Graduate Bulletin
Philosophy, M.A.
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: January 15
Admission is competitive and determined only once a year.
APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 3
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with your academic competence. Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:
No specific coursework is required.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:
A baccalaureate degree is required, preferably with some coursework in Philosophy.
Statement of Goals:
The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words in length and should include the following elements: your interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.
Standardized Test Scores:
The GRE is required. Scores are typically in the 65-75% range on the verbal and quantitative sections.
Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted: 79 iBT or 550 PBT.
Resume:
A short curriculum vitae should be submitted with your application.
Writing Sample:
The writing sample should demonstrate your ability to research and write a scholarly paper. The paper should be no more than 10 pages and fully referenced according to a professional, scholarly style manual. It should be in the area of Philosophy or a closely related field.

Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30
Required Courses:
The Thesis Option requires students to take 24 credits in Philosophy and 6 credits in thesis writing. The Non-Thesis Option requires students to take 6 credits in electives rather than in thesis writing.
For a current copy of the Departmental Graduate Handbook, which lists all requirements, contact Sonia Lawson, the Graduate Coordinator, at 215-204-1742 or slawson@temple.edu.
Internship: No internship is required.
Language Examination: No language examination is required.
Culminating Events:
Thesis Option:
A thesis is required when choosing the Thesis Option.
Non-Thesis Option:
This option has no culminating events.

Contacts
Program Contact Information:
www.cla.temple.edu/philosophy/
Department Information:
Dept. of Philosophy
728 Anderson Hall
1114 Polett Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19122
slawson@temple.edu
215-204-1742
Department Contacts:Coordinator:
Sonia Lawson
slawson@temple.edu
215-204-1742
Director of Graduate Studies:
Dr. Kristin Gjesdal
kgjesdal@temple.edu
215-204-1742
Chairperson:
Dr. David Wolfsdorf
dwolfsdo@temple.edu
215-204-8296

About the Program
Temple’s Department of Philosophy has strengths in several areas of philosophical study. The department has a rich history and continuing presence in the field of aesthetics. Professors Monroe Beardsley and John Fisher were in the department for many years, and now the department is home to Professors Philip Alperson, Noel Carroll, Susan Feagin, Espen Hammer, Joseph Margolis, and Paul Taylor. The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism has its editorial offices in the department, and graduate students have the opportunity to work for the journal. Faculty specializing in social and political philosophy include Professors Lewis Gordon, Paul Taylor, and Shelley Wilcox. The department also has expertise in Africana philosophy, continental philosophy, epistemology, feminist philosophy, philosophy of mind, philosophy of race, and philosophy of science.
The M.A. program itself is designed for students to begin advanced training in the field of Philosophy. Students may plan to continue with a Ph.D. program elsewhere, or may be satisfied with a master's degree for personal enrichment or for pre-college teaching. Students who plan at the outset to pursue the Ph.D. at Temple should apply to the Ph.D. program rather than the M.A. program. The M.A. can still be earned on the way to the Ph.D., if desired.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years
Campus Location:
Main, Center City
Full-Time/Part-Time Status:
The degree can be completed on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester). Most classes are offered before 4:30 p.m., however, so it is not possible to complete the degree with evening classes only.
Department Information:
Dept. of Philosophy
728 Anderson Hall
1114 Polett Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19122
slawson@temple.edu
215-204-1742
Interdisciplinary Study:
The program encourages students in the M.A. program to engage in a limited amount of interdisciplinary coursework. Students generally take courses in African American Studies, Art History, English, Psychology, or Women’s Studies.
Affiliation(s):
The Greater Philadelphia Consortium provides expanded course options for graduate work in Philosophy. Students enrolled in the M.A. program at Temple may take graduate courses at the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University.
Study Abroad:
No.
Ranking:
Not applicable.
Accreditation:
Not applicable.
Job Placement:
M.A. graduates often find employment as teachers in community colleges and in other professions. For university teaching, the Ph.D. is necessary.
Licensure:
Not applicable.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy:
Non-matriculated students may register for courses after an interview with the Director of Graduate Studies, at which time they should present academic transcripts. Credit toward a subsequent degree program at Temple University is limited to 9 credits.

Financing Opportunities
University Fellowships, Graduate Assistantships, and Academic Internships are ordinarily reserved for Ph.D. students.

Updated 2.12.13
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