MA (Philosophy)

Program Description

Goals. The master of arts program in philosophy is designed to deepen and expand the student’s knowledge of the perennial issues of philosophy. The student develops an understanding of these issues as they appear in the classical and Thomistic traditions and learns to place these traditions in critical dialogue with modern and contemporary philosophical thought. Through course work and the writing and oral defense of a masters thesis, students will:

Deepen and expand their knowledge of philosophical truth, especially the Western philosophical tradition, building on their undergraduate background.
Develop an expertise in textual and argumentative analysis, dialectical reasoning, scholarly research and methodology (including the reading of primary texts), and oral and written communication skills
Achieve an advanced ability to apply the classical philosophical tradition to contemporary philosophical issues.
Develop the ability to use a foreign language for philosophical research.

Outcomes. In accordance with the goals of the program, students are expected to show prior to graduation that they have acquired and developed the knowledge and skills that the program envisions:

The student manifests an advanced knowledge of the Western philosophical tradition.
The student manifests accomplished philosophical research skills, including library and research technology skills and an expertise in communicating philosophical knowledge orally and in writing.
The student is able to bring the classical tradition to bear on a contemporary issue in philosophy.
The student is able to use a foreign language for philosophical research.

Degree Requirements. The master of arts degree in philosophy represents the completion of 24 units of course work in philosophy, the fulfillment of a foreign language requirement, and the writing and oral defense of a thesis, for which an additional six units will be given. Students must also complete all assessment portfolio requirements, as described in the program checklist which may be obtained from the registrar or online in the student services section of the website . Course work may be completed in three semesters, and thesis work done during the fourth semester. Maximum time permitted for the completion of the program is four years, computed from the date of initial registration in the program.

Course Work. After admission to the program, students choose courses in consultation with their advisors. Students are encouraged to make use of philosophy courses at the University of California, Berkeley and other GTU schools as well. The advisors supervise the students’ selection of courses, assuring that students have an adequate understanding of the various branches of philosophy at a graduate level and that courses form a coherent program in accord with degree requirements. The advisors may require students in particular instances to take special courses in philosophy where lacunae have been noted in their B.A. program, or where their own specialization may indicate that this is appropriate. Up to four courses from the School’s upper division undergraduate philosophy offerings (excluding logic) may be counted toward the M.A. degree, provided that they have not already been counted for the B.A. degree, or as pre-requisites for entry into the M.A. program. In such cases, the student should register for the course as a "special reading course," and appropriately augmented course requirements for the graduate level should be specified in the special reading course petition. Students in the program must maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

Language Requirement. Students must possess a reading knowledge of a modern or classical foreign language. Language proficiency must normally be certified by the beginning of the third semester in the program. DSPT's policy for certifying language proficiency is based upon the GTU policy for the common M.A.; students should consult the DSPT registrar or academic dean for details. Foreign students whose native language is not English may fulfill the language requirement by passing the ETS/TOEFL examination.

Thesis. Promotion to the degree of master of arts requires a written thesis on a subject selected by the student and approved by the DSPT philosophy department. This thesis must show that the student is capable of investigating some philosophical problem, of doing scholarly research with the use of appropriate source material and current discussions, and of presenting findings in a clear, forceful manner. The student must present a proposal for the thesis in the prescribed format (available from the registrar or on-line in the student services section of the website) to the philosophy department for approval by the end of the third semester in the program.

The student nominates a director and two readers for the thesis; these must be approved by the department, which may, at its discretion, make substitutions in light of the nature of the thesis. It is the responsibility of the director to assist the student in the writing of the thesis in whatever way is deemed appropriate. The director cannot be changed without the approval of the department.

The thesis is to be about eighty pages in length and written according to the standards pre-scribed in A Manual for the Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations, 6th edition, by Kate Turabian, (University of Chicago Press, 1996). A comprehensive bibliography of the appropriate sources and modern treatments of the subject matter of the thesis should be included in the final copy. Three unbound copies of the thesis must be submitted to the director and readers no later than March 1 of the year in which the degree is to be conferred. Upon approval and successful oral defense of the thesis, three copies suitable for binding and approved by the GTU Library are to be submitted, by April 15, to the academic dean.

Oral Defense. The oral defense of the thesis will be conducted by the director and the assigned readers. The defense shall not exceed one and one half hours in length. The student shall petition the academic dean in writing for the defense at least one month before it is to take place. A student, whose thesis and oral defense are deemed outstanding by all three examiners, may be granted the degree "with honors."

ACADEMICS

MA (Philosophy)

Program Description

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