Department Website: MA in Philosophy
Master of Arts in Philosophy
The Master of Arts in Philosophy at Gonzaga University builds on the foundational role of philosophical inquiry as central to the university’s Jesuit, Catholic, humanistic identity. This rigorous program integrates coursework, supervised study, examinations, and an optional thesis to address key philosophical problems, developments and figures throughout history, including contemporary movements in philosophy as well as social, political and environmental ethics. By focusing on the core questions of reality, knowledge, and the good, the program fosters advanced skills in critical reflection, self-examination and intellectual engagement with diverse cultures and backgrounds. These objectives align with the Philosophy Department’s mission and Gonzaga University’s broader commitment to intellectual growth and moral reasoning so as to foster the development of informed, effective leadership. The program equips students with the necessary tools to analyze arguments, advance new concepts and confidently wield complex discursive strategies and methodologies across multiple career pathways, including Ph.D. studies in Philosophy or related disciplines, such as Theology, Law, Communications and/or Politics. It further provides students with the credentials to teach philosophy at the introductory, community college or university level.
The Master’s degree is offered on a full-time or part-time with three programs (1 year program, 2 year program and an Accelerated 4 + 1 program for current GU undergraduates) basis during the regular session. While many courses offered in the Gonzaga Master of Arts program are cross-listed with undergraduate courses, two Graduate Seminars restricted to graduate students is offered each fall and and one each spring. Two (remote) graduate-level history of philosophy courses are also available during summer as well as student initiated Directed Studies and the optional Thesis.
Admissions
- Students applying to Gonzaga University must submit Gonzaga’s Graduate Application, which can be accessed online at https://www.gonzaga.edu/gradapply
- Along with the application for graduate study, each program at Gonzaga has distinct admission requirements. Please refer to the table below to view that detailed information.
Pre-requisite
B.A. with major (or acceptable background) in Philosophy from a regionally accredited college or university.
MA in Philosophy
Program Requirements
Completion of the Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from Gonzaga University requires:
- 30-credit program hours, including eight seminars (24 credits) and an option to do a Thesis (6 credits) or take two more Graduate Seminars or Directed Studies. At least four seminars (12 credits) must be graduate-specific (PHIL 577 Graduate Seminar or PHIL 579 Graduate Seminar). Students may also take up to four cross-listed Philosophy Major Seminars (PHIL 586 Seminar, PHIL 587 Seminar, or PHIL 588 Seminar) and up to two Directed Study courses (PHIL 690 Directed Study or PHIL 691 Directed Study) to complete their course requirements.
- Registration in the Graduate Seminar each semester in which the student is taking course work.
- Successful completion of a comprehensive examination (including written and oral components) (PHIL 697 Comprehensive Examination). Students are required to take PHIL 520 History of Philosophy I/PHIL 521 History of Philosophy II during the summer (as online courses) in order to prepare for this exam. Gonzaga Philosophy Major undergraduates can opt out of these two courses and take the comprehensive exam without enrolling in either PHIL 520 History of Philosophy I/PHIL 521 History of Philosophy II, though they will be encouraged to do so.
- Successful completion of a logic exam, testing skills up to and including the predicate calculus (PHIL 695 Logic Requirement).
- The M.A. program has no foreign language requirement, but a thesis director may require a student to have competency in translating texts from a foreign language into English depending on the student’s thesis topic.
These requirements can be completed in one of the following three ways:
1 Year MA Thesis
Summer: PHIL 520 History of Philosophy I/PHIL 521 History of Philosophy II courses (if a non-alumnus from GU)
Fall: 2 PHIL 577 Graduate Seminar/PHIL 579 Graduate Seminar and 1 PHIL 586 Seminar/PHIL 587 Seminar,
Spring: 1 PHIL 577 Graduate Seminar/PHIL 579 Graduate Seminar and 1 PHIL 586 Seminar/PHIL 587 Seminar,
Summer: PHIL 699 Thesis
1 Year MA Non-Thesis
Summer: 2 PHIL 520 History of Philosophy I/PHIL 521 History of Philosophy II (if a non-alumnus from GU)
Fall: 2 PHIL 577 Graduate Seminar/PHIL 579 Graduate Seminar and 1 PHIL 586 Seminar/PHIL 587 Seminar,
Spring: 1 PHIL 577 Graduate Seminar/PHIL 579 Graduate Seminar and 1 PHIL 586 Seminar/PHIL 587 Seminar,
Summer: 2 PHIL 690 Directed Study/PHIL 691 Directed Study
2 Year MA Thesis/Non Thesis
Summer: 2 PHIL 520/521 History of Philosophy (if a non-alumnus from GU),
Fall: 2 PHIL 577 Graduate Seminar/PHIL 579 Graduate Seminar
Spring: 1 PHIL 577 Graduate Seminar/PHIL 579 Graduate Seminar
Fall: 2 PHIL 577 Graduate Seminar/PHIL 579 Graduate Seminar
Spring: 1 PHIL 577 Graduate Seminar/PHIL 579 Graduate Seminar
Summer: 2 PHIL 690 Directed Study/PHIL 691 Directed Study or PHIL 699 Thesis
