Stories of Success

The Master’s in Philosophy Program has placed students in PhD programs at a variety of institutions:

Fordham University Purdue University
Catholic University of America Memorial University of Newfoundland
University of Oregon University of Dallas

Stories of Success

Alison McCulloch, Gonzaga Philosophy graduate, stands in front of a street sign bearing her first name.

Alison McCulloch

PhD, University of Colorado at Boulder (2003), Staff editor at The New York Times (2001-2007), Freelance journalist and writer

"It’s not easy to find a philosophy programme with a strong grounding in the history of philosophy, or a faculty with expertise in the Continental tradition, but I found those at Gonzaga, and I’m so grateful I did. That grounding stayed with me when I entered the Ph.D. programme at the University of Colorado, and helped get me through some pretty tough coursework. A career in the academy wasn’t really my goal; I just love philosophy. And I loved learning philosophy at Gonzaga."

Portrait of Annalee Ring, Gonzaga University Philosophy graduate student.

Annalee Ring

Accepted Ph.D. Candidate at The University of Oregon

"Gonzaga's demanding program necessitates a thorough understanding of the history of philosophy in order to graduate. As far as I'm aware, Gonzaga is one of the only programs to require a comprehensive history exam, and this will set you apart as an applicant to doctoral programs, if this is your goal. This emphasis on the history of philosophy allows graduate candidates to pursue nearly anything they want seeing as there are faculty members who are experts in almost every area in the discipline. You will not have a shortage of professors to assist you regardless of your interests, and you may find that you gain other interests in your studies at Gonzaga thanks to the varied and pluralistic program."

Portrait of David Kovacs, Gonzaga Philosophy graduate student.

David Kovacs

Ph.D. at Fordham University, Robert Bellarmine Postdoctoral Fellow, Loyola Marymount University

"I have met a lot of PhD students from a lot of different programs, but rarely have I met one who would have the breadth of mastery of the whole history of western philosophy that someone coming from Gonzaga’s MA program would have. History of philosophy is a serious strength at Gonzaga."

Portrait of Elizabeth Hill, Gonzaga University Philosophy graduate student.

Elizabeth Hill

Ph.D. Candidate at Memorial University Newfoundland

"One of the best things about Gonzaga is its commitment to lived philosophy. As a graduate student in philosophy, it can be easy to get absorbed in abstract ideas and never connect them to a world full of beauty, suffering, and wonder. My time at Gonzaga has convinced me that a good philosophical education not only revolves around quality teaching and rigorous study (both of which are found at Gonzaga in abundance), but also a robust belief in the profound importance of ideas for living a meaningful and fulfilling life with others. Good philosophy doesn't allow for thought without action, and I am thankful to have had professors who modeled this by passionately and responsibly living out their principles, both locally and globally, every day."

Portrait of Justin Anderson, Ph.D., Graduate of Gonzaga University Philosophy Department

Justin Anderson

Ph.D. in Philosophy (Thomistic Ethics), Currently Associate Professor of Christian Ethics (Seton Hall University)

“My time at Gonzaga was immensely rich and deeply profitable. My own intellectual formation was certainly bettered by the breadth of the faculty GU harnesses, but in particular by the historical preparation the program demands of its graduates. Among these historical preparations, I owe a special debt of gratitude to GU’s program for the opportunity it affords to study a form of philosophy that constitutes the heart of the Catholic intellectual tradition. I would not be where I am today without my time at GU.”

Portrait of Mark Mitchell, Gonzaga graduate in Philosophy

Mark T. Mitchell

Ph.D. in Government (political theory), Georgetown University, 2001), Dean of Academic Affairs at Patrick Henry College

"The Gonzaga University M.A. in philosophy gave me a solid foundation in the history and practice of philosophy. The terminal M.A. prepared me well for the rigors of a Ph.D. program. I will always be grateful to the GU faculty. Their kindness and availability provided me with strong mentors and fine examples of both scholarship and teaching. "

Portrait of Gonzaga Philosophy Graduate Student Sam Underwood.

Sam Underwood

Ph.D. Candidate at Memorial University Newfoundland

"I have so many good things I could say about the graduate program at Gonzaga. My experience in the program was overwhelmingly positive, both professionally and personally. I found a very supportive and enriching environment, with a strong community of graduate students and deeply invested faculty members, whose help is eagerly offered at every stage of the degree. At Gonzaga, philosophy is decidedly not a solitary activity: whether it's the graduate conference, the many lecture series, or the late nights at Jack and Dan's, philosophical stimulation is lurking around every corner. "

Portrait of Christopher Chapin, Gonzaga University Philosophy graduate student.

Tof Chapin

Alumnus

"Coming to Gonzaga was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only do they have such a pluralistic department that you could study nearly anything from the Western tradition, from Plato, Aristotle, Augustine and Aquinas to Wittgenstein, Russell, Foucault and Sartre, they also give you the space and support to play with the ideas to your heart's content. Whether you are interested in pursuing a Ph.D or not makes no difference; in either case, your time and effort at Gonzaga will be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences of your life!"

Philosophy book on desk

Questions?

Email Meg Martens

Admissions & Application Specialist