Master of Arts Requirements
General requirements
Students should take careful note of the following requirements.
- Complete 24 credit hours of 5000- or 6000-level in the Department of Philosophy and complete 30 graduate credit hours overall.
- Satisfy the depth and breadth concentration requirements (see below).
- Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher at all times and receive at least a B in all credits counting toward the degree.
- Independent studies can be taken for up to eight credits, four each between PHIL 5980 (graded) and PHIL 7100 (credit/no credit). These do not satisfy any area concentration requirements (see below). To take an independent study course, you must complete a graduate student independent study permission form, have it signed by both the DGS and the faculty member with whom you wish to complete the independent study, and return the signed form to the department office
- With the authorization of the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), students may count up to six credit hours of courses from other departments. To request that a course from another department apply to the Master of Arts in philosophy program, complete the permission to apply a course from another department form, attach the materials requested on the form, and leave it in the mailbox of the DGS. The department's office associate will contact you with the DGS's decision.
- A Graduate Program Review is conducted at the end of every year. You must meet with the DGS by March 1. It is your responsibility to ensure that this meeting has taken place. Failure to comply by meeting annually may result in dismissal from the program. At this meeting the DGS will conduct a review of your program of study and determine both whether it: (1) meets program requirements; and (2) constitutes a viable and coherent program of study. The director has the right to deem your proposed program of study to be unacceptable even if it meets all program requirements. Bring with you:
- A completed permanent program form. List all of the courses that you have taken, are taking, and will take in order to complete the requirements for completion of the Master of Arts in philosophy program. If you have completed such a form at a previous graduate program review, take a copy of that form to the meeting. Changes to an already completed form will be submitted using a program change form.
- A completed concentration requirements satisfaction form, with instructor signatures indicating approval of cross-listed courses for concentration.
- A current copy of your transcript. A copy of your "unofficial" transcript available through GoWMU is acceptable.
- An application for graduation audit form must be completed about six months prior to expected graduation. Deadlines are published by the Office of the Registrar.
In addition to the above, the graduate students in the Philosophy Department are expected to attend Department events (e.g., Colloquium talks, Brown Bag presentations, other Department sponsored events). Graduate students are also encouraged to participate in the Department's community outreach efforts.
Concentrations
The Master of Arts in Philosophy at WMU can be pursued under a thesis or non-thesis options. (Most students opt for the non-thesis option).
Graduate courses in philosophy are offered in three concentration areas to fulfill the depth and breadth requirements for the thesis and non-thesis tracks. Students must declare a concentration by the end of their first semester but may, with departmental approval, change this at a later date.
- Metaphysics and Philosophy of Mind
- Epistemology and Philosophy of Science
- Theoretical and Practical Ethics
Proviso: For courses listed under more than one concentration, the faculty member and student will come to an agreement concerning the concentration under which a given course will fall. Students may count a given offering of a course under only one concentration.