SJSU Catalog

Philosophy Department

MA - Philosophy

Advisor: Dr. Noam Cook

Requirements for Admission to Classified Standing

Candidates must meet all university requirements for admission. In addition, a student will be admitted to classified status only if:

1. At least 18 units in philosophy have been taken including at least 6 units in upper division work, at least 6 units in the history of philosophy, at least 3 units in ethics, and at least 3 units of symbolic logic (Phil 9 or its equivalent). Exceptions based on comparable studies and experience may be made with graduate committee approval.

2. The average grade received in the 18 units is at least a "B".

3. Three letters of recommendation have been submitted.

Admission to Conditionally Classified Standing

Applicants who meet requirements for admission to the Graduate Division but who do not meet all the requirements for classified standing will be admitted as conditionally classified.

Requirements for Admission to Candidacy for the MA - Philosophy

The basic requirements for admission to candidacy for the MA - Philosophy are outlined in detail in the Academic Requirements section of this catalog. The University requires that all graduate students demonstrate competency in written English as a condition for advancement to candidacy. Please refer to the SJSU catalog section titled “Competency in Written English” for details. For graduate courses that meet the competency in written English requirement, please refer to the Graduate Studies and Research website at www.sjsu.edu/gradstudies.

Completing Requirements

Plan A - Thesis

Designed for students who wish to do a thesis.

Plan B - Reading Intensive

Designed for students who wish to do a guided, individualized reading project.

Plan C - Applied Philosophy Project

Designed for students who wish to do a project.

Course Requirements
Required Core Courses			12
Phil 290, Phil 291 or Phil 292 may be repeated as a substitute for Phil 293 if the philosopher or philosophic tradition is different.
PHIL 290, PHIL 291, PHIL 292 and PHIL 293
Elective Courses			12
100- or 200-level courses within the department (one or more of 290, 291, 292, and 293 may be repeated as electives when the course content is different)
Comprehensive Exam
taken after the bulk of core and elective courses are completed
Choose One Plan			6
Plan A (Thesis)		6
PHIL 298 and PHIL 299
Plan B (Reading Intensive)		6
200-level course and PHIL 298
Plan C (With Applied Philosophy Project)		6
PHIL 298 and PHIL 299
Total Units:			30