The Master of Arts in Social Philosophy provides an education for students interested in ethical, political, and other philosophical issues concerning society and social justice. Students enrolled in this program will learn to analyze the human condition through complex social, political, economic, and cultural contexts that characterize the contemporary global landscape. This program emphasizes the integration of theoretical work in the classroom with work in the community. It also encourages interdisciplinary research and engagement with a variety of philosophical traditions and methodologies. 

The MA in Social Philosophy serves several student populations with tracks appropriate to each. This includes a track for students who are interested in developing their knowledge of social, political, critical, and ethical philosophy and integrating this with professional and non-profit work in areas like law, criminal justice, public policy, migration, environmental justice, and education. It also serves Jesuit scholastics in Loyola's First Studies program. The Jesuit portion of this degree has two tracks. The first is called the Foundational Track, and it is designed for Jesuits who enter First Studies with little or no background in philosophy. This track is structured to introduce Jesuits to philosophy through a sequence of courses in the history of philosophy, as well as tiered courses in social and political philosophy that build foundational knowledge. The second track is called the Enhanced Track. It is designed for Jesuits with some background in philosophy who are interested in enhancing their theoretical knowledge of social, political, critical, and ethical philosophy, as well as those interested in pursuing doctoral studies in philosophy. 

Key Strengths of Loyola's MA in Social Philosophy

Foundational Studies in the History of Philosophy: The Philosophy Department at Loyola has expert faculty and exceptional breadth in the history of philosophy, with coverage in ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy, modern philosophy, and nineteenth-century philosophy. Our department is also distinguished by its strengths in traditions that expand beyond traditional Western European philosophy, with faculty working in Ancient Chinese philosophy, Islamic philosophy, and the history of the philosophy of race. This allows students to explore questions of metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics from the vantage point of a variety of philosophical traditions and cultural perspectives.

Curriculum

For students who begin the MA in Social Philosophy in Fall 2024 or after there are three available tracks: Master of Arts in Social Philosophy - Jesuit Scholastics Foundational Track, Master of Arts in Social Philosophy - Jesuit Scholastics Enhanced Track, and Master of Arts in Social Philosophy (Non-Jesuit Track).

Master of Arts in Social Philosophy - Jesuit Scholastic Foundational Track

The MA in Social Philosophy Jesuit Scholastic Foundational Track requires 30 credit hours of coursework, a 0-credit Pedagogy Seminar, and an MA examination. The Foundational Track is designed for Jesuit scholastics in First Studies with little or no background in philosophy. It includes a sequence in the history of philosophy as well as sequenced courses in ethics and social and political philosophy to build foundational knowledge and skills.

Specific courses may not be offered every semester and course offerings are subject to change.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
European History of Philosophy
Select one course in Ancient Philosophy:		3
PHIL 401	Plato
PHIL 402	Aristotle
PHIL 403	Ancient Philosophy
Select one course in Medieval Philosophy:		3
PHIL 405	Augustine
PHIL 406	Aquinas
PHIL 407	Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 408	Late Medieval Philosophy
Select one course in Modern Philosophy:		3
PHIL 410	Descartes
PHIL 411	Classical Rationalism
PHIL 412	Classical Empiricism
PHIL 415	Kant
PHIL 416	17th-18th Century Philosophy
PHIL 417	Classical German Philosophy
PHIL 419	Aesthetics *
PHIL 420	Hegel
PHIL 462	Kant's Moral Philosophy
Non-European Traditions
Select one of the following:		3
PHIL 407	Medieval Philosophy *
PHIL 439	Chinese Philosophy
PHIL 463	Virtue Ethics *
PHIL 468	Topics in Ethics *
PHIL 484	Philosophical Anthropology *
PHIL 490	Current Philosophical Issues *
Social and Political Philosophy/Ethics		6
PHIL 480	Social & Political Philosophy
Select one Level II course 1
Contemporary/Critical Perspectives		3
Select one course
Select two 400-level Electives 2, 3, 4		6
PHIL 505	Teaching Internship I 5
PHIL 511	Social Ethics Practicum	3
Total Hours		30

*

In general, these courses meet the requirements, but sometimes a topic may not be suitable, in which case the Graduate Program Director will advise about a substitute.

