Philosophy Department

It is universally known that a B.A. in Philosophy is one of the best courses of study for entrance into law. 

Currently (as for many years), Duquesne students major in philosophy and then enter reputable Juris Doctor programs such as Duquesne's Thomas R. Kline School of Law, the University of Virginia School of Law, and other well-established programs in the country. We are here to support you throughout all your years of study at Duquesne University.

The Philosophy and Law options at Duquesne University are:

1. The 3/3 (Philosophy/J.D./Pre-Law): a three-year undergraduate program in philosophy followed by early admission into the Juris Doctor (J.D.) three-year program.
2. The 4/3 (B.A./J.D.): the regular four-year undergraduate B.A. in Philosophy, followed by the Juris Doctor three-year program. Enrollment is first through the College of Arts, and then through the School of Law.
3. The 4/4 (B.A./M.A./J.D.): the regular four-year undergraduate B.A. in philosophy, followed by the Juris Doctor / Master of Arts in Philosophy Joint Degree four-year program. 

Please feel free to contact either co-director, Professor Jennifer%20Bates in Philosophy or Professor Bruce%20Ledewitz in Law.

Students can reap horizon-expanding opportunities through a cooperative exchange program with Heidelberg University, overseen by Dr. Lanei Rodemeyer of Duquesne's Philosophy Department. Heidelberg University is ranked #1 in Germany in the 2015 Academic Ranking of World Universities; it has one of the most storied and prestigious philosophy programs.

In addition to graduate student exchange, the two schools have faculty exchanges. Duquesne hosted Heidelberg's Dr. Markus Herrmann for the Spring 2014 semester, when he taught a graduate seminar on Kant. Duquesne's Dr. Lanei Rodemeyer taught at the University of Heidelberg in 2014-15 and spent sabbatical there in 2015-16. In the Fall 2015 semester we hosted Heidelberg's Dr. Roberto Vinco, who taught a graduate seminar on Hegel's Philosophical System as well as an undergraduate course on the ontological argument.

The Heidelberg Exchange Program also offers opportunities for our philosophy graduate instructors to design and teach Spring Break Away courses to Heidelberg. Instructors receive grants to travel and organize their trips from the Office of International Education at Duquesne University. Peter Libbey designed the first in Spring 2015, and Sıla ozkara has designed another for 2017.

Note that Duquesne graduate philosophy students are not eligible to go to Heidelberg on the exchange until they have finished their coursework at Duquesne.