• Students may choose this program to improve their chances of acceptance into a highly-ranked Ph.D. program, or for other reasons. There are no distribution requirements: students may tailor their coursework to their own interests. Students must also write and defend a thesis, which can be used as a writing sample for Ph.D. program applications. (Note that acceptance into the M.A. program does not guarantee acceptance into our own Ph.D. program later on; the application procedures are separate.)
  • The M.A. in Philosophy is intended to deepen a student’s background in philosophy, and to improve a student’s preparation for Ph.D. programs in philosophy. It is possible to use the M.A. as a bridge program from another discipline into philosophy.
  • To maintain status as a graduate student, registration in each fall and spring semester is required. Otherwise, admission lapses and permission to re-enter must be granted.
  • Time restrictions on obtaining degrees will be strictly enforced and can be waived only by the Dean of the Graduate School.
  • Upon completing the course requirements and presenting and defending a satisfactory thesis, the student has completed the requirements for an M.A. in Philosophy
  • The student in consultation with his/her selected M.A. thesis committee chair will decide on the thesis committee members. The thesis committee will consist of not less than three members, two from the Department's graduate faculty, and one from either inside or outside the Department. The chair has to be a member of the graduate faculty. The duties of the thesis committee are:
  • a. To consult with and to advise students on their research.
  • b. To meet, at intervals, to review progress and expected results.
  • c. To read and comment upon the draft thesis.
  • d. To meet, when the thesis is completed, to conduct the final oral examination and to satisfy itself that the thesis is a contribution to knowledge and that it is written in lucid and correct English and submitted in approved form.