The WU offered already in 1978 the possibility to study philosophy as special subject. O.Univ. Prof. Dr Johann Mader (Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna) and later a. o. Univ. Prof. Franz Rupert Hrubi (Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna) taught undergraduate and graduate courses in history of philosophy, the theory of  knowledge and in moral  at the WU. In 1988 the Austrian ministry of research and science founded an “Abteilung für Philosophie” at WU Wien whose head was until 2000 a. o. Univ. Prof. Franz Rupert Hrubi (Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna). The special subject philosophy is – after having been a part of the “Institut für Allegemine Pädagogik und Philosopghie” – since 2007 integrated in the Institute of Economic and Social History. Philosophy now can be takes as one of the special subject in the bachelor as well as the master programs at the WU. The WU in addition provides the possibility to study philosophy in the context of its doctoral program.