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Graduate Calendar 2009-2010

Philosophy

Paterson Hall 3A46
Telephone: 613-520-2110
Fax: 613-520-3962
carleton.ca/philosophy

The Department

Chair of the Department: Geraldine Finn
Supervisor of Graduate Studies: Richard Manning

The Department of Philosophy offers programs of study leading to the degree of Master of Arts.

Qualifying-Year Program

Applicants who do not hold an Honours degree (or the equivalent) will be required to register in a qualifying-year program before proceeding to the master's program.

The regulations governing the qualifying year are outlined in the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

The minimum requirement for admission to the master's program is an Honours B.A. degree (or the equivalent) in Philosophy, with at least B+ standing (or the equivalent). Qualifying-year and M.A. applicants from an institution other than Carleton University must submit two papers.

Program Requirements

The specific program requirements for master's candidates are the following:

  • PHIL 5800 (1.0 credit);
  • A thesis equivalent to 2.0 credits, which must be defended at an oral examination; or a research essay equivalent to 1.0 credit;
  • 2.0 credits (or 3.0 in the case of students following the research essay option)(including up to 1.0 credit by tutorial), in at least three of the following study areas: studies in the history of philosophy; studies in the work of an individual philosopher; studies in logic, epistemology, or metaphysics; studies in selected problems in philosophy.

Guidelines for Completion of Master's Degree

Full-time students enrolled in the 5.0 credit M.A. program are expected to complete PHIL 5800 and 2.0 credits by the end of the second term of study. The thesis or research essay approval form should be submitted by the end of the fourth week of the third term of study. Those students choosing the research essay option should complete 1.0 additional credits by the end of the third term of study. All full-time students are expected to submit the thesis or research essay by the end of the fourth term of study.

Part-time students enrolled in the 5.0 credit M.A. program are expected to complete PHIL 5800 and 2.0 credits by the end of the third year of study. The thesis or research essay approval form should be submitted by the end of the second month of the fourth year of study. Those students choosing the research essay option should complete 1.0 additional credit by the end of the fourth year of study. All part-time students are expected to submit the thesis or research essay by the end of the fifth year of study.

Other Courses

A maximum of 1.0 credit may be selected from courses offered at the 4000-level, or in a related field, or at another university.

Each year, the department offers 4000-level undergraduate 0.5 credit courses, which are open to students in the qualifying year and, with permission, to students in the M.A. program. Consult the Undergraduate Calendar for course information.

Graduate Courses

Not all of the following courses are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca

PHIL 5000 [0.5 credit]
Special Topic in Philosophy
A detailed study of a special topic in philosophy. Topics may vary from year to year. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 4100, for which additional credit is precluded when topics are the same.

Tutorial Courses

PHIL 5004 [0.5 credit]
Tutorial in the History of Philosophy I
Detailed study of a period or issue in the history of philosophy.
PHIL 5005 [0.5 credit]
Tutorial in the History of Philosophy II
Detailed study of a period or issue in the history of philosophy.
PHIL 5104 [0.5 credit]
Tutorial in the Work of an Individual Philosopher I
A critical and systematic study of the work of an individual philosopher.
PHIL 5105 [0.5 credit]
Tutorial in the Work of an Individual Philosopher II
A critical and systematic study of the work of an individual philosopher.
PHIL 5204 [0.5 credit]
 Tutorial in Logic, Epistemology, or
Metaphysics I
An attempt to find a solution to a specific problem in logic, epistemology, or metaphysics.
PHIL 5205 [0.5 credit]
Tutorial in Logic, Epistemology, or Metaphysics II
An attempt to find a solution to a specific problem in logic, epistemology, or metaphysics.
PHIL 5304 [0.5 credit]
Tutorial in Selected Problems of Philosophy I
An attempt to find a solution to a specific problem in some area other than logic, epistemology, or metaphysics.
PHIL 5305 [0.5 credit]
Tutorial in Selected Problems of Philosophy II
An attempt to find a solution to a specific problem in some area other than logic, epistemology, or metaphysics.

Seminar Courses

PHIL 5200 [0.5 credit]
Topics in Philosophy of Mind or Philosophy of Language
A detailed study of an issue or the work of selected philosophers in the general area of philosophy of mind and/or philosophy of language. Topics may vary from year to year. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 4210 or PHIL 4220, for which additional credit is precluded when topics are the same.
PHIL 5250 [0.5 credit]
Topics in Logic, Epistemology, Metaphysics or Philosophy of Science
A detailed study of an issue or the work of selected philosophers in the general areas of logic, epistemology, metaphysics or philosophy of science. Topics may vary from year to year. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 4230, for which additional credit is precluded when topics are the same.
PHIL 5300 [0.5 credit]
Topics in Value Theory
A detailed study of an issue or the work of selected philosophers in the general area of value theory. Topics may vary from year to year. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 4300, for which additional credit is precluded when topics are the same.
PHIL 5350 [0.5 credit]
Topics in Ethics or Political Philosophy
A detailed study of an issue or the work of selected philosophers in the general areas of ethics or political philosophy. Topics may vary from year to year. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 4320 or PHIL 4330, for which additional credit is precluded when topics are the same.
PHIL 5500 [0.5 credit]
Topics in Contemporary Philosophy
A detailed study of an issue or the work of selected philosophers in contemporary philosophy. Topics may vary from year to year. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 4007 or PHIL 4008, for which additional credit is precluded when topics are the same.
PHIL 5600 [0.5 credit]
Topics in the History of Philosophy
A detailed study within the history of philosophy: a period, an issue or the work of selected philosophers. Topics may vary from year to year. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as PHIL 4003, PHIL 4004, PHIL 4005, or PHIL 4006, for which additional credit is precluded when topics are the same.
PHIL 5800 [1.0 credit]
Graduate Seminar
The first term will be devoted to a single issue or group of interrelated issues. In the second term, a variety of topics will be discussed. Issues covered in this course will vary from year to year.
PHIL 5908 [1.0 credit]
Research Essay
PHIL 5909 [2.0 credits]
M.A. Thesis