¹

Whether a course counts as Level I or Level II may vary depending on the topic, which will be determined by the Graduate Program Director in consultation with the Graduate Program Advisory Committee and flagged on the graduate course schedule.

²

Students may also take PHIL 500, PHIL 501, PHIL 503 and PHIL 503

³

While it is not required, it is recommended that students take electives in areas that emphasize interdisciplinarity, engaged learning, and/or environmental issues.

⁴

Up to two electives may be taken in related courses offered by other graduate departments or schools within Loyola, subject to approval from the Graduate Program Director.

⁵

This will be taken as a 0-credit Pedagogy Seminar.

Students should consult with the Graduate Program Director if a course of interest is not shown in the curriculum grid.  For a full list of Philosophy graduate level courses, click here.

Master of Arts in Social Philosophy - Jesuit Scholastic Enhanced Track

The MA in Social Philosophy Jesuit Scholastic Enhanced Track requires 30 credit hours of coursework, a 0-credit Pedagogy Seminar, and an MA examination. The Enhanced Track is designed for Jesuit scholastics in First Studies who have some background in philosophy. It serves students interested in enhancing their theoretical knowledge of social, political, critical, and ethical philosophy as well as students interested in pursuing doctoral studies in philosophy. 

Specific courses may not be offered every semester and course offerings are subject to change.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select one course in European History of Philosophy:		3
PHIL 401	Plato
PHIL 402	Aristotle
PHIL 403	Ancient Philosophy
PHIL 405	Augustine
PHIL 406	Aquinas
PHIL 407	Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 408	Late Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 410	Descartes
PHIL 411	Classical Rationalism
PHIL 412	Classical Empiricism
PHIL 415	Kant
PHIL 416	17th-18th Century Philosophy
PHIL 417	Classical German Philosophy
PHIL 420	Hegel
PHIL 462	Kant's Moral Philosophy
Non-European Traditions
Select one of the following:		3
PHIL 407	Medieval Philosophy *
PHIL 439	Chinese Philosophy
PHIL 463	Virtue Ethics *
PHIL 468	Topics in Ethics *
PHIL 484	Philosophical Anthropology *
PHIL 490	Current Philosophical Issues *
Social and Political Philosophy/Ethics		9
PHIL 480	Social & Political Philosophy
Select two additional courses
Contemporary/Critical Perspectives		3
Select one course
Select three 400-level Electives 1, 2, 3		9
PHIL 505	Teaching Internship I 4
PHIL 511	Social Ethics Practicum	3
Total Hours		30

*

In general, these courses meet the requirements, but sometimes a topic may not be suitable, in which case the Graduate Program Director will advise about a substitute.

¹

Students may also take PHIL 500, PHIL 501, PHIL 502, and PHIL 503

²

While it is not required, it is recommended that students take electives in areas that emphasize interdisciplinarity, engaged learning, and/or environmental issues.

³

Up to two electives may be taken in related courses offered by other graduate departments or schools within Loyola, subject to approval from the Graduate Program Director.

⁴

This will be taken as a 0-credit Pedagogy Seminar.

Students should consult with the Graduate Program Director if a course of interest is not shown in the curriculum grid.  For a full list of Philosophy graduate level courses, click here.

Master of Arts in Social Philosophy

The MA in Social Philosophy requires 30 credit hours of coursework and an MA examination. It serves any student interested in developing their knowledge of social, political, critical, and ethical philosophy and integrating this with professional and non-profit work in areas like law, criminal justice, public policy, migration, environmental justice, and education. 

