MA in Philosophy
The terminal MA in Philosophy at ´óÏó´«Ã½ integrates a strong grounding in the history of philosophy with current debates in social and political philosophy, ethics, and contemporary philosophy. Our department is distinguished by its exceptional breadth in the history of philosophy with internationally recognized faculty working in ancient Greek and Chinese philosophy, Islamic philosophy, and medieval, modern and 19th and 20th century European philosophy. Students who complete the terminal MA can therefore expect to develop a strong foundation in the core areas of philosophy and the ability to pursue specialized research in a range of areas at the doctoral level. ´óÏó´«Ã½’s terminal MA also lays an excellent intellectual foundation for those who intend to pursue graduate work outside of philosophy in such fields as history, theology, and English, as well as those interested in pursuing this degree for personal enrichment.
For information on admission requirements and how to apply, please visit our How to Apply page. Please note that MA applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Highlights
- First year proseminar to prepare students for coursework in graduate school
- Professional development and placement workshops that prepare students to present and publish their original research and apply for doctoral programs in philosophy and other fields
- Generalist training in the history of philosophy and an emphasis on philosophical pluralism that can prepare students for specialized research at the doctoral level
- Opportunity to attend seminars, conferences, and lectures in the Chicago-area
MA in Philosophy Requirements
Prerequisites
Entering MA students must have a Bachelor of Arts degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and they must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 in the coursework for their most recent degree program. They should have a solid background in philosophy (ordinarily an undergraduate major, minor, or the equivalent).
Required Coursework
30 hours of graduate coursework (10 courses) and a comprehensive examination are required for the MA in Philosophy. All courses must be taken at the 400 or 500 level.
The following courses are required for the MA in Philosophy:
- Distribution Requirements. Take one (1) course from each of the following distribution areas:
- Ancient Philosophy
- Medieval Philosophy
- Modern Philosophy
- Continental Philosophy
- Analytic Philosophy
- Elective Courses
- Take 5 electives at the 400-level
Note: In exceptional cases, a very well qualified student in this or another terminal MA program may be considered for admission into the PhD program, but such students compete with other PhD program applicants for admission and must complete all PhD program requirements, including some MA requirements not required for the terminal MA.
Language Requirement
There is no language requirement or other research tool requirement for the MA in Philosophy.
MA Examination
A student earning an MA in Philosophy must pass an oral examination on a substantial research paper or thesis the student has written (further details about the MA Examination may be found in the department's Graduate Student Handbook). The focus of tehe examination is on the argument and analysis of the paper, as well as on the background thought that the argument and analysis presuppose. A student is eligible for the MA Examination after completing or being in the semester of completing 30 hours of coursework.
The terminal MA in Philosophy at ´óÏó´«Ã½ integrates a strong grounding in the history of philosophy with current debates in social and political philosophy, ethics, and contemporary philosophy. Our department is distinguished by its exceptional breadth in the history of philosophy with internationally recognized faculty working in ancient Greek and Chinese philosophy, Islamic philosophy, and medieval, modern and 19th and 20th century European philosophy. Students who complete the terminal MA can therefore expect to develop a strong foundation in the core areas of philosophy and the ability to pursue specialized research in a range of areas at the doctoral level. ´óÏó´«Ã½’s terminal MA also lays an excellent intellectual foundation for those who intend to pursue graduate work outside of philosophy in such fields as history, theology, and English, as well as those interested in pursuing this degree for personal enrichment.
For information on admission requirements and how to apply, please visit our How to Apply page. Please note that MA applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Highlights
- First year proseminar to prepare students for coursework in graduate school
- Professional development and placement workshops that prepare students to present and publish their original research and apply for doctoral programs in philosophy and other fields
- Generalist training in the history of philosophy and an emphasis on philosophical pluralism that can prepare students for specialized research at the doctoral level
- Opportunity to attend seminars, conferences, and lectures in the Chicago-area
MA in Philosophy Requirements
Prerequisites
Entering MA students must have a Bachelor of Arts degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and they must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 in the coursework for their most recent degree program. They should have a solid background in philosophy (ordinarily an undergraduate major, minor, or the equivalent).
Required Coursework
30 hours of graduate coursework (10 courses) and a comprehensive examination are required for the MA in Philosophy. All courses must be taken at the 400 or 500 level.
The following courses are required for the MA in Philosophy:
- Distribution Requirements. Take one (1) course from each of the following distribution areas:
- Ancient Philosophy
- Medieval Philosophy
- Modern Philosophy
- Continental Philosophy
- Analytic Philosophy
- Elective Courses
- Take 5 electives at the 400-level
Note: In exceptional cases, a very well qualified student in this or another terminal MA program may be considered for admission into the PhD program, but such students compete with other PhD program applicants for admission and must complete all PhD program requirements, including some MA requirements not required for the terminal MA.
Language Requirement
There is no language requirement or other research tool requirement for the MA in Philosophy.
MA Examination
A student earning an MA in Philosophy must pass an oral examination on a substantial research paper or thesis the student has written (further details about the MA Examination may be found in the department's Graduate Student Handbook). The focus of tehe examination is on the argument and analysis of the paper, as well as on the background thought that the argument and analysis presuppose. A student is eligible for the MA Examination after completing or being in the semester of completing 30 hours of coursework.