Graduate Study in Philosophy

Welcome to the website of the Graduate Program in Social, Political, Ethical and Legal Philosophy at Binghamton University, State University of New York. The SPEL Program is an innovative new approach to graduate study in philosophy. Students in the program receive a traditional education in philosophy and its major sub-fields while also concentrating and specializing in areas of social, political, ethical, and/or legal philosophy - and in particular in special topics and projects at the intersection of two or more of these areas. Students interested in areas of ethics (including applied ethics), classical and contemporary social and political philosophy, or legal theory will find the faculty and courses in the SPEL program particularly attractive. The SPEL program is strong in both the Anglo-American (analytic) and Continental (European) traditions, and trains students to be conversant in both.

The SPEL program offers a terminal M.A. and a Ph.D.. The M.A. is often pursued by students who are interested in postgraduate work in law, business, or public policy. The Ph.D. prepares students for a specialization in the most sought-after and fastest-growing areas in contemporary philosophy in colleges and universities. The Philosophy Department has an aggressive and highly successful program in professional development and placement.

We invite you to take a few moments to review our program and faculty, and other facilities and programs on the Binghamton University campus. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.

Lisa Tessman
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Director of Graduate Studies, Philosophy Department
Binghamton University
telephone: 607 777 2269
fax: 607 777 2734
ltessman@binghamton.edu