Specific courses may not be offered every semester and course offerings are subject to change.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Non-European Traditions		3
Select one of the following:
PHIL 407	Medieval Philosophy *
PHIL 439	Chinese Philosophy
PHIL 463	Virtue Ethics *
PHIL 468	Topics in Ethics *
PHIL 484	Philosophical Anthropology *
PHIL 490	Current Philosophical Issues *
Social and Political Philosophy/Ethics 1		15
PHIL 480	Social & Political Philosophy
Select four additional courses
Select three 400-level Electives 2, 3		9
PHIL 511	Social Ethics Practicum	3
Total Hours		30

*

In general, these courses meet the requirements, but sometimes a topic may not be suitable, in which case the Graduate Program Director will advise about a substitute.

¹

While it is not required, students are advised to choose two areas and take two courses in one area, and three courses in another area. These areas are:

1. Social and Political Philosophy/Philosophy of Law
2. Critical Philosophy of Race/Feminism
3. Human Security
4. Climate Change and Environmental Justice
5. Bioethics
6. International Issues and Perspectives

²

Students may also take PHIL 500, PHIL 501, PHIL 502, and PHIL 503

³

Up to two electives may be taken in related courses offered by other graduate departments or schools within Loyola, subject to approval from the Graduate Program Director.

Students should consult with the Graduate Program Director if a course of interest is not shown in the curriculum grid.  For a full list of Philosophy graduate level courses, click here.

Social and Political Philosophy/Ethics Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PHIL 431	Marxism	3
PHIL 436	Contemporary French Philosophy *	3
PHIL 438	Topics in Continental Philosophy *	3
PHIL 457	Aesthetics *	3
PHIL 459	Philosophy of Law	3
PHIL 462	Kant's Moral Philosophy	3
PHIL 463	Virtue Ethics	3
PHIL 464	Utilitarianism	3
PHIL 466	Major Authors in Moral Philosophy	3
PHIL 467	Contemporary Ethical Theories	3
PHIL 468	Topics in Ethics	3
PHIL 469	Ethics and Rationality	3
PHIL 470	Ethics & Economic Justice	3
PHIL 475	Philosophy of Nursing: Nursing as a Moral Practice	3
PHIL 477	Social Health Care Ethics	3
PHIL 478	Research Methods in Social Justice	3
PHIL 479	Issues in Applied Ethics	3
PHIL 480	Social & Political Philosophy	3
PHIL 481	Philosophy of Action	3
PHIL 482	Philosophy of Social Science	3
PHIL 483	Philosophical Questions in Human Rights	3
PHIL 484	Philosophical Anthropology *	3
PHIL 485	International Ethics	3
PHIL 487	Moral and Legal Issues of Economic Sanctions	3
PHIL 490	Current Philosophical Issues *	3

*

In general, these courses meet the requirements, but sometimes a topic may not be suitable, in which case the Graduate Program Director will advise about a substitute.

Contemporary/Critical Perspectives Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PHIL 422	Nietzsche	3
PHIL 430	Husserl	3
PHIL 431	Marxism	3
PHIL 432	Heidegger	3
PHIL 433	Phenomenology/Existentialism	3
PHIL 434	Hermeneutics & Critical Theory	3
PHIL 436	Contemporary French Philosophy	3
PHIL 437	Contemporary German Philosophy	3
PHIL 438	Topics in Continental Philosophy	3
PHIL 440	American Philosophy	3
PHIL 441	Wittgenstein	3
PHIL 442	Anglo-American Philosophy	3
PHIL 444	Studies in Logic	3
PHIL 445	Philosophy of Mind	3
PHIL 446	Philosophy of Perception	3
PHIL 447	Issues in Cognitive Science	3
PHIL 449	Philosophy of Language	3
PHIL 450	Epistemology	3
PHIL 451	Metaphysics	3
PHIL 452	Philosophy of Science	3
PHIL 454	Philosophy of Religion	3
PHIL 455	Philosophical Theology	3
PHIL 468	Topics in Ethics *	3
PHIL 490	Current Philosophical Issues *	3

*

In general, these courses meet the requirements, but sometimes a topic may not be suitable, in which case the Graduate Program Director will advise about a substitute.

