Description
Advisor: Dr. Noam Cook
The M. A. in philosophy may be pursued through one of three
plans. The plan with thesis is the most traditional and is
particularly appropriate for students who wish to pursue a formal
written project under close faculty supervision in preparation for
a later dissertation at a Ph.D. granting institution.
The second plan, called the Reading Intensive plan, is particularly
appropriate for students who are pursuing the M. A. for personal
enrichment. Students who wish to go on to a Ph.D. program may
also use it, for example if they believe that focusing on writing a
publishable paper would be more valuable than finishing a Master’s
Thesis. (It is becoming common for Ph.D. programs not to require an
M.A. thesis, and for employers to expect some publications even
before completing the Ph.D.) The third plan, with the Applied
Philosophy Project, fits well with the concept of San Jose State as
a metropolitan university. It connects philosophy in a
systematic manner to professional life in Silicon Valley.
Students who follow this plan frequently come from the community to
reflect, in a sustained and rigorous way, on the ethical, social,
and epistemological aspects of their work in the professional and
business world. They, then, return to the community with an
enriched perspective, a firm commitment to philosophy, and stronger
ties to San Jose State.
Requirements
Units
-
Core
Courses
12
Phil 290*, 291, 292, and 293 or 157
-
Elective
Courses
12
100 or 200 level, within the
Department**
-
Plan (select
one)
6
Plan A - Thesis
Phil 298 (directed
reading in support of the thesis)
Phil 299 (thesis and oral defense)
Plan B - Reading Intensive
200-level course
(on advisement)
Phil 298 (directed
reading in support of
independent
study)
Plan C - Applied Philosophy
Project
Phil 298 (directed project
in applied philosophy)
Phil 299
(project report and oral defense)
Total
units: 30****
* Fulfills University graduate requirement in
“written English.”
** One or more of 290, 291, 292 and 293 may be repeated as
electives when the course content is different.
*** Taken after the bulk of the core and elective courses is
completed. Given the third Friday of each semester, 1:00 to 4:00
PM. A reading list and sample questions are on file in the
Department Office. Fulfills University graduate requirement for “
culminating experience.”
**** On approval, when relevance to the candidate’s degree can
be demonstrated, up to 6 of the 30 units may be from prior
post-baccalaureate course work or from course work taken outside
the Department during the MA programme.
Plan A - Thesis
Designed for students who wish to prepare either for doctoral
study elsewhere or for teaching philosophy at the community college
level.
Plan B - Reading Intensive
Designed for students who wish to do a guided, individualized
reading project.
Plan C - Applied Philosophy Project
Designed for students who wish to provide a basis for work in an
area of applied philosophy.
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