the submission of a sample of philosophical writing, it is wise to make sure to take seminars with substantial writing components so that by the time of application the student will have experienced several episodes of writing and rewriting in light of instructor feedback. Students should check with the instructor whether the course has a substantial writing component.  Most seminars will fit this description, but some Logic seminars will not. Note that all seminars taken prior to application to the MAMP will be retroactively counted towards fulfillment of the MAMP (and/or Joint PhD.) degree. For students interested in MAMP or the joint PhD program,the Mathematics department can delay two of the required basic courses to the second year to allow students time to complete their philosophy seminars.
• An application to MAMP or the joint PhD program should consist of a transcript, the written work from Philosophy seminars, and a research paper, together with faculty evaluations.
• Year 2 or 3: Application to the MAMP should be made at the end of year 2 or during year 3. Students with a definite expectation to eventually apply to the Joint PhD program are strongly advised to apply before the start of year 3. Students with no plan to apply to the Joint PhD program should in any event apply to the MAMP before the end of their 3rd year of study, so that the commencement of their MAMP thesis research does not disrupt the timely completion of their Mathematics dissertation research.
• Applications for the Joint PhD in Mathematics and Philosophy. will only be considered for students in their first four years of graduate study, and admission to the Joint PhD  must happen before the start of the student’s 5th year. A student applying to the Joint PhD program need not complete their MAMP thesis; in many cases the work going towards that thesis will be further elaborated as the Philosophy component of their PhD dissertation.
• A student who does not apply to the Joint PhD in Mathematics and Philosophy should submit their MAMP thesis by the end of their 4th year.
• A student admitted to the Joint PhD program in Mathematics and Philosophy should have a research plan suited for completion of the degree by the end of their 6th year.

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April 23, 2024

2024 Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Graduate School Award in Science

April 15, 2024

University of Notre Dame

John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values

History and Philosophy of Science (HPS)

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Apply Now   Request Information

What is HPS?

The Ph.D. Program in History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) welcomes students of diverse intellectual backgrounds: humanities students who have an interest in the sciences, medicine, or technology, as well as students who have training in the sciences and engineering, and who are curious about the history of their discipline, and its philosophical grounding.

What will I study? 

The program is built around three tracks: History of Science, Philosophy of Science, and Theology and Science. Students admitted on one of these tracks will receive their degrees in HPS, but will pursue a course of study that overlaps significantly with that of a Ph.D. student in History , Philosophy , or Theology , and will have an advisor drawn from one of those departments.

Students on all tracks share core courses in the history and philosophy of science, and in the social studies of science. They gain an overview of the history of science from antiquity to the modern day, and philosophical and social science approaches to understanding the nature of science, which they can refine through electives on particular periods or on specific subjects, including particular scientific fields. 

The core faculty include historians, philosophers, theologians, as well as faculty in the departments of English, Sociology, and Anthropology, to form a truly interdisciplinary program of study.

Students will have opportunities to develop their teaching in the History, Philosophy, or Theology departments, as well as designing and teaching their own courses in the undergraduate programs closely associated with HPS: Science, Technology, and Values (STV) and Health, Humanities, and Society (HHS).

Graduates from the HPS Ph.D. program have also gone on to work in public policy, or have found appointments in museums and libraries concerning the public understanding of science. Graduates of our program are fully trained historians, philosophers, or theologians (and most often find academic jobs in those disciplinary departments), who also have additional expertise in the intersection between the sciences and those disciplines. 

In addition to our Ph.D. program, we also offer a concurrent M.A. and a graduate minor for students enrolled in other doctoral programs at Notre Dame.

Students interested in additional information about the HPS programs should contact Tori Davies ( [email protected] ). 

