Degree Requirements and Applications

1) Complete the online application. Be sure to upload:

• a brief statement of purpose,
• a brief resume,
• a sample of written work,
• GRE scores are not required, but you are welcome to submit them with your application, 
• unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended, 
• contact information for 3 individuals who will submit letters of recommendation.

See below for further information.

2) Submit (by mail) an official transcript from your last degree-granting institution to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

University of Oklahoma
Office of Graduate Admissions
731 Elm Avenue, Robertson Hall Room 213
Norman, OK 73019

All application materials for the PhD program and for funded MA positions are due by January 15, for decision in February or March.

All application materials for the MA program without funding are due by June 15 for fall admission and October 15 for spring admission. Earlier applications are welcome. Processing of unfunded MA applications typically takes two to four weeks from time of completed application.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Your statement of purpose should explain why you wish to pursue an advanced degree in philosophy, why you consider yourself to be qualified to undertake such a pursuit, what areas of philosophy you expect to work in, and why you think that the OU philosophy department is the right place for you to do so. While you should feel free to include any information about yourself that you think will be relevant and helpful to the admissions committee, please keep this statement to no more than one to two single-spaced pages.

WRITING SAMPLE

You should send a writing sample that reflects your very best philosophical work. This will typically be a paper from a philosophy class, or a senior thesis, or some other term-paper length sample of your most polished work. If you wish to send a sample from some longer work, such as a Master's thesis, please excerpt a reasonable section of it to send. Writing samples typically range from 15 to 25 double-spaced pages.

RESUME

You should provide information about all the college-level degrees you have received. In addition, you should mention your academic achievements or awards, work experience, teaching experience, relevant professional skills and language proficiencies.

GRE SCORES

If you wish, you may submit an unofficial report of your GRE scores. This may be a scan of a score report, or a screenshot from the ETS website. The document should show your name and identifying information as well as your scores.

TRANSCRIPTS

You need submit (by mail) an official transcript only from the last degree-granting college or university you attended. You can upload unofficial transcripts from all others. If offered admission, you will need to submit official transcripts.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Letters of recommendation are ideally from philosophy professors from whom you have taken classes or with whom you have done other intensive academic work. In their letters, they should address the extent to which you are prepared to excel in a rigorous graduate philosophy program. Indications of excellence in previous graduate or undergraduate work, estimates of potential to do well in graduate school, and rankings against other students the professors have taught are all helpful.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

International applicants can find English proficiency requirements here.

International applicants do not need to supply financial information at the time of application. This information is required only if we wish to make an offer of admission.

Inquiries about the graduate program and application procedures may be directed to:

Prof. Martin Montminy 
Director of Graduate Admissions 
Department of Philosophy 
University of Oklahoma 
Norman, OK 73019-2006

Email: montminy@ou.edu
Phone: (405) 325-6324