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Nov 23, 2024
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University General Course Catalog 2024-2025
Philosophy, M.A.
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 Return to: Programs in the College of Liberal Arts
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.
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Program Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- explain core concepts in the intellectual traditions of philosophy.
- interpret and consider philosophical texts and arguments.
- apply critical and creative intellectual capacities.
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.
I. 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 9 units in 700-level courses for Plan A and 12 units of 700-level courses for Plan B.
Coursework (Thesis Plan- 24 units and Non-Thesis Plan- 33 units)
Please contact your graduate advisor for course approval prior to enrollment
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 9 units in 700-level courses for the Plan A option, and a minimum of 12 units in 700-level courses for the Plan B option.
Coursework (Thesis Plan- 12 units and Non-Thesis Plan- 21 units)
Please contact your graduate advisor for course approval prior to enrollment.
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.
II. Total Units
Plan A (either track): 30 units.
Plan B (either track): 33 units [+ 1-3 PHIL 796 units].
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.
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Return to: Programs in the College of Liberal Arts
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