Graduate Degrees

M.A. Program in Philosophy

The MA Program in Philosophy provides exciting opportunities to pursue post-graduate studies in Philosophy for students with a BA degree in Philosophy who wish to continue their work in a more focused and advanced way, as well as for students with a BA or BS degree in another field who wish to add a concentration in Philosophy. Two areas of specialization are offered in line with the distinctive strengths of the Philosophy Department that are not reflected in its other graduate degree programs, namely Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, and Philosophy of Science. The latter specialization offers emphases in Mathematics, Psychology, Physics, and the Social Sciences. The course of study is very flexible, and can be tailored to a student's interests and background.

The Philosophy Department offers qualified MA students up to a 50% tuition fellowship, added to whatever outside fellowships or other tuition awards the student has gained on her or his own. In addition, qualified MA students have the opportunity to serve as teaching assistants or graders for undergraduate courses, for a stipend rate set annually by the Department. In the 2007-2008 academic year, by TAing or grading one course per term for each of two terms, an MA student earns $8,000 in stipend. In addition, the department provides approximately $1,100 to cover the cost of a Carnegie Mellon health insurance policy.

The MA program ordinarily requires two years of coursework, as well as an MA thesis, written in the second year. The normal full time graduate course load in Philosophy is a minimum of three (12 credit) courses per term, for a total of (at least) 144 credits. Students must pass all required courses with a grade of B or better.

Advanced students can sometimes complete the program in a single year (including the following summer), corresponding to the fifth year of the combined 5-year BA/MA degree. Also, there is a part-time version MA program, designed for students, such as qualified CMU staff employees using their staff benefits, who are able to pursue graduate study with only 1 or 2 courses per term.

Course requirements

The program's course requirements are designed to provide students with a shared introduction to basic tools of philosophical analysis, a shared background of philosophical issues, significant interdisciplinary competence, and an introduction to research topics in the department.

Distribution requirements (5 courses)

Students must take at least one course in each of the following areas:

Area 1: Values and Normative Theory, Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy (80-x30 through 80-x49) or Aesthetics (80-x60 through 80-x64).

Area 2: Philosophy of Mind/Language/Metaphysics (80-x70 through 80-x89).

Area 3: Logic/Philosophy of Mathematics (80-x10 through 80-x19).

Area 4: Epistemology/Methodology (80-x00 through 80-x09) or Philosophy of Science (80-x20 through 80-x29) or Philosophy of Mathematics (80-x10 through 80-x19).

Area 5: History of Philosophy (80-x50 through 80-x59).

Seminar requirements (2 courses)

80-602 Proseminar: A survey of core research areas in the department and their broader philosophical context.

80-811 Thesis seminar: A seminar in which students present their master's thesis projects, typically taken in spring of the second year.

Electives (5 courses)

Five electives (including directed reading and thesis research).

These requirements can be filled in two years by taking three courses each semester. The electives should also be chosen in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and the student's advisor, to guarantee that the student has sufficient background to carry out the thesis research.

Electives may be taken outside the department, making use of the strengths of other departments and colleges. Such interdisciplinary work is strongly encouraged. For example, a student specializing in Ethics may take courses in Economics, Public Policy, Political Science, Social History, or History and Policy. A student specializing in Aesthetics may also study Fine Arts, English, History, or the Social Sciences. Finally, a student interested in Philosophy of Science may choose courses in Mathematics, the Natural Sciences, Psychology, or the Social Sciences. The list is not exhaustive, and students should explore opportunities and shape their own special program guided by their interests.

Research

Students are advised to do supervised reading and research with a member of the faculty in the spring of their first year, to explore possible research topics for the MA thesis. Students should find a topic and advisor by the end of their first year. In the spring of the second year, students present their MA thesis research to their peers in the Thesis Seminar. The MA thesis itself should be completed by the end of the second year.

Sample curriculum

A typical course schedule might look as follows:

It is not unusual for a student to take or audit a fourth course in some semesters.

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