Nearly every area of philosophy overlaps with at least one other discipline, and research that crosses disciplinary boundaries is becoming increasingly important. By obtaining a degree in a supporting field or completing an interdisciplinary course of studies on the Early Modern period, Ph.D. recipients enhance their research capabilities, develop the quality and content of their teaching, and enhance their employability.

Supporting degrees may come from a host of fields. Students pursuing a Ph.D. in political philosophy may, for example, wish to earn an MA or MS in political science. Those interested in environmental ethics might consider a supporting degree in wildlife or ecology. To date, we have also had students adopt business, biology, computer science, engineering, English, Hispanic studies, history, psychology, and theology as supporting master’s degrees.

Because Ph.D. students working in Early Modern philosophy are expected to have conducted in-depth study of 17th and 18th century topics and figures in a variety of disciplines, they have the option of pursuing a cross-disciplinary course of study on 17th and 18th century topics instead of getting a separate degree. In addition to taking 24 graduate credit hours of approved courses in other departments (such as History, English, and Political Science), students must complete a publishable-quality piece of original work on the Early Modern period that incorporates aspects of their interdisciplinary studies.