DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy is the foundation of every field of study and trains its critical perspective on every aspect of human experience.
The Philosophy department offers interesting and diverse courses that help students better understand the world and their place in it. Philosophy courses teach students to analyze difficult texts, to write clearly and precisely, to defend their views with cogent arguments, and to take pleasure in the struggle with complex ideas and questions. Course offerings span the range of philosophical schools and approaches. Students gain a strong foundation in the history of western philosophy while having the freedom and flexibility to explore a wide array of philosophical perspectives.
Department of Philosophy
Villanova University, SAC 108
800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085
John Carvalho, PhD, Chairperson
Alexandra Penkalskyj 610-519-4690 Senior Administrative Assistant
Julie Klein, PhD, Graduate Program Director
Terry DiMartino 610-519-8997 Graduate Program Coordinator
NEWS & EVENTS
WELCOME NEW FACULTY
The Philosophy Department welcomes Martina Ferrari, PhD, in fall 2022! Dr. Martina Ferrari draws on continental philosophy, particularly feminist, phenomenological, and decolonial traditions, to think about the norms and structures of sense and sense-making. She is especially curious about the “voices” of silence, i.e., the transformative and generative power of silence to open onto modalities of communication, political action, and healing often overlooked by Western legalism and Transitional Justice initiatives. Dr. Ferrari earned her doctorate in philosophy at the University of Oregon and her master’s at American University, where she taught prior to joining the faculty at Villanova. MORE...
Philosophy PhD Program Alumni News, Job Placements, Dissertation Defenses
The Department of Philosophy is proud to announce a number of job placements and dissertation defenses for recent graduates of the doctoral program. Says Doctoral Program Director Julie Klein, PhD, "As always, we are very proud of our students' scholarly accomplishments and strength as teachers of philosophy. While the academic labor market remains very challenging, we're delighted to see our students secure positions inside and outside of the academy." MORE...
EDUCATION WITH IMPACT
AN EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES promotes intellectual curiosity and rigor; instills the fundamentals of critical insight, mature judgment and independent thinking; and strengthens students’ sense of their moral responsibility for others and for the betterment of society.