Matthew Ashley

Full Professor, Theology

Feraz Azhar

Assistant Professor of Philosophy

W. Martin Bloomer

Professor Emeritus, Provost Office

Francesca Bordogna

Associate Professor, Program of Liberal Studies

Jon Coleman

Professor, History

Assistant Teaching Professor, Philosophy

Therese Cory

Associate Professor, Philosophy

Laurel Daen

Assistant Professor, American Studies

Felipe Fernandez-Armesto

William P. Reynolds Professor of History

Patrick Gamez

Assistant Teaching Professor

Anna Geltzer

Fellow, Nanovic Inst for European Studies

Robert Goulding

Christopher Hamlin

Professor Emeritus, History

Professor, Philosophy

Ian Johnson

P. J. Moran Family Assistant Professor of Military History

Michelle Karnes

Professor, English

Sean Kelsey

Janet Kourany

Katharina Kraus

Affiliates, Philosophy

Kate Marshall

Associate Professor, English

Philip Mirowski

Mahan Mirza

Teaching Professor, Keough School of Global Affairs

Ebrahim Moosa

Professor, Keough School of Global Affairs

Daniel Nolan

McMahon-Hank Professor of Philosophy

Robert Pomplun

Associate Professor, Theology

Andrew Radde-Gallwitz

Concurrent Professor, Theology

Evan Ragland

Associate Professor, History

Gretchen Reydams-Schils

Professor, Program of Liberal Studies

Matthew Rickard

Assistant Professor, Program of Liberal Studies

Denis Robichaud

Concurrent Associate Professor, Romance Languages and Literatures

Thomas Stapleford

Nicholas Teh

Laura Walls

Professor Emerita, English

Abraham Winitzer

University of Notre Dame

Center for Philosophy of Religion

Advancing work in philosophy of religion, philosophical theology, and related disciplines.

Notre Dame’s Center for Philosophy of Religion supports research and interdisciplinary collaboration through research fellowships, conferences, grants, and public engagement initiatives.

"2024 Election Postmortem" Public Panel Discussions

This event will bring together scholars, activists, faith leaders, and political strategists at this perilous moment in the history of American democracy.

Co-Director wins Templeton Grant

Dr. Laura Frances Callahan, one of the Center's co-directors, received a 2-year career grant from the John Templeton Foundation for her project "Intellectual Humility and Oppression".

AY 2025-2026 Fellowship Theme: Providence and Prayer

We are now accepting applications for our 2025-2026 research fellowships.

Plantinga Animated

To celebrate former Center Director and Notre Dame Philosopher Alvin Plantinga's 2017 Templeton Prize and showcase his most influential ideas and arguments, we produced a series of ten short animated films that explore his philosophical contributions.

Discussion Group Meeting

Time: Fri, Sep 20 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Location: 220 Malloy Hall

Time: Fri, Sep 27 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Time: Fri, Oct 4 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am

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An Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy Blog

New Joint PhD/MA Philosophy & Classics program at the University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame is launching a new joint program (PhD in Philosophy and MA in Classics) and asked me to share the following announcement :

Since we are upon a new cycle of graduate applications, I wanted to bring to your attention the new  Joint PhD/MA Philosophy & Classics  program at the University of Notre Dame ( deadline Jan 15 th ).

This is a six-year funded program that aims to provide students with the opportunity to pursue a PhD in Philosophy and a MA in Classics in tandem.

The MA degree can be pursued with different degrees of emphasis on either Greek or Latin (see under ‘ Double Degree ’).

The joint program should be of interest to prospective students of ancient and medieval philosophy. The Philosophy Department has ten faculty members actively researching on these areas:

Ancient:  Sean Kelsey ,  David O’Connor ,  Christopher Shields ,  Vittorio Hösle  (concurrent), and  Gretchen Reydams-Schils  (concurrent).

Medieval:  Therese Cory ,  David Cory ,  Richard Cross ,  Stephen Dumont , and  John O’Callaghan .

Along with over a dozen  experts  on these areas from the Departments of Classics, History, Political Science, Liberal Studies, and Theology.

In addition, Notre Dame has a very vibrant and intellectually stimulating ancient and medieval philosophy community. It is home to the  Center for the Aristotelian Tradition , the  History of Philosophy Forum , and the  Workshop on Ancient Philosophy . As you can see in the above links, events that take place every year include an  annual conference , two annual workshops ( 1  and  2 ),  invited lectures by distinguished academics , and  two weekly ancient Greek reading groups  (usually one on Plato and the other on Aristotle).

