Program: Philosophy, M.A. - California State University, Los Angeles

Apr 02, 2025

University Catalog 2022-2023

The Master of Arts degree in Philosophy draws students with a wide range of interests and professional goals, including further graduate study in philosophy, community college teaching and personal enrichment. Although the department is analytically oriented, it encourages work in other areas, for example, Asian philosophy, feminist philosophy, and the intersection between European and Anglo-American thought.

Admission to the Program

In addition to University requirements for admission to graduate study the Philosophy Department requires a 2.75 grade point average in the last 60 semester or 90 quarter units, official transcripts, and a writing sample (either a statement of purpose or a philosophy paper). Applicants must possess a baccalaureate in philosophy or a baccalaureate with a major in a field other than philosophy supplemented by the equivalent of a minor in philosophy. The director of graduate studies in the Department of Philosophy will determine whether prior course work is equivalent to a minor. Applicants to the graduate program are admitted based on a comprehensive review of their application materials by the Department of Philosophy.

Applicants must consult an advisor in philosophy to determine whether any academic deficiencies exist before admission to the program can be granted.

Requirements for the Degree (30 units)

A total of 30 units is required, with at least 15 units in 5000-level courses. At least 24 units must be in Philosophy; courses outside Philosophy must be relevant to the student’s program.

Foundational Courses (9 units)

Students are required to include the following philosophy courses in their program, if not completed prior to admission to the program.

PHIL 4050 - Symbolic Logic [3]
PHIL 4100 - Social and Political Philosophy [3]
or
PHIL 4200 - Ethics II [3]
PHIL 4600 - Metaphysics [3]
or
PHIL 4700 - Theory of Knowledge [3]

Comprehensive Examinations or Thesis (0, 3 units)

PHIL 5960 - Comprehensive Examination [0]
or
PHIL 5990 - Thesis [1-3]

Comprehensive Examinations

Students must comply with college and departmental eligibility requirements for registration for the comprehensive examinations (PHIL 5960 ) and may take all three examinations during one semester or spread them over successive semesters.

Students are required to pass comprehensive examinations in three of the four areas in which exams are given; in each area students select one exam.

Area A: Metaphysics or Theory of Knowledge
Area B: Ethics or Social/Political Philosophy
Area C: History of Ancient Philosophy or History of Modern Philosophy
Area D: Aesthetics, Asian Philosophy, Contemporary Continental Philosophy, Latin American Philosophy, Logic, Nineteenth Century Philosophy, Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Religion, or Philosophy of Science.

Students are permitted two attempts to pass each comprehensive examination. Students who fail a comprehensive examination in the same area a second time will be disqualified from the program.

Comprehensive exams will be offered only in the fall and spring terms.

Thesis

Completion of the first 24 units of the master’s degree program with a minimum 3.5 grade point average, approval of the thesis proposal by the department, enrollment in 3 units of PHIL 5990, and an oral examination on the thesis are required for the thesis option. Students who have at any time attempted the comprehensive examination (PHIL 5960) are ineligible for this option.

Students completing a thesis must complete seminars in at least three of the four major subject areas in their master’s degree program. The four subject areas and the courses that fulfill each are:

History of Philosophy:

PHIL 5100 [3] , PHIL 5110 [3] , PHIL 5130 [3] , and PHIL 5150 [3]

Logic, Philosophy of Language, and Philosophy of Science:

PHIL 5210 [3] , PHIL 5230 [3] , and PHIL 5250 [3]

Metaphysics and Theory of Knowledge:
PHIL 5310 [3] , PHIL 5320 [3] , and PHIL 5330 [3]

Aesthetics, Ethics, and Social/Political Philosophy:

PHIL 5420 [3] , PHIL 5430 [3] , and PHIL 5440 [3]

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