M.A. in Philosophy (code 5-6807)
Graduate Advisor: Prof. Cory D. Wright
Note: the candidate must satisfy the general requirements stated in the Course Catalog as well as the specific departmental requirements described below and more fully in the Philosophy Graduate Student Handbook (available upon request). Prospective students should see the Graduate Advisor for assessment and to plan a program of study.
Admission
Applicants must, in addition to satisfying the University requirements, have an academic background that provides evidence of philosophical promise in order to be admitted. Such evidence may include strong GRE scores, a significantly high GPA over the last two years, advanced or honors coursework, or demonstration of research abilities or scholarly commitment. Applicants need not have majored or even minored in Philosophy, and in fact we encourage students from all backgrounds to apply. However, admission is competitive, and each applicant is evaluated on the merits of her or his own application. In some cases, the Department may recommend or require additional coursework in Philosophy prior to advancement to candidacy.
Deficiencies
Most applicants have a prior program of study that includes more than 15 units of upper-division Philosophy courses. Applicants whose records and transcripts to date do not demonstrate this level of upper-division coursework, but who are admitted because their records evince a high level of academic performance, may have deficiencies that need to be rectified.
Deficiencies are of two sorts: (1) unit deficiencies, and (2) area deficiencies. Students have unit deficiencies if the number of units in Philosophy is deemed insufficient to succeed in the program. Students have area deficiencies if they have not yet demonstrated proficiency in a diverse range of core areas, such as coursework covering the history of philosophy, as well as in epistemology and metaphysics, value theory, and symbolic logic. (A grade of 'B' earned in a semester or quarter course is sufficient for such demonstration.)
Deficiencies are determined by the Graduate Committee after a close examination of the student’s transcripts and other academic records, and must be rectified prior to advancing to candidacy. None of the courses taken to rectify a deficiency will count toward the minimum unit requirement for the MA degree. Students who anticipate being admitted with deficiencies should contact the Graduate Advisor early in the admissions process and upon beginning the MA program in order to facilitate assessment and to plan a program of study.
Conditionally Classified and Classified Status
All admitted students enter the program with conditionally classified status, and must enroll in the Department's proseminar in the first semester in which it is offered. Students achieve classified status upon satisfying two conditions: passing the proseminar, and passing the basic qualifying exam.
The Basic Qualifying Exam (BQE)
The BQE is a diagnostic test to ensure that students are equipped with the basic skills that are prerequisite for the successful study of Philosophy at an advaced level, as well as related pursuits (e.g., teaching at the community college leve, entering a top Ph.D program in Philosophy). The BQE also invests both the Department and students' thesis or exam committees with the confidence to continue supporting and working with that student. Additionally, the BQE provides the student with feedback as to their currect knowlege and abilities in Philosophy. The exam is comprised of an analytic portion and a text portion. The analytic portion assesses students' abilities to extract, explain, and evaluate arguments from short novel passages. In reconstructing and evaluating these arguments, the student must demonstrate an understanding of basic logical concepts (validity, soundness, cogency, analogy, etc.). The text portion assesses the student’s ability to read, interpret, and critically evaluate a more lengthy philosophical text.
Conditionally classified students who at entry to the program as a graduate student have been determined to have no deficiencies in prerequisite preparation must attempt the BQE by the end of their second (academic year) semester in the program and pass it by the end of their third (academic year) semester in order to achieve classified status. Conditionally classified student who must rectify a deficiency must attempt the BQE by the end of their third (academic year) semester in the program and pass it by the end of their fourth (academic year) semester in order to achieve classified status. (Winter Term and Summer Session do not count as academic year semesters).
Advancement to Candidacy
Advancement to Candidacy is the next step after acquiring classified status (and cannot take place until then) and confers catalog rights to graduate students. Advancement to Candidacy also signifies approval of a plan of study by the student’s department and college. The requirements for advancement, which must be achieved at least one semester before graduation can occur and can only occur in a semester in which the student is enrolled, are:
Requirements for receiving the degree
