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Masters

Philosophy, MA draft

George Mason University
Virginia , United States
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Degree
Masters
Major
Philosophy
Area of study
Humanities
Course Language
English
About Program

Program Overview

Philosophy, MA

Overview

The Master of Arts in Philosophy program offers students the opportunity to explore traditional and contemporary philosophy, as well as a concentration in ethics and public affairs. The program is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of philosophical issues and to prepare them for careers in law, technology, healthcare, education, and public service, or for doctoral studies in philosophy.


Admissions

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to the MA in philosophy, see Application Requirements and Deadlines.


Policies

For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.


Degree Requirements

Total credits: 31


Students pursuing this degree must successfully complete 31 credits, which may include a thesis. They may choose a course of study that focuses on traditional and contemporary philosophy or choose to complete the concentration in ethics and public affairs. Students need to identify an advisor on entering the program and meet regularly with that advisor during their course of study.


MA with a Focus on Traditional and Contemporary Philosophy

The focus in traditional and contemporary philosophy is for students who want to deepen their understanding of philosophical issues and for students who are preparing to pursue doctoral studies in philosophy or related fields, e.g. political theory, gender studies.


  • Proseminar: PHIL 600 Proseminar in Philosophy (1 credit)
  • Ancient or Medieval Philosophy: Select one course from the following (3 credits)
    • PHIL 603 Aristotle: Selected Works
    • PHIL 681 Figures and Topics in Ancient Philosophy
    • PHIL 721 Advanced Seminar in Philosophy 2
  • Modern Philosophy: Select one course from the following (3 credits)
    • PHIL 608 Hegel's Phenomenology of the Spirit
    • PHIL 682 Figures and Topics in Early Modern Philosophy
    • PHIL 721 Advanced Seminar in Philosophy 2
  • Contemporary Philosophy: Select one course from the following (3 credits)
    • PHIL 615 Postmodernist Thought
    • PHIL 616 Phenomenology
    • PHIL 683 Contemporary Philosophical Figures
    • PHIL 694 Special Topics in Contemporary Philosophy
    • PHIL 721 Advanced Seminar in Philosophy 2
  • Advanced Seminar: PHIL 721 Advanced Seminar in Philosophy (3 credits)
  • Electives in Philosophy: Select four to six electives in philosophy (12-18 credits)
  • Optional Thesis: Three or six credits of PHIL 799 Thesis

Concentration in Ethics and Public Affairs (ETPA)

The concentration in ethics and public affairs is designed for professionals who want to combine the study of ethics and the analysis of social and public policies in a variety of settings, including business, healthcare, biomedical technology, law, or government.


  • Proseminar: PHIL 600 Proseminar in Philosophy (1 credit)
  • History of Philosophy: PHIL 640 History of Ethical Theory (3 credits)
  • Public Administration: PUAD 540 Public Policy Process (3 credits)
  • Ethics: Select three courses from the following (9 credits)
    • PHIL 642 Biomedical Ethics
    • PHIL 643 Environmental Ethics
    • PHIL 644 Business and Organizational Ethics
    • PHIL 645 Research Ethics
  • Electives: Select two to four electives from the following or from other relevant courses (6-12 credits)
    • PUAD 700 Ethics and Public Administration
    • EVPP 635 Environment and Society
  • Optional Thesis: Three or six credits of PHIL 799 Thesis

Dual Degree Options

Philosophy, MA and Interdisciplinary Studies, MAIS (Concentration in women and gender studies) Dual Degree

The Department of Philosophy and the School of Integrative Studies offer a dual master's degree program where students can earn both the MA and the MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) in 55 credits rather than 67 credits.


  • Application Requirements: See Application Requirements and Deadlines.
  • Requirements: Students pursuing dual master's study linking the Philosophy MA and the Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS with a concentration in women and gender studies will complete WMST 630 Feminist Theories / PHIL 658 Feminist Theory and 3 additional credits of WMST courses approved by the Department of Philosophy to apply to the philosophy degree as elective credit. Six credits of approved PHIL credits will apply to the MAIS degree as elective credit.

Accelerated Master's

Philosophy, BA/Philosophy, Accelerated MA

Highly-qualified Mason undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BA in Philosophy and an MA in Philosophy in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 139 credits.


  • Overview: See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees for policies related to this program.
  • BAM Pathway Admission Requirements: Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's Accelerated Master's Degree policies.
  • Accelerated Master's Admissions Requirements: Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MA program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form:
    • Minimum overall GPA of 3.25
    • Successfully meeting Mason's requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.
  • Accelerated Pathway Requirements: To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:
    • Advanced Standing courses (up to 12 credits): 600-level PHIL courses, with the exception of PHIL 600 Proseminar in Philosophy and PHIL 693 Directed Readings in Philosophy, with the advice and approval of the department.
    • Reserve Graduate Credit courses (up to 6 credits) taken while an undergraduate and will only count for the graduate degree program: 600-level PHIL courses, with the exception of PHIL 600 Proseminar in Philosophy and PHIL 693 Directed Readings in Philosophy, with the advice and approval of the department.

Program Outcomes

  • Students will learn to write philosophical work modelled on the writing of professional philosophers.
  • Students will study the Western philosophical tradition and how that tradition is carried on or engaged with in the field today.
  • Students will gain proficiency in critical, analytical, and synthetic thinking.
  • In the Ethics and Public Policy concentration, students will learn to recognize and understand ethical issues and problems involving questions of public policy.
  • Students will use philosophical thinking to illuminate other areas of discourse.
  • Students will learn to conduct philosophical research at an advanced level, to understand current questions and engage critically with sources.
  • Students who write the [optional] thesis will develop the ability to do independent research on an original topic, suitable as a bridge to doctoral-level work.
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