About the Department of Philosophy
The centerpiece of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Memphis is the respect for and encouragement of a variety of philosophical approaches and styles. We provide students, the profession of philosophy, and the community with innovative and high-quality educational programs, scholarship, and service. We foster an environment in which a variety of traditions, approaches, and methods are able to work together. Our teaching and research demonstrate the breadth of approaches and traditions within philosophy, and we aim to produce students that are conversant in a variety of such approaches. The Department of Philosophy cultivates a plurality of philosophical methodologies including, but not limited to, approaches from African American philosophy, analytic and continental traditions, and the history of philosophy.
Major/Minor in Philosophy
Philosophy provides excellent training in research, writing, critical thinking, and argumentation. Philosophy is thus a popular major or minor for students planning to pursue advanced degrees in law , business, and a variety of doctoral programs. We offer a wide variety of introductory and advanced courses .
Graduate Programs in Philosophy
The graduate programs in philosophy at the University of Memphis emphasize pluralistic methods and a strong background in the history of philosophy. In the M.A. program , we prepare graduates to continue the study of philosophy at the Ph.D. level. The Ph.D. program trains professional philosophers to produce high-quality scholarly work and to teach a wide variety of courses both in their areas of specialization and at the introductory level. Our department enjoys a strong record of placing our Ph.D. graduates in academic positions.
In Memoriam: Professor Thomas Nenon
The Philosophy Department at the University of Memphis mourns the loss of our colleague and friend, Prof. Thomas Nenon, who passed away on April 4, 2025.
Tom joined our department in 1985, and was instrumental in the development of our Ph.D. program a few years later. Tom was a tireless advocate of the department, and a peerless mentor both to our students and to his colleagues. He was an internationally-recognized scholar of German Phenomenology (especially Husserl), Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Provost. He left a profound and lasting mark the on the University of Memphis, the Philosophy Department in particular, and on the discipline of philosophy.
We will miss him as we struggle to rise to the challenge set by his example.