Admissions

The deadline for all materials sent to the Philosophy Department is January 5th each year. The deadline for the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies materials is January 5th each year.

A complete application must include: James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies application for admission, a scanned transcript from all universities attended, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a short writing sample. Not only does the department not require the GRE, it does not consider GRE scores for any application.

The Philosophy Department requires that applicants submit a writing sample. A term paper or selection from an honors thesis or master's thesis is appropriate. Applicants should avoid submitting short papers (four to six pages) involving responses to preassigned topics.

We do not have a rule about the length of the writing sample, but in most cases they are around 15-20 double-spaced pages (i.e. between 4000 and 5000 words).

The statement of purpose should provide a picture of you as a philosopher. It should say something about the philosophical questions and issues that attract your attention, and something about the philosophical schools, historical figures, or periods that interest you. While you should be as specific as you can, it is OK to have varied interests. We also understand that interests develop, and sometimes change completely.

The statement of purpose is also a place to mention any special facts about yourself that might be relevant to your graduate work. If appropriate, indicate any ways in which you would contribute to the diversity of the Philosophy program. If you have a language background or research experience that is not reflected in your academic record, describe it.

The department no longer considers GRE scores.

The graduate program in philosophy at Emory requires students to pass language exams relevant to their research areas.  Exams consist of translations of a 400-word philosophical passage from the original language into English.  Students must demonstrate an ability to use the language for professional purposes.  This means usability of the language, not mastery, is sufficient.  Students should grasp the argument but need not understand the rhetorical flourishes. 

Students who have some background in relevant languages, or who have demonstrated facility with languages, are good candidates for admission at Emory.  Be sure that your linguistic background is well documented by your application.

The Department of Philosophy does not require applicants to provide any IELTS or TOEFL scores.

The Department is committed to welcoming and supporting a diverse and inclusive community of scholars. For two decades or more, we also have actively pursued and maintained gender equity in our graduate program. We encourage students from all backgrounds and walks of life to apply, particularly students from backgrounds underrepresented in the academy and philosophy in particular. Additional financial support may be available for students from underrepresented groups.