Graduate Program in Philosophy

Why a Graduate Degree in Philosophy?

Post-baccalaureate study in philosophy is personally and professionally rewarding. An MA in Philosophy is often an ideal transition to PhD programs in Philosophy or in related fields such as Religious Studies.  Many community colleges offer a multitude of courses in philosophy and faculty who teach them must have an MA degree.

The MA in Philosophy is an excellent preparation for careers in law, management, and other professional fields. For example, there is a growing need for philosophers with applied ethics backgrounds to work with medical, biotechnology, and environmental professionals. Students with strong philosophy background typically earn top scores on examinations such as the LSAT, GMAT, and GRE.  Our program is an effective stepping stone for students who plan to seek admission to law school.

Our  Program

We offer a two-year program leading to a Master of Arts in Philosophy. We admit students who have a BA in Philosophy, but we also admit students with undergraduate degrees in other fields.  We have a strong core program for students who want to strengthen their preparation in the fundamentals of the discipline.  SFSU faculty members are active scholars and offer advanced students the opportunity to be involved in the development of new research in a number of philosophical fields.  

Our program is flexible and accommodates students pursuing a variety of goals: as preparation for those seeking a PhD in Philosophy, a terminal MA for community college teaching, or for professional or personal enrichment. In order to serve students who work during the day, we regularly offer graduate seminars in the evening. Under supervision of the faculty, students develop their own course of study suited to their goals. We have developed strong departmental relationships throughout the University and encourage interdisciplinarity in student and faculty research. Philosophy Department facilities include a Critical Thinking Computer Lab where students learn to teach using argument analysis software, and a comfortable student lounge.

Degree Requirements

To earn an MA in Philosophy, students must complete at least eight courses (four Philosophy seminars and four upper-division or graduate level courses in Philosophy and/or a related field), pass a comprehensive exam, and write and defend a thesis.

Assistantships

To assist graduate students both financially and professionally, the Department offers a number of opportunities to build a teaching portfolio. Students may gain experience as a Teaching Assistant (TA) by working under a faculty mentor for graduate credit or for pay (depending on the course assisted). Students also have the opportunity to apply to be a Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA). As GTAs, students teach courses in Critical Thinking, Introduction to Philosophy, and Introduction to Philosophy and Religion. The current pay for a GTA is $2128 per course per semester. Students apply early each semester for the assistantships and if selected receive training before beginning their assignment.
 
Application to the Program

We accept applications for both Fall and Spring semesters. The application procedure has two parts: the application to San Francisco State University and the application to the Department of Philosophy. The application to San Francisco State University is at:

Department Website