Philosophy, MA

Location(s): Main Campus

The graduate program in social, political, ethical and legal philosophy (SPEL) offers graduate students advanced coursework and individual research in classical, modern and contemporary social and political philosophy, ethics and the philosophy of law. SPEL recognizes and respects work in both the Anglo-American (analytic) and the Continental (European) traditions, as well as in various non-Western traditions, in feminist philosophy and critical race theory, and in other emerging areas of philosophy.

The SPEL program helps students gain the skills and experience necessary to become excellent teachers of philosophy and prepares students for other aspects of a career in philosophy. Professional development and placement are central to the SPEL program and are tailored to individual students’ goals. Students may pursue the MA either as a preparation for entrance into the PhD part of the graduate program or as a terminal degree. A terminal philosophy MA through SPEL is an excellent preparation for further professional development in public policy, law, government service, medicine or business.

Admission Requirements

Qualified students with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent are eligible for admission. An undergraduate specialization in philosophy is not required for admission; a broad background in the humanities or social sciences, as well as philosophy, can constitute proper preparation for this graduate program.

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the MA in Philosophy must complete 32 credits of graduate level coursework with a cumulative grade-point average of at least a 3.3. These 32 credits must include the following requirements:

Totaling eight seminars, seven of which must be SPEL seminars and one of which may be chosen from other philosophy graduate courses or in consultation with the student’s advisor from courses offered by other departments
One first-year SPEL seminar in social and political philosophy and one first-year SPEL seminar in ethics, to be taken during the first and second year of residency.
At least two SPEL seminars emphasizing the history of philosophy. This is broadly construed, ranging from the ancient world to the 17th, 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, and may be in Western or non-Western philosophy.
One SPEL seminar that draws mainly from the Anglo-American tradition and one SPEL seminar that draws mainly from the Continental European tradition.
One SPEL seminar in metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of science or philosophy of mind.
During each semester all students are required to enroll in the SPEL colloquium.

Proficiency Requirement

Level 1 Logic requirement: A grade of B or higher in an undergraduate course on formal logic, or completion of the final examination in (undergraduate) Elementary Logic (PHIL 122) with a grade of B or higher, or a grade of at least B on the SPEL examination in Basic Formal Logic.
History of Philosophy requirements: A grade of B or higher in undergraduate courses in ancient Greek philosophy and modern philosophy, or completion of the final examinations in (undergraduate) Plato and Aristotle (PHIL 201) and Descartes, Hume and Kant (PHIL 202) with grades of B or higher.

Comprehensive Exam or Thesis Requirements

All students earning an MA and seeking acceptance into the PhD program must pass the MA comprehensive exams, which consist of two written exams, one in social and political philosophy, and the other in ethics. Reading lists are provided to assist students in preparing for these exams. Students are required to take the exams in September of their second year in the program. A student who fails either or both of the comprehensive exams may be allowed to retake the exam(s) once, in January of their second year in the program.

Students seeking a terminal MA may either pass the comprehensive exams described above by January of their second year in the program or may write a master’s thesis. The thesis must be passed by April of a student’s second year in the program.

Additional Information About the Program

For more information on the Philosophy MA program, please refer to the Philosophy website. To apply to the Philosophy MA program, please visit the University Admissions website.