Learning Outcomes

  • Argumentative Skill. Philosophy M.A. students will demonstrate a high level of skill in formulating, defending, analyzing, and critiquing complex philosophical arguments.
  • Research Excellence. Philosophy M.A. students will develop the skills necessary to engage primary, secondary, and archival sources in order to produce original academic research in their areas of competence and specialization. They will be prepared to revise and submit this work to academic conferences and/or publication
  • Historical Expertise. Philosophy M.A. students will exhibit broad familiarity with and deep expertise in mobilizing concepts, arguments, and methodological approaches drawn from the history of philosophy, including ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary thought.
  • Contemporary engagement. Philosophy M.A. students will be prepared to engage, assess, and participate in cutting-edge contemporary disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and extra-disciplinary academic debates.
  • Professionalization. Philosophy M.A. students will be able to produce well-structured dossiers for doctoral or professional school or academic-adjacent careers.
  • Linguistic Competence. Philosophy M.A. students will develop or hone their capacity to work with philosophical material written in one language other than English, including primary texts and scholarly literature. 

Requirements for the Philosophy M.A. Degree

Program Structure

MA students are intended to complete the program in two years, with the first structured entirely by coursework and the second by coursework and PhD program or job application preparation. An MA thesis is not required.

Coursework

The MA program requires 30 graduate course credit hours (10 seminars), typically taken three per semester during the first year and two per semester during the second.

Historical Area Requirement

MA students must take one course designated in each of four historical areas: ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary philosophy. Historical area designations are specified on seminar syllabi. Not all seminars satisfy an historical area requirement and some courses qualify for multiple area (though each may be counted only once toward the requirement).

Independent Studies

With the agreement of a faculty supervisor and a course contract approved by the Chair and Director of Graduate Studies, MA students may enroll in one three-credit Readings in Philosophy independent study that counts as coursework.

Extra-Departmental Courses

Three coursework credits (one seminar) may be taken through another academic department or at another Pittsburgh-area university when relevant to a student’s research agenda. Extra-departmental course enrollments require prior approval by the Chair and Director of Graduate Studies.

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits are not accepted and advanced standing is not awarded for the M.A. program. Please note that this Philosophy graduate transfer credit policy is more limited than the general Graduate School policy.

Language Requirement

MA students must demonstrate research competence in one research language (typically ancient Greek, Latin, French, or German). Other languages may be substituted when demonstrably relevant to a student research agenda. Language course enrollments do not count the coursework requirement total, but are covered by assigned tuition credits.

Thesis Option

M.A. students are not required to write a Master's Thesis. Those who choose to do so must secure the agreement of a faculty director and register for PHIL 700 Research Thesis during their final two semesters of the program. These 6 Research Thesis credits do count toward the coursework credit requirement detailed above.

Satisfactory Progress

The Chair and Director of Graduate Studies periodically review progress toward degree. Students deemed not to be making satisfactory progress may be placed on probation or asked to leave the program. University policy requires all work leading to a M.A. degree to be completed no more than six years after matriculation

Degree Conferral

M.A. candidates must make a formal application for the degree at the office of the Registrar prior to the date specified in that year's University Calendar and should be present at graduation. Students must make complete settlement of their financial accounts with the university before any degree will be conferred.

For Ph.D. in Philosophy information refer to the Ph.D. listing

Requirements for the Philosophy M.A. and Law School J.D. Joint Degree Program

This joint degree is offered through the collaboration of Duquesne University School of Law and the McAnulty College & Graduate School of Liberal Arts. The purpose of this joint degree is to offer students the opportunity of a rigorous study of philosophy while completing a J.D. program at the same time.

Joint degree students may begin their studies either in the School of Law or in the McAnulty College & Graduate School of Liberal Arts.

Joint degree students are required to complete credit hours in accordance with the requirements corresponding to each degree. Students also remain responsible for satisfying any additional graduation requirements, as dictated each program's guidelines.

  • To complete the J.D. through the Joint Degree Program, students must complete 88 credit hours: 76 credits through Law and 12 credits through Philosophy.
  • To complete the M.A. in Philosophy through the Joint Degree Program, students must complete 30 credit hours: 24 credits through Philosophy and 6 credits through courses. Law courses are typically 2 or 3 credits each. Philosophy courses are always 3 credits each.

Except during the first year of legal study, students may enroll for 15 credit maximum per semester. Law students are not permitted to take Philosophy courses during their first year of Law course work.