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Philosophy (MA)

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Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Faculty
Program type
Thesis
Primary campus
Sir George Williams (SGW)
Duration
2 years
Credits
45 credits
Start term
Fall, Winter

Program overview

An MA in Philosophy will help you wrestle with some of humanity's most significant concerns such as: the basis of knowledge, logic, ethical action, human rights, global justice, and understanding our relationship with the environment. The central focus of philosophy is developing conceptual frameworks and tools to address fundamental questions about reality, life, and knowledge. At Concordia, we examine these questions through analytic philosophy, history of philosophy, continental philosophy, and comparative philosophy. Our students are studying topics such as global justice, Kant’s metaphysics, the natures of science and humility, Merleau-Ponty and Levinas’ ethics, and multi-valued logics. Students in the program are well-placed to continue in doctoral studies, with many now teaching at universities around the world. Whatever your path in life, our philosophy MA offers invaluable assets: skills in clear thinking and careful reasoning, coupled with a knowledge of the history of ideas.

Program structure

Degree Requirements

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits.

Please see the Philosophy Courses page for course descriptions.

Philosophy MA (45 credits)

Option A : Philosophy MA Research Thesis

PHIL 693 Research Thesis (27.00)

Option B : Philosophy MA Monograph Thesis

PHIL 696 Monograph Thesis (27.00)

History of Philosophy Courses

PHIL 607 Kant (3.00)
PHIL 609 Selected Topics in the History of Philosophy (3.00)
PHIL 612 Ancient Philosophy (3.00)
PHIL 613 Medieval Philosophy (3.00)
PHIL 614 Modern Philosophy (3.00)
PHIL 615 19th-Century Philosophy (3.00)
PHIL 616 Selected Topics in the History and Philosophy of Science (3.00)
PHIL 617 Origins of Analytic Philosophy (3.00)
PHIL 618 Origins of Continental Philosophy (3.00)

Aesthetics, Moral Philosophy, or Social and Political Philosophy Courses


PHIL 621 Value Theory (3.00)
PHIL 623 Issues in Ethical Theory (3.00)
PHIL 624 Moral Problems (3.00)
PHIL 625 Aesthetics (3.00)
PHIL 626 Political Philosophy (3.00)
PHIL 627 Marx (3.00)
PHIL 628 Philosophy of Law (3.00)
PHIL 629 Values and Biotechnology (3.00)
PHIL 631 Theories of Justice (3.00)
PHIL 632 Environmental Philosophy (3.00)
PHIL 633 Selected Topics in Value Theory (3.00)

Metaphysics, Epistemology, or Philosophy of Science Courses

PHIL 634 Selected Topics in Epistemology (3.00)
PHIL 641 Philosophical Foundations of Biology (3.00)
PHIL 643 Selected Topics in Metaphysics (3.00)
PHIL 644 Philosophy of Science (3.00)
PHIL 645 Philosophy of Mathematics (3.00)
PHIL 646 Philosophy of Language (3.00)
PHIL 647 Philosophy of Mind (3.00)
PHIL 648 Philosophy of Social Science (3.00)
PHIL 649 Phenomenology (3.00)
PHIL 652 Selected Topics in Logic (3.00)
PHIL 656 Selected Topics in Analytic Philosophy (3.00)
PHIL 658 Selected Topics in Continental Philosophy (3.00)
PHIL 659 Selected Topics in Metaphysics, Epistemology, or Philosophy of Science (3.00)

To be classified each year by the graduate program director

PHIL 672 Tutorial (3.00)
PHIL 678 Topics in Current Research (3.00)
PHIL 698 The Teaching of Philosophy (3.00)

Admission requirements

Admission Requirements

  • Honours degree in philosophy, or its equivalent.
  • Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the English language proficiency page for further information on requirements and exemptions.

Application process

Application deadlines

FALL

February 1 (Canadian resident)
January 15 (International)

WINTER

December 1 (Canadian resident)
June 1 (International)

SUMMER

n/a

Priority will be given to complete applications submitted by the deadline. In some cases, programs may continue to accept applications as long as there is space available.

International students: Considering the waiting period involved in meeting the entry requirements to Canada and Quebec, we strongly encourage international applicants to apply early and submit supporting documents prior to the deadline.

Tuition & funding

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees of the program may depend on your student status, among other key factors. Estimate these costs based on the most common situations.

Awards and funding

Funding packages are generally available for students in thesis-based programs. They come in the form of awards, teaching and research assistantships are offered at the time of admission to most students to allow them to focus on their research and studies. Research and thesis-based students are automatically considered for all entrance graduate awards when they apply to Concordia, provided they meet eligibility criteria. No separate application is required.

The Quebec and Canadian governments offer a number of competitive graduate scholarships. We encourage you to apply for these awards at the same time you are preparing your application.

Out-of-province students

Get $9,251 in special funding for thesis master's programs. Learn more

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