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(08) 9433 0533 - WA (02) 8204 4404 - NSW

• Duration 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
• Duration type Full time; Part time
• Location Fremantle; Sydney; Broome
• Study mode External; On campus
• Commencement Semester 1; Semester 2
• Program code 6600
• CRICOS code 011396F
• Fee International Full Fees; Research Training Program (RTP)

Doctor of Philosophy (Arts & Sciences)

Are you a professional with a topic you wish to research to the highest academic level? The University of Notre Dame Australia is proud to offer the opportunity to work on a PhD to students who have achieved outstanding results in their Honours or Masters. Completed over three years of full-time study, your PhD will require you to work closely with two academic supervisors as you undertake a significant piece of research, which may include a substantial new discovery or an original adaptation, application or interpretation of existing knowledge. Start your learning journey today.

Why study this degree?

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a thesis-based research degree. It has been individually designed and built around the research methodology required, the nature of your thesis topic and the candidate’s background. If necessary, you may also be required to undertake research training or further coursework as part of your PhD program. Candidates will benefit from ongoing support, mentoring or involvement in our research culture.

A PhD may be completed as a traditional thesis or a thesis by publication or as a non-traditional thesis (exegesis) and creative artefact. Your PhD should be based on an advanced investigation into a significant question related to your current field. The thesis should make an original and substantial contribution to the humanities, social sciences, applied sciences or Aboriginal studies.

Before submitting your application to enrol in a Doctor of Philosophy, you must discuss your application with a suitably qualified member of the academic staff, preferably one you wish to be your principal research supervisor.

The Commonwealth Government’s Research Training Program (RTP) provides financial support for domestic candidates. Meanwhile, international students are required to pay full fees but may apply for a wide range of scholarships made available to candidates of exceptional potential.

Program summary

A PhD is a thesis-based research degree. The degree program is individually designed and built around the methodological requirements of the research and the nature of the topic to be investigated. The candidate may be asked to undertake further coursework to extend their knowledge and skills before embarking on the research component.

Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements .

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfil the following requirements:

• Completion of a research Master's degree, appropriate to the professional field of the applicant (or equivalent) at a high level of achievement; or
• A Bachelor’s degree with Honours (Class 1 or Class 2A Honours level or equivalent); or
• In exceptional circumstances, an equivalent academic or professional background that is considered by the Dean of the School and the PVC-R to be an appropriate preparation for independent study and research at a doctoral level.

An applicant may be required to demonstrate an ability to understand and communicate in both written and spoken English at a level adequate for the purpose of pursuing the program of study or as deemed appropriate by the Dean of the School.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Doctor of Philosophy graduates will be able to:

• Apply expert, specialised cognitive and technical skills in the design and execution of a substantial research project that makes a significant and original contribution to knowledge, professional practice and/or creative practice
• Synthesise, evaluate, and critically analyse a substantial and complex body of knowledge and/or practice at the frontier of a field/s of research
• Communicate research findings clearly and fluently, to both peers and the community
• Apply knowledge of research integrity, ethics and the rights and safety of others in the conduct of research and dissemination of research findings
• Conduct research with intellectual independence, creativity, adaptability, responsibility, and accountability.

Career opportunities

A Doctor of Philosophy can lead to careers in academia, industry, government and non-government organisations, scientific research, specialist consultancy, research management, and executive-level management.

Fees and costs

This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

International Full-Fee Paying Tuition costs depend on an international student’s study load and discipline. Fees are payable each semester at least four weeks prior to the commencement of your program.

Research Training Program (RTP) The Research Training Program (RTP) provides block grants to support students who are undertaking a Higher Degree by Research such as a Research Doctorate or Research Masters degree. You will receive support for a maximum of two years for a Research Masters and a maximum of four years for a Research Doctorate degree. Your offer will specify for which purpose(s) your grant may be used. This may include offset of your tuition fees, as a stipend for general living costs or as an allowance related to the ancillary cost of research degrees.

For indicative fees and information on Postgraduate and Research Scholarships available, please visit our HDR Scholarships page.

For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page .

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• Department of Philosophy

Notre Dame, IN

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Graduate Courses

Proseminar 83104 01 (18971) McDaniel W 12:30-3:15 pm

A seminar required of all first-year students, the proseminar emphasizes close reading and clear philosophical writing about central topics in philosophy.

