Philosophy (MA)
The terminal MA in Philosophy at Loyola integrates a strong grounding in the history of philosophy with current debates in social and political philosophy, ethics, and contemporary philosophy. Our department is distinguished by its exceptional breadth in the history of philosophy with internationally recognized faculty working in ancient Greek and Chinese philosophy, Islamic philosophy, and medieval, modern and 19th and 20th century European philosophy. Students who complete the terminal MA can therefore expect to develop a strong foundation in the core areas of philosophy and the ability to pursue specialized research in a range of areas at the doctoral level. Loyola’s terminal MA also lays an excellent intellectual foundation for those who intend to pursue graduate work outside of philosophy in such fields as history, theology, and English, as well as those interested in pursuing this degree for personal enrichment.
The Philosophy (MA) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to complete their Graduate studies in a fifth year. Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.
Program Highlights
- Writing workshops and vocational seminars to introduce students to coursework in graduate school
- Professional development and placement workshops that prepare students to present and publish their original research and apply for doctoral programs in philosophy and other fields as well as for professional careers in law, publishing, education, public policy and more
- Generalist training in the history of philosophy and an emphasis on philosophical pluralism that can prepare students for specialized research at the doctoral level
- Work with internationally recognized faculty in social and political philosophy, ethics, and bioethics
- Opportunity to attend seminars, conferences, and lectures in the Chicago-area
Related Programs
Curriculum
The Master of Arts in Philosophy requires 30 credit hours of coursework and a MA examination. Entering MA students must have a Bachelor of Arts degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution. They should have a solid background in philosophy (ordinarily an undergraduate minor or its equivalent).
Besides the traditional Master's program, the Philosophy (MA) is also offered as an Accelerated Master's Pathway where exceptional students can complete the program in a fifth year. A suggested sequence for the AMP can be found below.
Specific courses may not be offered every semester and course offerings are subject to change.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course in Ancient Philosophy: | 3 | |
| Plato | ||
| Aristotle | ||
| Ancient Philosophy | ||
| Select one course in Medieval Philosophy: | 3 | |
| Augustine | ||
| Aquinas | ||
| Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Late Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Select one course in Modern Philosophy: | 3 | |
| Descartes | ||
| Classical Rationalism | ||
| Classical Empiricism | ||
| Kant | ||
| 17th-18th Century Philosophy | ||
| Select one course in Continental Philosophy: | 3 | |
| Nietzsche | ||
| Husserl | ||
| Heidegger | ||
| Phenomenology/Existentialism | ||
| Hermeneutics & Critical Theory | ||
| Contemporary French Philosophy | ||
| Contemporary German Philosophy | ||
| Topics in Continental Philosophy | ||
| Select one course in Analytic Philosophy: | 3 | |
| Anglo-American Philosophy | ||
| Anglo-American Epistemology | ||
| Studies in Logic | ||
| Issues in Cognitive Science | ||
| Select five 400-level Electives | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Note: Courses may fulfill different distribution requirements on an ad hoc basis, depending on course content. To confirm, please consult Graduate Program Director.
Other Philosophy graduate level courses may be used in the above requirements. Students should consult with the Graduate Program Director if a course of interest is not shown in the above curriculum grid. For a full list of Philosophy graduate level courses, click here.
Language Requirement
There is no language requirement or other research tool requirement for the M.A. degree in the Philosophy Department.
MA Examination
Toward the end of the course of studies, students pursuing the MA in Philosophy must pass an oral examination before a committee of at least three faculty members on a substantial research paper or thesis the student has written. The focus of the examination is on the argument and analysis of the paper, as well as on the background thought that the argument and analysis presuppose.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
Traditional Master's Program
Students in the terminal MA program may take any course from PHIL 400 to PHIL 490. However, students are advised to take courses in their first year that satisfy distribution requirements and/or introduce them to foundational texts, figures, and philosophical skill-sets. They will be encouraged to save elective courses for their second year when students typically take two courses per semester rather than three. Ideally, these electives will be related to their MA examination research. They will also focus in their second year on completing their MA examination, applying to PhD programs, and/or preparing for career paths outside of academic philosophy. A sample plan of study is included below:
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| PHIL 401 | Plato | 3 |
| PHIL 407 | Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 478 | Research Methods in Social Justice | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 415 | Kant | 3 |
| PHIL 433 | Phenomenology/Existentialism | 3 |
| PHIL 441 | Wittgenstein | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHIL 480 | Social & Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 490 | Current Philosophical Issues | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 457 | Aesthetics | 3 |
| PHIL 468 | Topics in Ethics | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Accelerated Master's Pathway
Students can take up to 12 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP. These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.
All courses from PHIL 400 to PHIL 490 are appropriate to take during the student's undergraduate career. However, students will be advised to take courses during their senior year that satisfy distribution requirements for the MA and/or introduce students to foundational texts, ideas, or philosophical skill-sets: These courses include but are not limited to:
PHIL 401 Plato; PHIL 402 Aristotle; PHIL 403 Ancient Philosophy; PHIL 407 Medieval Philosophy; PHIL 415 Kant; PHIL 416 17th-18th Century Philosophy; PHIL 438 Topics in Continental Philosophy; PHIL 442 Anglo-American Philosophy; PHIL 450 Epistemology; PHIL 451 Metaphysics; PHIL 463 Virtue Ethics; PHIL 468 Topics in Ethics; PHIL 478 Research Methods in Social Justice; PHIL 480 Social & Political Philosophy; PHIL 483 Philosophical Questions in Human Rights; PHIL 490 Current Philosophical Issues
Below, please find a sample study plan for students in their senior year. Note that this plan will vary depending on the number of remaining required courses the student has for the major and the university curriculum.
| Senior | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| PHIL 401 | Plato | 3 |
| PHIL 478 | Research Methods in Social Justice | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 407 | Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 480 | Social & Political Philosophy | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Master's | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHIL 415 | Kant | 3 |
| PHIL 433 | Phenomenology/Existentialism | 3 |
| PHIL 441 | Wittgenstein | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 457 | Aesthetics | 3 |
| PHIL 468 | Topics in Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 490 | Current Philosophical Issues | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways
In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.
Admission and Matriculation
Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.
Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.
Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.
Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.
Advising and Registration
Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.
Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.
Shared Credits
Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.
In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.
Degree Requirements and Conferral
Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.
The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.
If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.
Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.
Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the MA in Philosophy, students will have:
- Acquired advanced disciplinary knowledge and be able to: (a) demonstrate broad knowledge of the history of philosophy; (b) engage critically with perennial and current debates in at least one branch of philosophy, such as ethics, social and political philosophy, or metaphysics; and (c) demonstrate focused expertise in a particular subfield of philosophy through sustained independent research.
- Mastered methodological and argumentative skills and be able to: (a) identify and analyze the hidden presuppositions of conceptual frameworks, social practices, or systems of belief; (b) construct and evaluate philosophical arguments in written and oral form; and (c) apply philosophical methods and insights across both analytic and continental traditions and to other areas of research or inquiry.
- Produced and disseminated original scholarship and be able to: (a) identify a significant philosophical question, situate it within the relevant scholarly literature, and construct an original argument in response; (b) compose a substantial research paper meeting graduate-level standards of philosophical writing; and (c) frame, defend, and respond to critical questioning of that research before a faculty committee in the MA examination.
- Demonstrated professional engagement and ethical commitment and be able to: (a) participate in the academic community through contribution to seminars, conferences, or workshops in philosophy; (b) articulate and apply Jesuit values—including commitments to truth, justice, and the common good—to philosophical questions; and (c) collaborate productively with peers and faculty in shared intellectual work.