1. Students must have an MA degree in philosophy from the Center for Thomistic Studies or from another institution and be judged by the Admissions Committee to be capable of completing the PhD program. Students from other institutions will be required to complete the Center’s Core Program in Thomistic Studies. A maximum of 12 hours of graduate work in philosophy may be accepted as transfer credit towards the Ph.D. degree at the discretion of the Director.
2. Transcripts of all academic work after high school, submitted directly by the institutions concerned.
3. A record of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination.
4. Letters of recommendation from three professional educators qualified to evaluate the applicant’s academic background and scholastic ability.
5. A writing sample. Students who have written a thesis as part of their MA program at another institution must provide that thesis as their sample. All others must supply an essay from an MA-level course in philosophy.
6. Fulfillment of the language requirement. Students continuing with MAs from the Center will have already passed the MA-level Latin Examination, but students who have received MA’s from other institutions must pass the MA-level Latin Examination no later than the third semester of doctoral study.

Application forms are available on online at the Center website. A $35 fee is required. There is no deadline date for applications, but students are advised to apply as early as possible and no later than February 1 to assure full consideration for scholarships.

1. Students Entering without an M.A.:
   1. Years 1&2:
      1. 10 3-hr. courses, including the CTS core:

      (1) PHIL 5314 Aquinas on Human Nature
      (2) PHIL 5338 Thomistic Ethics
      (3) PHIL 5304 Thomistic Metaphysics
      (4) One course to be chosen among the following:

      PHIL 5311 Selected Problems in [Thomistic] Epistemology
      PHIL 5312 Philosophy of Natural law
      PHIL 5317 Philosophy of Nature
      PHIL 5335 Aquinas’ Polemical Writings
      PHIL 5337 St. Thomas on Justice (Secunda Secundae)
      PHIL 5351 The Logical Theory of Thomas Aquinas
      PHIL 5359 Essence and Existence in Aquinas
      PHIL 5362 Aquinas and the Problem of Evil
      PHIL 5363 Law and Grace in Aquinas
      PHIL 5369 Thomistic Political Philosophy
      PHIL 5392 Twentieth Century Thomist Revival
      PHIL 6393 (Special Topics) Life & Works of Thomas Aquinas
      PHIL 6393 (Special Topics) Contemporary Thomism

      (5) PHIL 5359 Introduction to Philosophical Latin (if the student does not pass the M.A. Latin Exam upon entrance [3 hrs. of credit-by-examination]))
      (6) PHIL 5340 MA Comprehensive Exam Course (Students will also register for
      PHIL 5603 MA Comprehensive Exam Preparation Course in order to maintain full-time status.)

      2. A passing grade on the M.A. Latin Exam and the MA Written & Oral Comprehensive Exams.

         M.A. is awarded after completion of these requirements.  Progression to Ph.D. studies is dependent upon review by the faculty.

   2. Year 3: 18 hours of additional courses, including PHIL 5334 Contemporary Logic
   3. Year 4: PHIL 5605-06: Doctoral Exam Preparation
      This year will be devoted to passing the following Ph.D. milestones:
      
      1. Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam
      2. Ph.D. Latin exam
      3. Additional language exam
      4. Ph.D. proposal oral exam
   4. Years 5- 9: PHIL 6100: Research and Dissertation
      
      
      
2. Students Entering with an M.A.
1. Years 1&2:
   1. 10 3-hr. courses including these elements of the CTS core:
      
      (1)  PHIL 5314 Aquinas on Human Nature
      (2)  PHIL 5338 Thomistic Ethics
      (3)  PHIL 5304 Thomistic Metaphysics
      (4)  One course to be chosen among the following:

      PHIL 5311 Selected Problems in [Thomistic] Epistemology
      PHIL 5312 Philosophy of Natural law
      PHIL 5317 Philosophy of Nature
      PHIL 5335 Aquinas’ Polemical Writings
      PHIL 5337 St. Thomas on Justice (Secunda Secundae)
      PHIL 5351 The Logical Theory of Thomas Aquinas
      PHIL 5359 Essence and Existence in Aquinas
      PHIL 5362 Aquinas and the Problem of Evil
      PHIL 5363 Law and Grace in Aquinas
      PHIL 5369 Thomistic Political Philosophy
      PHIL 5392 Twentieth Century Thomist Revival
      PHIL 6393 (Special Topics) Life & Works of Thomas Aquinas
      PHIL 6393 (Special Topics) Contemporary Thomism

   (5)   PHIL 5359 Introduction to Philosophical Latin (if the student does not pass the  Ph.D. Latin Exam upon entrance [3 hrs. of credit-by-examination])
   (6)  PHIL 5334 Contemporary Logic

2. Year 3: PHIL 5605-06: Doctoral Exam Preparation
   Students may register for PHIL 5605 in their 4th semester of studies if they have completed 30 hrs. This year will be devoted to passing the following Ph.D. milestones.
   1. Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam
   2. Ph.D. Latin exam
   3. Additional language exam
   4. Ph.D. proposal oral exam
3. Years 4- 8: PHIL 6100: Research and Dissertation & PHIL 5621.  

1. All course work must be completed before the PhD Comprehensive Examination is taken.
2. Students preparing for the PhD Comprehensive Examination should register for PHIL 5605: Doctoral Exam Preparation.
3. The PhD Comprehensive Examination is taken during the regular semester following completion of course work. Written permission from the Director of the Center must be obtained to schedule the PhD Comprehensive Examination at a different time.
4. The PhD Comprehensive Examination is organized by the Director of the Center or his or her appointee.
5. The PhD Comprehensive consists of two parts: a twelve-hour written examination, divided into two parts: six hours on ancient and medieval philosophy, six hours on early modern, late modern, and recent Thomistic materials. The candidate will take the written examination on two or three different days within two weeks of each other.
6. Questions will be solicited from all faculty in the Center for the written examination. At least two faculty members will grade each question. In consultation with a senior member of the Center, the Director will average the grades on the written test. Students must pass the written test with a minimum grade of “B” to proceed to the oral examination. If failed, the written exam may be retaken once, but must be retaken within one year of the date of the original exam. 
7. The oral examination lasts one hour and must be taken within two weeks of the final part of the written examination. The oral examination is set by three faculty examiners chosen by the Director. The three examiners determine the grade for the oral exam. If the candidate passes the oral with a minimum grade of “B”, the grades on the written and oral portions are compared and the overall grade is determined by vote. If a student fails the oral examination she/he must retake it within one year.