Research and Placement Seminar 83110 01 (17631) Bernstein M 2-4:45 pm

Aquinas on God 83243 01 (21102) O'Callaghan  MW 9:30-10:45 am Fulfills Medieval History Requirement

A close examination of several themes and arguments concerning God in Aquinas' Summa Theologiae , as well as related texts elsewhere in his work, and related discussions in other authors as the occasion arises. The course will focus upon certain topics to the exclusion of others. We will begin with a discussion of Aquinas on the nature of faith, natural and religious, and its relation to reason. Other topics of particular interest are the demonstration of deus est in the Five Ways, what exactly is being demonstrated, the simplicity of deus , the perfections that pertain to deus , our knowledge of God, and how we speak about God. If time permits we will discuss omnipotence, the problem of evil, and the misericordia of God.

Early Modern Metaphysics of Evil 83270 01 (20603) Newlands Th 12:30-3:15 pm Fulfills Modern History Requirement

This seminar focuses on the perennial topic of the problem of evil as it was developed and addressed in the rich context of 17th and 18th-century philosophy. Topics to be discussed include the metaphysics, nature, and sources of evil, theories of Divine causality, accounts of human and Divine freedom, and related topics in metaphysics, ethics, and philosophical theology.

Epistemology (Contemporary Debates in Epistemology) 83701 01 (17633) Roeber W 9:30am -12:15pm  Fulfills Area 1 Requirement

This course is a survey of contemporary epistemology designed to bring students up to speed on the central debates in the discipline.

Philosophy of Science 83801 01 (17634) Howard TTh 3:30-4:45 pm  Fulfills Area 1 Requirement

Science occupies a prominent place in our society. Science, it is said, secures knowledge that other endeavors cannot possibly obtain, and it can transform the world in radical ways. But what is the nature of scientific knowledge? What makes science so special? This survey course is an introduction to the philosophical debates about the nature of modern science. We will cover the central issues in the philosophy of science from logical empiricism to contemporary debates. Topics included in the survey are: the nature of scientific knowledge; progress in science; realism and antirealism; reductionism; laws of nature; explanation and confirmation; the nature of scientific practice; the role of values in shaping scientific research.

Intermediate Logic 83901 01 (17635) Franks M 3:30-6:15 pm  Fulfills Logic Requirement

This course is an introduction to the metatheory of first-order logic, the central system of logic for both philosophical and mathematical purposes. We begin with the basics of set theory, and then move on to first-order logic proper, covering the completeness theorem and associated results. This material is essential for those who want to understand elementary philosophical debates about the use and the significance of logic, the history of logic, and the connection between languages and models. Prerequisite: for graduate students: Formal logic or equivalent; contact the professor if you are unsure about your preparation. Prerequisite for undergrads: Philosophy or philosophy-associated major or minor + formal logic or instructor approval.

Pedagogy Workshop 85105 01 (20030) Cutter Time Varies Fulfills TA and Teaching Practicum Requirement

2 semesters required of all third-year students. A course required of all graduate students before teaching their own courses for the first time. The goal will be for each prospective teacher to produce viable syllabi and raionales for the courses they will be teaching.

Fictionalism  93506 01 (20605) Nolan M 12:30-3:15 pm Fulfills Area 1 Requirement

Sometimes a theory is useful without being true. Treating a theory you are using as useful but not true, or close to true, is an option available in many areas of philosophy and beyond. This course will survey fictionalist proposals in a wide variety of areas, from unobservable physical objects, to possible worlds, to minds, to color to morality. It will also address some general questions about fictional strategies: are there general advantages or disadvantages? How does fictionalism stack up against rival anti-realist strategies? How does fictionalism relate to the use of models in science and elsewhere?

Metaphysics of Mind 93508 01 (20606) Cutter W 12:30-3:15 pm Fulfills Metaphysics Requirement (Area 1)

This course investigates foundational metaphysical questions about the mind, including questions about the relationship between mind and matter, the nature of belief and desire, the structure of consciousness, and the (in)compatibility of free agency and materialism.

Gödel Incompleteness 93607 01 (20604) Hamkins Th 12:30-3:15 pm Fulfills Area 1 requirement 

We shall explore at length all aspects of the Gödel incompleteness phenomenon, covering Turing’s solution of the Entsheidungsproblem, Gödel’s argument via fixed points, arithmetization, the Hilbert program, Tarski’s theorem, Tarski via Gödel, Tarski via Russell, Tarski via Cantor, the non-collapse of the arithmetic hierarchy, Löb’s theorem, the second incompletenesss theorem via Gödel, via Grelling-Nelson, via Berry’s paradox, Smullyan incompleteness, self-reference, Kleene recursion theorem, Quines, the universal algorithm, and much more. The course will follow the gentle treatment of my book-in-progress, Ten proofs of Gödel incompleteness, with supplemental readings.

