Graduate Overview
Advance your ideas. Deepen your impact.
Graduate study in philosophy at the University at Buffalo is rigorous, collaborative and connected to real-world challenges. You will work closely with faculty mentors, join an active scholarly community and build the research and analytical skills needed for academic and professional success. Our graduate programs combine strong training in core areas of philosophy with distinctive strengths in philosophy, politics and economics and applied ontology.
The University at Buffalo offers rigorous graduate training in a department known for both theoretical depth and real-world engagement. You will join a research community where philosophy connects to science, public policy and technology.
Graduate students benefit from:
- Close faculty mentorship with meaningful, sustained faculty-student collaboration
- Recognized strengths in applied ontology, Philosophy, Politics and Economics and formal methods that position you at the intersection of philosophy and public life
- Cross-disciplinary research opportunities linking philosophy with data science, AI, health care, economics and the social sciences
- Active scholarly community with workshops, speaker series, labs and working groups
- Research support and grant opportunities that help you advance original projects
- Strong placement in academic and research-oriented careers
You will not work in isolation. You will join a department where ideas are debated seriously, refined collaboratively and applied beyond the classroom.
Life in Buffalo
A city with energy, culture and room to grow
Buffalo offers the culture and opportunity of a major city without the cost or congestion. You get professional sports, a nationally recognized orchestra, a vibrant theater district and one of the country’s leading art museums, all in a city that is easy to navigate. Restaurants, coffee shops and local markets make it easy to settle in and feel at home.
Love the outdoors? Lake Erie, the Niagara River and nearby state parks offer hiking, skiing, skating, camping and beaches throughout the year. Winter is part of life here and so is the energy that comes with it.
Buffalo is affordable, connected and growing. Toronto is just 90 minutes away, and the region’s expanding economy means new ideas and opportunities are always within reach.
Photographer: Douglas Levere
Graduate students train in core areas of philosophy while engaging research that connects theory to science, policy and technology.
Graduate study at UB emphasizes depth, independence and professional development.
You can expect:
- Intensive seminars in core areas of philosophy
- Faculty-guided research and close supervision
- Multiple labs and working groups for advanced research
- Opportunities for community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration
- Professional development through teaching, presenting and publishing
You will develop the habits of mind expected of professional scholars: careful analysis, clear writing, thoughtful critique and intellectual independence.
Graduate students work closely with faculty who are active scholars in experimental philosophy, epistemology, moral psychology, PPE, applied ontology, philosophy of science and more. Faculty mentor students through research, teaching and professional development while contributing to national and international conversations in the field.
UB philosophy graduates pursue a range of careers in academia and beyond.
Graduates have gone on to:
- Academic positions in philosophy and related disciplines
- Research roles in policy, ethics and social science
- Positions in data science and information management
- Work in health care ethics and clinical settings
- Roles in government, nonprofit and private sector organizations
The analytical training, research experience and cross-disciplinary skills developed in UB’s programs prepare graduates for long-term professional adaptability.
If you are ready to deepen your research, sharpen your analytical skills and contribute to conversations that shape policy, science and public life, UB’s graduate programs in philosophy offer a rigorous and supportive path forward.
If you have questions about our programs, please contact:
Donna Smith
Undergraduate Administrator; Graduate Administrator
Department of Philosophy
135A Park Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260-4150
Phone: (716) 645-2780; Fax: (716) 645-6139
Email: donnaobe@buffalo.edu