NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – The Shyam Dev Patwardhan Department of Philosophy at the University of Oklahoma is outperforming national benchmarks for doctoral student success, according to newly released 2026 data from the Academic Placement Data and Analysis project.
Over the past 10 years, 48% of OU philosophy Ph.D. graduates secured permanent academic positions, exceeding the 40% national average and marking an improvement of more than 10% over the program’s previous reporting period. The data compares placement outcomes for philosophy doctoral programs and includes graduates from the most recent decade-long cohort.
The department’s placement rate signals continued momentum and strength in preparing graduates for long-term careers in higher education.
The project’s results reflect both the quality of students and sustained faculty mentorship, said Rusty Jones, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Shyam Dev Patwardhan Department of Philosophy. A graduate of OU’s philosophy Ph.D. program, Jones returned to OU in 2019 after teaching in the Northeast and now leads the department.
Recent placement successes include 2023 philosophy alumnus Mark Taylor, who accepted a tenure-track assistant professor position at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. OU doctoral candidate Violet Victoria, who earned a master’s degree in philosophy from OU in 2021, recently accepted an assistant professor position in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University, where she will join the faculty this fall.
To learn more, visit the department's page. The Shyam Dev Patwardhan Department of Philosophy is part of the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, OU’s first and largest college, with programs spanning the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and professional programs.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
The Shyam Dev Patwardhan Department of Philosophy at the University of Oklahoma is outperforming national benchmarks for doctoral student success, according to newly released 2026 data from the Academic Placement Data and Analysis project.
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