Ethics of Climate Change PHIL 93608 Sterba TTh 3:30pm-4:45pm Fulfills Area 1 Requirement

There have been several mass extinction events in the history of the earth, most of them caused by global warming due to “sudden” releases of carbon into the atmosphere, and it only took an increase of 4 to 5 degrees Celsius to cause the cataclysm. The current carbon emissions rate is 10 to 100x faster than during those events. And we’re already a quarter of the way there in terms of warming. Accordingly, climate change is, without a doubt, the most important moral problem of our times and arguably the most important moral problem of all times. Appropriately, this course will be devoted to that problem. The course will have a discussion format, and your grade will be determined by your participation in classroom discussions and by two papers you will write on assigned topics.

James Sterba, Ethics for Here and Now (Pearson)

David Wallace-Wells, The Uninhabitable Earth (2020)

Bjorn Lomborg. False Alarm (Basic Books) (2020)

Nathaniel Rich, Losing Earth, A Recent History (2019)

Aviva Chomsky, Is Science Enough? (2022)

Andreas Malm, How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022)

Hannah Ritche, Not the End of the World (2024)

The Science-Gender Connection 93828 01 (20204) Kourany TTh 2-3:15 pm Fulfills Area 1 Requirement

Through much of its history, academia has been gendered in a particular way -male dominated, focused on men's interests, and privileging those interests -and much of it still is. In response, the area of enquiry known as women's studies or gender studies emerged in the 1970s as part of the feminist movement. In this course we will explore gender, the concept that lies at the heart of this area of enquiry. We will find that this concept is as complex and multi-faceted as the diverse disciplines from which it now draws and as political as its feminist origins suggest. We will also find that it is fraught with controversy. Though the disciplines that contribute to the idea of gender comprise nearly all of academia, we will concentrate on the sciences, from which the concept of gender first emerged. We will start with the gendered origins of the concept - the gender of science - and then proceed to the science that developed as a result - the science of gender; and we will conclude with some questions concerning the connection between the two - the gender of science and the science of gender. No particular scientific background will be presupposed, and visits from science faculty will be organized to help us understand the terrain we will be covering. The rest of the time the course will be run as a seminar. Students will lead class discussions, present the results of individual research projects to the group, and have the opportunity to further develop those projects using feedback from the group. Throughout, our aim will be for each student to develop a fully informed and defensible response to the controversial terrain we will be exploring.

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Medieval Studies: PhD

Graduate Program in Medieval Institute

Program Handbook

The Medieval Institute at the University of Notre Dame is one of the leading centers in the United States for the advanced study of medieval culture. The graduate program provides students with superb technical training, but it also equips them with a holistic vision of the Middle Ages, grounded in a mastery of sources and languages and extending to the whole of its life and culture. The Medieval Institute welcomes applications from students of high academic ability who wish to pursue a career teaching and researching the Middle Ages. Generous fellowship support and light service demands allow students to devote themselves fully to their course of study.

Students in the Medieval Institute pursue the Ph.D. in Medieval Studies, a rigorous, interdisciplinary degree with a focus on one of the classic disciplines: history, Latin or vernacular literature (English, Italian, German, Spanish, French), theology, philosophy, music, or art history. They receive training from leading experts in their field while researching and writing in one of the best libraries in the world for medieval studies. Graduates of the Medieval Institute are extremely competitive on the job market, and currently hold positions in the United States as well as internationally.

Updated: 08/26/2024

• GRE General Test optional
• TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo for non-native speakers of English
• Curriculum vitae
• Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution; one must show conferral of a bachelor's degree. (Due upon enrollment)
• Statement of intent
• Three letters of recommendation
• Writing sample(s) - refer to program site for details
• Unofficial transcripts from each post-secondary institution required at the time of application. (Official transcript showing conferral of a bachelor's degree due upon enrollment.)

Jeff Wickes Director of Graduate Studies Phone: (574) 631-6603 Email: [email protected]

https://medieval.nd.edu/study/graduate-program/