Philosophy, MA MA
The Department of Philosophy offers a program of graduate study leading to the degree of Master of Arts. The general purpose of this program is to provide students with the background and stimulus for critical and original philosophical thoughts. The program is designed to serve both those students who wish to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree in philosophy and those students who wish either to terminate their formal philosophical studies with the Master of Arts degree or to integrate a graduate level of study in philosophy with graduate studies in other academic areas.
Program Type
Master’s
Program Format
On Campus
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Credits and Courses
History Requirement
Students taking Option A or B will be required to demonstrate competence in history of philosophy by passing the following two courses with a grade of B or better.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHILOS 430 | Great Thinkers of the Ancient Period | 3 |
| PHILOS 432 | Great Thinkers of the Modern Period | 3 |
The Graduate Studies Committee may certify competence if the student has as an undergraduate taken PHILOS 430 and PHILOS 432 at UWM within the past five years or has taken their equivalent as determined by the Committee. The determination may include an equivalency exam.
Students selecting the language and linguistics concentration need only meet the requirement for PHILOS 432.
Logic Requirement
The student is required to demonstrate competence in logic by passing with a grade of B or better:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHILOS 511 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| PHILOS 712 | Fundamentals of Formal Logic | 3 |
The Graduate Committee may certify competence if within the last five years the student has taken PHILOS 511 or PHILOS 712 or has taken an equivalent course as determined by the Committee. The determination may include an equivalency exam.
Degree Alternatives
The Department of Philosophy offers three alternatives by which the Master of Arts degree in philosophy may be obtained: Option A, the non-thesis option; Option B, the thesis option; and a language and linguistics concentration with a thesis. There is no foreign language requirement for the completion of the Master of Arts degree in philosophy, though students are encouraged to develop proficiency in a foreign or classical language.
Option A: Non-Thesis Option (30 Credits Plus Exam)
Minimum degree requirement is 30 credits in coursework, 21 of which must normally be in philosophy, 9 of which may be in related fields. All 30 credits must be earned with grades of B or better; and at least 12 must be in graduate seminars.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses in philosophy | 21 | |
| At least 12 credits in graduate seminars 1 | ||
| Related fields | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
The Philosophy Department Graduate Studies Committee may permit students to count PHILOS 681 or PHILOS 685 toward meeting this requirement, when the content and level of difficulty are equivalent to that of a graduate seminar.
A student proposing a program of study involving more than 9 credits of independent study, or fewer than 21 credits in philosophy courses, must gain specific approval of the student’s advisory committee.
Every student choosing the non-thesis option takes a written exam of no longer than four hours on a philosophical area chosen by the student in consultation with the advisory committee. At least one full semester before the student is to take this exam, a specific list of primary and secondary sources to be covered on the exam is drawn up by the committee together with the student. The committee provides the student with sample questions.
Option B: Thesis Option (30 Credits Plus Defense)
Minimum degree requirement is 30 credits in coursework, 21 of which must normally be in philosophy, 9 of which may be in related fields. All 30 credits must be earned with grades of B or better; and at least 12 must be in graduate seminars.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses in philosophy | 21 | |
| At least 12 credits in graduate seminars 1 | ||
| Related fields | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
The Philosophy Department Graduate Studies Committee may permit students to count PHILOS 681 or PHILOS 685 toward meeting this requirement, when the content and level of difficulty are equivalent to that of a graduate seminar.
The thesis is to be written on a philosophical subject chosen in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. The student and the committee are to meet sufficiently often so that the committee may adequately supervise the writing of the thesis. Upon completion of the thesis the student is required to defend the thesis orally.
Language and Linguistics Concentration with Thesis (30 credits Plus Defense)
Minimum degree requirement is 30 credits, including the writing of a thesis, plus its defense. All 30 credits must be earned with a grade of B or better. Of the 30 credits at least 18 credits must be in philosophy with the remainder in linguistics.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHILOS 516 | Language and Meaning 1 | 3 |
| Other credits in Philosophy | 15 | |
| LINGUIS 455 | Semantics 1 | 3 |
| LINGUIS 564 | Advanced Syntax 1 | 3 |
| Graduate Seminars 2 | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
May be waived if the student has taken these courses at UWM within the past five years or has taken their equivalent as determined by the Graduate Studies Committee.
- 2
The Philosophy Department Graduate Studies Committee may permit students to count PHILOS 681 or PHILOS 685 towards meeting this requirement, when the content and level of difficulty are equivalent to that of a graduate seminar.
A student proposing a program of study involving more than 9 credits of independent study must gain specific approval of the student’s advisory committee.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Admission
An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus these departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program:
- Undergraduate major in philosophy or other academic background judged suitable by the Department.
- Three letters of recommendation concerning academic qualifications.
- A Reason Statement explaining why you are interested in completing an MA in Philosophy (recommended length 250 - 500 words).
- A sample of written work.
- Submission of scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination is optional.
- Language and Linguistics Concentration only: LINGUIS 464 or an equivalent.
Application to all graduate programs are completed through the UWM Graduate School. Please see their website for detailed information about the application process and contact them with questions.
We also have provided information about applying to one of the philosophy graduate programs and our admissions criteria:
Teaching and Research Assistantships are the primary form of financial support for a limited number of philosophy graduate students. These positions provide a salary and tuition remission. Some small scholarships are also available. Click below for more details.