Learning Outcomes

• Breadth of knowledge: demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of areas in philosophy—metaphysics and epistemology; value theory; history of philosophy; and logic, philosophy of mathematics, and philosophy of science.
• Depth of knowledge: demonstrate advanced knowledge in at least one major subarea of philosophy.
• Scholarship and research skills: develop the skills required to conduct rigorous philosophical research, including philosophical writing and communication skills; and the ability to engage others’ work.
• Professionalization and career preparation: understand the disciplinary norms and standards of research, and of professional and collegial engagement with others; and develop a portfolio and skills contributing to one’s career prospects, guided by one’s career goals and interests, and informed by knowledge of different possible career opportunities and trajectories.

The Master of Arts program in philosophy requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit and is offered without thesis. Students must earn a program grade-point average of at least 3.00. The MA is not offered as a terminal degree; it is awarded to students as they work successfully toward the PhD.

The MA with a major in philosophy requires the following coursework.

Metaphysics and Epistemology

Course List

Course #	Title	Hours
Two of these (with earned grades of B or higher):
PHIL:4379	Quine	3
PHIL:4586	Topics in Metaphysics	3
PHIL:4587	Epistemology	3
PHIL:4588	Philosophy of Mind	3
PHIL:4589	Philosophy of Language	3
PHIL:4590	Foundations of Cognitive Science	3
PHIL:6300	Seminar: Philosophical Analysis	3
PHIL:6510	Seminar: Metaphysics	3
PHIL:6520	Seminar: Epistemology	3

Ancient and Medieval Philosophy and Modern Philosophy

Course List

Course #	Title	Hours
Two of these (with earned grades of B or higher):
Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
PHIL:4152	Plato	3
PHIL:4153	Aristotle	3
PHIL:6100	Seminar: Ancient Philosophy	3
Modern Philosophy
PHIL:4260	Spinoza and Leibniz	3
PHIL:4266	Kant	3
PHIL:4377	Wittgenstein	3
PHIL:6200	Seminar: Modern Philosophy	3

Logic, Philosophy of Science, and Philosophy of Mathematics

Course List

Course #	Title	Hours
One of these (with an earned grade of B or higher):
PHIL:4346	Frege and Russell	3
PHIL:4691	Mathematical Logic	3
PHIL:4692	Modal Logic	3
PHIL:4694	Philosophy of Science	3
PHIL:6620	Seminar: Philosophy of Science	3

Value Theory

Course List

Course #	Title	Hours
One of these (with an earned grade of B or higher):
PHIL:4375	Rawls's Political Philosophy	3
PHIL:4480	Analytic Ethics	3
PHIL:4481	Issues in Philosophy of Law	3
PHIL:4482	Early Modern Ethics	3
PHIL:4485	Political Philosophy	3
PHIL:6400	Seminar: Ethics	3

Students may be able to apply PHIL:4798 Topics in Philosophy or a research course toward one of the requirement areas. Contact the graduate studies director for more information.

Electives

All students must complete 12 s.h. in coursework numbered 4000 or above. They should consult the graduate studies director for approval of elective coursework.

Final Examination

Students must pass an oral final examination that will not exceed three hours in length. They are informed of at least one of the exam questions no later than one week before their exam. Students who fail may petition the MA Examination Committee for a second opportunity to pass the exam. The second exam must be scheduled not sooner than three months, nor later than one year, after the date of the examination.

MA/JD

The Department of Philosophy and the College of Law offer a combined Master of Arts/Juris Doctor program. MA/JD students may count 12 s.h. earned in the combined program toward both degrees. They must earn 18 of the 30 s.h. required for the MA in graduate-level philosophy courses (the usual requirement is 24 s.h.). They also must earn a minimum of 36 s.h. in undergraduate and graduate philosophy courses, combined (the usual requirement is 42 s.h.).

Separate application to each degree program is required. Applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the combined degree program.

For more information about the JD, see Juris Doctor, JD (College of Law) in the catalog.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.

The graduate program is designed to train teachers and scholars in philosophy. The Department of Philosophy also is invested in helping students to use their philosophical training careers outside of academia.

The Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.