For students who began the MA in Social Philosophy before Fall 2024

The Master of Arts in Social Philosophy requires 30 credit hours of graduate coursework (10 courses).  The below requirements apply to any student following the M.A. program in Social Philosophy. However, Jesuits who elect to pursue this degree should consult with their advisor regarding other requirements associated with their First Studies program.

Specific courses may not be offered every semester and course offerings are subject to change.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select two courses in Moral Philosophy: 1		6
PHIL 462	Kant's Moral Philosophy
PHIL 463	Virtue Ethics
PHIL 464	Utilitarianism
PHIL 466	Major Authors in Moral Philosophy
PHIL 467	Contemporary Ethical Theories
PHIL 468	Topics in Ethics
PHIL 469	Ethics and Rationality
PHIL 470	Ethics & Economic Justice
PHIL 474	Principles of Business Ethics
PHIL 475	Philosophy of Nursing: Nursing as a Moral Practice
PHIL 477	Social Health Care Ethics
PHIL 479	Issues in Applied Ethics
Select three courses in Social Philosophy: 1,2		9
PHIL 459	Philosophy of Law
PHIL 480	Social & Political Philosophy
PHIL 481	Philosophy of Action
PHIL 482	Philosophy of Social Science
Select five elective graduate level Elective Courses 3		15
Total Hours		30

¹

 PHIL 470 Ethics & Economic Justice can fulfill either the Moral Philosophy or the Social Philosophy requirement. Some courses can fulfill the Moral or Social Philosophy distribution requirements depending on course contents. Students make seek advising from Graduate Program Director in course selection to meet requirements.

²

These courses often include issues concerning ethics and social justice.

³

Up to two electives may be taken in related courses offered by other graduate departments or schools within Loyola, subject to approval from the Graduate Program Director.

• For students who begin an M.A. in Social Philosophy in Fall 2023 or later: Beginning in Fall 2023, all required courses must be taken at the 400 or 500 level. 300-level undergraduate courses cannot be counted toward the MA in Social Philosophy. This does not apply to students who entered before Fall 2023.
• For students who began an M.A. in Social Philosophy before Fall 2023: Of the required courses, up to three may (but need not) be taken as upper-division undergraduate (300-level) courses. The remainder must be graduate courses (400 or 500 level).

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.

Research Tool Requirement

There is no research tool/language requirement for this degree.

MA Examination

An MA Examination is required for students in the BA/MA, MA in Social Philosophy, and MA in Philosophy programs. It is also required for students in the PhD program who have not completed an MA thesis prior to entering the PhD program at Loyola. There are three options for completing the MA Examination depending on the program of study: (1) Oral Defense of MA Thesis; (2) Oral Defense of MA Paper; and (3) Faculty Review of MA Portfolio comprised of Two Scholarly Research Papers (article-length).

Options 1 and 2 are designed for students in the BA/MA, MA in Social Philosophy, and MA in Philosophy. Option 3 is designed for students in the PhD program. While students may fulfill the MA examination in any one of these three ways, it is strongly recommended that students take the exam that has been designed for their program of study. Students will determine in consultation with their advisors which MA Examination option is best for them. Students should also consult the GPD if they wish to deviate from the recommended MA Examination option for their program.

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 Social Philosophy students will have:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the history of philosophy
• Demonstrate knowledge of perennial and contemporary issues in philosophy
• Demonstrate expertise in a particular area of philosophy
• Identify hidden presuppositions of everyday beliefs
• Articulate and evaluate philosophical arguments
• Consider alternative kinds of philosophical argumentation
• Apply philosophical categories, methods and insights to other areas of human interest, experience, or cognitive inquiry
• Frame, research, complete and defend the MA paper
• Frame, complete and submit papers for scholarly conferences and publications
• Work with others for the sake of common purposes
• Foster Jesuit ideals, including truth and justice
• Enhance the pleasures of work in common