Philosophy

    

Philosophy Courses

Only students who have earned at least a 3.0 (B) average in their undergraduate courses will be admitted unconditionally into the graduate program in philosophy. It is expected that you will have taken at least 28 quarter hours in philosophy. Students who have not had a course each in value theory, symbolic (predicate) logic, ancient philosophy, and modern philosophy must take courses in these areas during the first two quarters in residence or as soon as possible. Applications, along with official transcripts and GRE scores, should be submitted to Graduate Studies. At least three letters of reference as well as a sample of original philosophical writing should be sent directly to the department graduate chair. All application materials must be received by March 1 for fall admission.

The Master of Arts in philosophy is granted upon the satisfaction of the following requirements:

1. Completion of 45 quarter hours in addition to any course taken to compensate for deficiencies in undergraduate preparation. At least 35 of these hours must derive from classroom courses at the 500-level or above. Independent or arranged studies such as PHIL 692 and PHIL 694, as well as PHIL 685, 690, and 693, do not count toward the 35 course hours. These hours must include at least one course from each of the following groups:
   • 518 Plato, 519 Aristotle;

   • 528 Continental Rationalism, 529 British Empiricism, 538 Kant

   • 514 Analytic Philosophy, 544 Philosophy of Marxism, 548 Pragmatism, 558 Contemporary European Philosophy, 568 Phenomenology

   • 530 Contemporary Ethical Theory, 531 History of Aesthetic Theory, 532 Problems in Aesthetics, 540 Contemporary Social Theory, 542 Philosophy of Law

   • 516 Philosophy of Science, 517 Philosophy of Logic, 520 Symbolic Logic II, 550 Theory of Knowledge, 551 Metaphysics

   • 502 Techniques in Formal Analysis

2. Enrollment in 693 Seminar each fall and spring, and 685 Forum each winter in residence.

3. Enrollment (especially in the second year) in a suitable number of hours of 695 thesis.
4. Submission of an acceptable thesis on an approved topic, and an acceptable defense of it during an oral thesis examination. During a student's six-year term of admission, he or she may attempt a thesis defense no more than twice. If the second attempt is unsuccessful, the Graduate Committee will meet to decide whether to terminate the student from the program.

Policy Regarding Adequate Progress Toward the Degree

Graduate students are expected to make continuous and adequate prograss toward the degree. Progress is defined as:

1. Enrolling in appropriate philosophy graduate courses (15 hours per quarter).

2. Maintaining a 3.0 G.P.A.

3. Avoiding grades of "I"

4. Avoiding any more than two grades of "PR."

5. Arranging for a thesis advisor and a committee of two other readers by the end of fall quarter of the student's second year.

6. Submitting a thesis proposal by the end of the first week of winter quarter of the student's second year.

7. Evidence of regular progress in completing the thesis (e.g., the submitting of drafts, frequent meetings with thesis advisor, etc).

   Failure to satisfy any of these conditions can result in dismissal from the program.