Philosophy, M.A.

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College of Arts and Sciences
Department: Philosophy

Major Contacts, Deadlines, and Delivery Information

Concentrations:

Philosophy and Religion

The Philosophy program at the University of South Florida aims to produce teachers and scholars with a deep understanding of philosophy and a broad knowledge of its history. We welcome a diversity of approaches to the study of philosophy, including analytic, continental, historical, literary, and multicultural. Above all, we seek to prepare our students to make contributions in their areas of expertise and to become responsible members of the philosophical community.

Major Research Areas:
Aesthetics
Analytic Philosophy
Ancient Greek Philosophy
Continental Philosophy
Epistemology
Ethics & Contemporary Moral Philosophy
Feminist Philosophy
Medieval Philosophy
Modern Philosophy
Philosophy of Mind
Philosophy and Religion
Philosophy of Science
Social & Political Philosophy
19^th and 20^th Century Philosophy

Admission Information

Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.

three (3) letters of recommendation
A ten (10) page philosophy writing sample
Brief statement of the Applicant’s Philosophical Interests
GRE scores

Curriculum Requirements

Total Minimum hours: 30 Credit hours

Core – 6 Credit Hours
General Course Requirements or Concentration– 15 Credit Hours minimum
Additional Electives – 6 Credit Hours minimum
Thesis – 3 Credit Hours

Core Requirements (6 Credit Hours)

PHH 6105 Seminar in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy Credit Hours: 3 (3 Credit Hours)
PHH 6310 Seminar in 17th and 18th Century Philosophy Credit Hours: 3 (3 Credit Hours)

General Course Requirements or Concentration (15 Credit Hours)

Students must select either the General Course Requirements option or the Philosophy and Religion Concentration Option.

General Course Requirements Option

Students must complete one of the following:
PHI 5135 Symbolic Logic Credit Hours: 3
Or approved substitute graduate course
Or pass an examination administered by the Department of Philosophy. Students who pass the exam in lieu of PHI 5135 will complete an additional elective for 3 hours.
Students must complete at least one course or graduate seminar in each of the following areas:

•   19th and 20th Century Philosophy
•   Epistemology and Philosophy of Science
•   Value Theory and Social & Political Philosophy
•   Metaphysics, Mind, and Language
Courses are selected from the following list, or other graduate course as approved by the Graduate Director.
PHH 6645 Contemporary Continental Philosophy Credit Hours: 4 (3 Credit Hours)
PHH 6677 Seminar in German Idealism Credit Hours: 3 (3 Credit Hours)
PHH 6938 Seminar in the History of Philosophy Credit Hours: 3
PHI 5135 Symbolic Logic (3 Credit Hours)
PHI 5225 Philosophy of Language Credit Hours: 3
PHI 6305 Seminar in Epistemology Credit Hours: 3
PHI 6405 Seminar in the Philosophy of Natural Science Credit Hours: 3
PHI 6506 Seminar in Metaphysics Credit Hours: 3
PHI 6605 Seminar in Ethics Credit Hours: 3
PHI 6686 Climate Change and Societal Evolution Credit Hours: 3
PHI 6808 Seminar in Aesthetics Credit Hours: 3
PHM 6265 Continental Philosophy I: Phenomenology of Hermeneutics Credit Hours: 3
PHM 6266 Continental Philosophy II: Political and Social Theory Credit Hours: 3
PHM 6305 Seminar in Political Philosophy Credit Hours: 3
PHP 6005 Plato Credit Hours: 3
PHP 6405 Seminar in Descartes’ Philosophy Credit Hours: 4 (3 Credit Hours)
PHP 6415 Kant Credit Hours: 3
PHP 6505 Seminar on Hegel’s Philosophy Credit Hours: 3 (3 Credit Hours)
PHP 6525 Nietzsche and the Nietzscheans Credit Hours: 4
PHP 6624 Adorno Credit Hours: 4 (3 Credit Hours)
PHP 6645 Foucault Credit Hours: 4
PHH 6825 SEminar on Chinese Philosophy Credit Hours: 3 (proposed as PHH 6825)
PHI 6945 Graduate Instruction Methods Credit Hours: 1-3 (may be repeated up to three times for credit)
PHI 6908 Directed Research Credit Hours: 1-19

Philosophy and Religion Concentration

RLG 6035 Theory and Methods in Religious Studies Credit Hours: 3
And one course from each of the following areas:
- Religion in History
- Religion: Ethics, Politics, and Culture
Courses are selected from the following list or as approved by the Graduate Director.
RLG 6143 Religion, Culture, and Society Credit Hours: 3
RLG 6189 Comparative Religious Ethics Credit Hours: 3
RLG 6196 Religion and Modernization Credit Hours: 3
RLG 6285 Studies in Biblical Archaeology Credit Hours: 3
RLG 6438 Modern Christian Thought Credit Hours: 3
RLG 6906 Independent Study Credit Hours: 1-3
RLG 6938 Special Topics in Religious Studies Credit Hours: 2-4
PHH 6825 Seminar on Chinese Philosophy Credit Hours: 3 (proposed as PHH 6825)
PHI 6945 Graduate Instruction Methods Credit Hours: 1-3 (may be repeated up to three times for credit)
PHI 6908 Directed Research Credit Hours: 1-19
Students must complete one course or graduate seminar in Philosophy from the following area, as approved by the Graduate Director:
• Value Theory and Social and Political Philosophy

Students must complete one additional course or graduate seminar from either Philosophy or Religious Studies. When Possible, a course in Non-Western Philosophy or World Religions is recommended.

Language Competency

Students should develop reading knowledge of at least one language other than English relevant to their philosophical work. The level of competence required is to be determined by consultation with thesis advisor (if applicable) and the Graduate Director.

Comprehensive Examination

Students complete a culminating project of either a Thesis OR a comprehensive examination on a required list of readings constructed by the candidate and a committee of examiners. For thesis students, the thesis defense serves in lieu of the comprehensive exam. Students completing the MA requirements while enrolled in the Ph.D. program may instead submit a portfolio of three seminar papers, to be evaluated by a committee of at least three members of the Philosophy graduate faculty.

Electives (6 Credit Hours)

May include Independent Study, Graduate Teaching Methods, language coursework, additional thesis work, or additional graduate coursework as approved by the Graduate Director.

Thesis (3 Credit Hours)

PHI 6971 Thesis: Master’s Credit Hours: 2-19