M.A. Philosophy

About the Program

The MA program in Philosophy prepares students to win places in top-ranked PhD programmes and professional schools. It accepts both philosophy majors and students from other academic backgrounds seeking to 'retool' as philosophers. For students who need more background than is possible within the MA, a qualifying year is available. The program specializes in Philosophy of Mind/Language/Knowledge/Science and Moral, Social and Political Philosophy and also offers opportunities to study ancient and modern History of Philosophy.

Academic Regulations

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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.
  • Qualifying Year - 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. Regulations governing the qualifying year are outlined in the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
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Program Requirements

The specific program requirements for master's candidates are:

  • 1.0 credit in PHIL 5800 Graduate Seminar;
  • Thesis Option:
    • 2.0 credits in PHIL 5909 Thesis, which must be defended at an oral examination;
    • 2.0 credits which may include up to 1.0 credit by tutorial and which must include at least 0.5 credit in two of the following three areas of study:
      • studies in the history of philosophy
      • studies in philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, logic, epistemology, or metaphysics
      • studies in moral, social, or political philosophy
  • Research Essay Option:
    • 1.0 credit in PHIL 5908 Research Essay;
    • 3.0 credits which may include up to 1.0 credit by tutorial and which must include at least 0.5 credit in two of the following three areas of study:
      • studies in the history of philosophy
      • studies in philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, logic, epistemology, or metaphysics
      • studies in moral, social, or political philosophy

Note:

  • 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 further 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 further 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.
  • 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.
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Course Selection

Not all 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 . Full course descriptions can be found in the courses section of this Calendar.

Special Topics  
PHIL 5000 Special Topic in Philosophy

Tutorials		  
PHIL 5004 Tutorial in the History of Philosophy I
PHIL 5005 Tutorial in the History of Philosophy II
PHIL 5104 Tutorial in the Work of an Individual Philosopher I
PHIL 5105 Tutorial in the Work of an Individual Philosopher II
PHIL 5204 Tutorial in Logic, Epistemology, or Metaphysics I
PHIL 5205 Tutorial in Logic, Epistemology, or Metaphysics II
PHIL 5304 Tutorial in Selected Problems of Philosophy I
PHIL 5305 Tutorial in Selected Problems of Philosophy II

Seminars
PHIL 5200 Topics in Philosophy of Mind or Philosophy of Language
PHIL 5250 Topics in Logic, Epistemology, Metaphysics or Philosophy of Science
PHIL 5300 Topics in Value Theory
PHIL 5350 Topics in Ethics or Political Philosophy
PHIL 5500 Topics in Contemporary Philosophy
PHIL 5600 Topics in the History of Philosophy
PHIL 5800 [1.0] Graduate Seminar
PHIL 5908 [1.0] Research Essay
PHIL 5909 [2.0] M.A. Thesis

 

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