University General Course Catalog 2019-2020

Dec 11, 2024

University General Course Catalog 2019-2020 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.

Philosophy, M.A.

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I. Contact Information

Benjamin D Young, Graduate Coordinator
Jones Center 103F
(775) 784-6843
benjaminyoung@unr.edu

II. Brief Introduction

The MA program is designed for students who intend to apply to PhD programs in philosophy, who intend to teach philosophy at the community-college level, who seek a philosophy degree for the grounding it provides for other areas of study (e.g., law, science, practical ethics, theology), or who wish to acquire a deeper understanding of philosophical traditions and contemporary developments.

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

http://www.unr.edu/assessment/plans-and-forms/liberal-arts/philosophy-ma

IV. Admission Requirements

Students pursuing the MA must satisfy all Graduate School requirements, and ordinarily will have an undergraduate major or minor in philosophy, with a grade-point average of 3.0 or better. However, students with unusual promise whose backgrounds are in other disciplines, or whose grade-point averages are lower, may be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. All applicants must submit a letter of intent, a writing sample, and three letters of reference (preferably from philosophy instructors). Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required for admission. Students are admitted in both Fall and Spring semesters; the department deadline for application is April 15 for Fall and November 15 for Spring

V. Program Requirements

The department offers two tracks for the MA degree.

A. General Track

Students on the General Track have two options for their studies:

Plan A (Thesis required)
Plan B (Thesis not required)

Students will choose courses in consultation with their advisors, and must complete a minimum of 18 units in 700-level courses.

Coursework (Thesis Plan- 24 units and Non-Thesis Plan- 33 units)

Please contact your graduate advisor for course approval.

PHIL 603 , PHIL 604 , PHIL 606 , PHIL 609 , PHIL 610 , PHIL 611 , PHIL 615 , PHIL 625 ,
PHIL 634 , PHIL 635 , PHIL 638 , PHIL 640 , PHIL 641 , PHIL 650 , PHIL 651 , PHIL 652 ,
PHIL 653 , PHIL 654 , PHIL 657 , PHIL 694 , PHIL 699 , PHIL 708 , PHIL 711 , PHIL 712 ,
PHIL 713 , PHIL 793

Thesis and Professional Paper

Thesis Plan A, 30 units are required, of which 6 units shall be PHIL 797 (Thesis).
Non-Thesis Plan B, 33 units are required, and students additionally must have a passing grade in 1-3 units of PHIL 796 (Professional Paper). PHIL 796 does not count toward the units required for the degree.

B. Ethics, Law, and Politics Track

Students on the Ethics, Law, and Politics Track have two options for their studies:

Plan A (Thesis required)
Plan B (Thesis not required)

On either Plan A or Plan B, the following courses must be taken (12 units):

Students will choose their remaining courses in consultation with their advisors, and must complete a minimum of 18 units in 700-level courses.

Coursework (Thesis Plan- 12 units and Non-Thesis Plan- 21 units)

Please contact your graduate advisor for course approval.

PHIL 603 , PHIL 604 , PHIL 606 , PHIL 609 , PHIL 610 , PHIL 611 , PHIL 615 , PHIL 625 ,
PHIL 634 , PHIL 635 , PHIL 638 , PHIL 640 , PHIL 641 , PHIL 651 , PHIL 652 , PHIL 694 ,
PHIL 699 , PHIL 708 , PHIL 711 , PHIL 712 , PHIL 713 , PHIL 793

Thesis and Professional Paper

Plan A, 30 units are required, of which 6 units shall be PHIL 797 (Thesis).
Plan B, 33 units are required, and students additionally must have a passing grade in 1-3 units of PHIL 796 (Professional Paper). PHIL 796 does not count toward the units required for the degree.

Note(s):

* Up to 6 units (on either Plan A or Plan B) may be taken outside the department in areas relevant to ethics, law, or politics; departmental approval is required for all non-philosophy units that are to be counted toward the degree.

VI. Total Units

Plan A (either track): 30 units.

Plan B (either track): 33 units [+ 1-3 PHIL 796 units].

VII. Notes

While not required, a reading knowledge of at least one foreign language is highly recommended, especially if the candidate wishes to pursue graduate studies beyond the master’s level.
A limited number of teaching assistantships are offered to selected students for a period of two years on a competitive basis.

VIII. Undergraduate Prerequisites

There are no specific undergraduate prerequisites (but see “Admission Requirements” above for general expectations regarding background.