M.A. Program

The Department offers a program in traditional and contemporary philosophy. General areas of research include ethics, political philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of law, philosophy of science, philosophy of language, philosophy of religion, and the history of philosophy. Members of our faculty are involved in interdisciplinary work in a variety of fields, and the Department enjoys close ties with the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics, the College of Law, and a number of other departments and programs at ASU. We sponsor an active colloquium series and regular philosophical conferences on diverse topics. The Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics also sponsors a wide range of activities, including large-scale conferences, distinguished visitors, and support for graduate study. Ongoing publishing projects currently housed in the Department include Philosophical Studies, Midwest Studies, the Journal of Social Philosophy, the Journal of the History of Biology, and the Collected Works of Rudolf Carnap.

Our M.A. program has been widely recognized for its high quality. The program is small enough for students to receive close attention to their philosophical development. Talented students with strong interests in graduate study in philosophy are encouraged to apply whether or not they have an undergraduate degree in philosophy.

Prerequisites:
At least 15 semester hours of upper-division course work in philosophy, including:

• history of ancient and modern philosophy
• epistemology
• metaphysics
• the equivalent of PHI 333 - Introduction to Symbolic Logic

No course credits in which a grade of less than "B" has been earned may count toward meeting this 15-semester-hour requirement.

If you have met some or most of the prerequisites, you may be admitted into the program under "provisional status" or "regular status with deficiencies," which becomes regular status when you complete the prerequisites.

Students who have already completed a B.A. and who wish to satisfy the prerequisites by taking courses at ASU may enroll as nondegree seeking graduate students. (Please contact the Graduate College about application for nondegree status.)

Admission:
All applications for admission to the M.A. degree program in Philosophy must be accompanied by complete transcripts, the applicant’s scores in the GRE aptitude exam, three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to judge the applicants potential for graduate work in philosophy, a sample of philosophical writing, and a statement of purpose.

Program of Study:
The MA program in philosophy is designed to prepare students to:

• teach philosophy at the community college level
• to enter doctoral programs in philosophy at other institutions
• or to work in any area that requires critical, analytical thinking (such as medicine, law, government, or publishing).

The program seeks to maintain a balance between a breadth of course offerings in the traditional areas of philosophy and opportunities for study of current philosophical developments.

There are two tracks of study for the M.A. degree in Philosophy, thesis option and non-thesis option:

THESIS OPTION:

A. Distribution Requirements

1. Each student shall be required to take at least 24 hours of approved graduate-level courses, not including PHI 599 Thesis.

2. An additional six hours of PHI 599 Thesis is required (see Thesis Requirements below.)

3. Each student is required to take an approved graduate-level course of three semester hours or more in each of the following four major areas and to obtain at least a "B" (3.00) in each course:

a. Epistemology
b. History
c. Metaphysics
d. value theory

4. A thesis is required. This written work must demonstrate the ability to carry out independent research in philosophy.

5. A final oral examination in defense of the thesis is required.

6. Each semester's program of study must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

B. Thesis Requirement

1. Each student must complete 6 credit hours of PHI 599 Thesis; no more than 6 credit hours of PHI 599 may count toward the 30 credit hour requirement.

2. At the end of the third semester of graduate work, each student shall form, with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, a thesis committee. One member of the thesis committee shall be designated the Director of the Thesis and shall chair the thesis committee. At least three members of the thesis committee, including the Director, shall be members of the Philosophy Department.

3. After the thesis committee is formed, the student shall, within a reasonable time, present a thesis prospectus to that committee for approval.

4. Once the thesis committee has certified that the student's thesis is sufficiently complete to warrant an oral defense, the student shall present an oral defense of the thesis. The defense cannot take place less than two weeks after the Director of Graduate Studies has made public announcements of the time and place of the defense. The committee's certification is not to be construed as warrant that the committee will not require changes in the thesis after the oral defense.

C. Academic Standards

1. A graduate student is considered to be performing satisfactorily when:

a. She/He maintains a "B" average or better in her/his graduate course work and obtains at least a "B" in the courses specified in Part A above.
b. Her/His research is progressing satisfactorily
c. Her/His performance of duties incident to any appointment she/he may hold is satisfactory (e.g., teaching assistantship).

2. The Director of Graduate Studies of the Department maintains academic standards by surveying periodically the records of all graduate students. An individual whose performance according to the above standards is not entirely satisfactory is so notified in writing. Recommendations of the Director of Graduate Studies are communicated to the Chair of the Department, who may direct, on the basis of performance, one of the following:

a. Immediate termination of enrollment.
b. Probationary continuation of enrollment.
c. Continuation of the graduate program.

The student is welcome to appeal in writing to the Chair of the Department if she/he feels there are extenuating circumstances which should be considered or if she/he feels the faculty action is unfair or unusually severe.

NON-THESIS OPTION:

A. Distribution Requirements

1. Each student shall be required to take at least 27 hours of approved graduate-level courses, not including PHI 592 Research.

2. An additional three hours of PHI 592 Research is required to prepare the portfolio.

3. Each student is required to take an approved graduate-level course of three semester hours or more in each of the following four major areas and to obtain at least a "B" (3.00) in each course: epistemology, history, metaphysics, and value theory.

4. A portfolio is required. This written work must consist of two papers from one of the major areas and must demonstrate the ability to carry out independent research in philosophy.

5. A final oral examination in defense of the portfolio is required.

6. Each semester's program of study must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

B. Portfolio Requirements

1. A portfolio is required. This written work must consist of two papers from one of the major areas and must demonstrate the ability to carry out independent research in philosophy.

C. Academic Standards

1. A graduate student is considered to be performing satisfactorily when:

a. She/He maintains a "B" average or better in her/his graduate course work and obtains at least a "B" in the courses specified in Part A above.
b. Her/His research is progressing satisfactorily.
c.. Her/His performance of duties incident to any appointment she/he may hold is satisfactory (e.g., teaching assistantship).

2. The Director of Graduate Studies of the Department maintains academic standards by surveying periodically the records of all graduate students. An individual whose performance according to the above standards is not entirely satisfactory is so notified in writing. Recommendations of the Director of Graduate Studies are communicated to the Chair of the Department, who may direct, on the basis of performance, one of the following:

a. Immediate termination of enrollment.
b. Probationary continuation of enrollment.
c. Continuation of the graduate program.

The student is welcome to appeal in writing to the Chair of the Department if she/he feels there are extenuating circumstances which should be considered or if she/he feels the faculty action is unfair or unusually severe.

Foreign Language Requirements:
There is no foreign language requirement for either M.A. track.

This site is for the purpose of providing information and guidance.

This site is for the purpose of providing information and guidance. However, the official university catalog resides at ASU Graduate Catalog and takes precedence should there be any inconsistencies.