Academic Program
Welcome to the home page of the CGU Philosophy program! Here you can learn about the kind of program we are, the sorts of students we’ve designed the program for, and the degrees we offer.
Introduction
We are especially interested in students who need more training in philosophy to be competitive in applying to Ph.D. programs elsewhere; over the years, students who have earned M.A. degrees here have been quite successful in gaining admission into Ph.D. programs elsewhere that are strong in their areas of interest. We also welcome students who became interested in philosophy late in their undergraduate careers, and students who wish to round off their work in philosophy before going on to business or law school.
We aim to provide our students with a high quality, historically grounded education covering the major figures and themes in the history of Western philosophy and the major systematic areas of philosophy proper. Faculty from the other Claremont Colleges and from the Claremont School of Theology teach philosophy students, affording a diversity of contemporary perspectives and methodological approaches to the ancient, modern, and contemporary periods of this tradition.
CGU is a small, graduate-only institution with a commitment to seminar-style learning. As a result, philosophy classes are small: graduate courses rarely have more than twelve students, and seminars typically range from six to ten students. Students are expected to work closely with their professors in all aspects of their course work. Students are also encouraged to pursue interests they may have in areas outside philosophy.
The program offers three Master of Arts degrees:
The Master of Arts Degree
The M.A. program is designed for students who seek either to enrich their knowledge of the fundamental strands of the Western philosophical tradition before moving to more specialized study in Ph.D. programs in philosophy, or to expand their experience with that tradition in preparation for pursuing professional degrees and occupations outside of philosophy.
The Master of Arts degree requires 40 units of course work, which usually can be completed comfortably in two years of full-time study. Students may concentrate in the history of ancient philosophy, the history of modern philosophy, or contemporary philosophy. All three concentrations require a sequence of historical courses (Topics in Ancient Philosophy, Topics in Modern Philosophy, and Topics in Contemporary Philosophy), an approved course in ethics or value theory, an approved course in metaphysics or epistemology, Philosophy 244 (Logic and Argumentation), an advanced seminar in the concentration, three electives, and reading competence in one foreign language. No thesis or critique is required. Students are expected to complete Topics in Contemporary Philosophy and Philosophy 244 in their first 16 units of graduate study.
The Accelerated Master of Arts Degree
The program cooperates with the philosophy programs at the other Claremont Colleges in offering an accelerated M.A. program that permits students with appropriate backgrounds to complete the requirements for the M.A. with just one year of study beyond the baccalaureate.
The Dual M.A. in Philosophy/Ph.D. in Religion
This dual-degree program allows Ph.D. students in Religion to earn an M.A. in Philosophy along the way. The program is designed for students who want a strong general foundation in philosophy to support their work in the philosophy of religion. It also constitutes a good dual qualification for teaching, particularly in colleges with joint philosophy and religion departments.
This M.A. program has the same requirements as the regular M.A., except that students in the dual-degree program will take courses or seminars in philosophy of religion as their electives.
Other Degree Programs
Dual degree programs are also possible for students in other fields. Please contact the program chair for details.
The program also cooperates with faculty in other humanities programs at CGU, in other schools at CGU, and in others of the Claremont Colleges in an Early Modern Studies Program.
The Ph.D. program is designed for a small number of students graduating with distinction from the M.A. program who choose the history of philosophy as an area of specialization.
Financial Aid
Institutional financial assistance is available in the form of fellowships. Applications submitted by February 1 have priority for the awarding of aid, although aid may be awarded to late applicants on the basis of available funds. Federal aid, in the form of loans and work study, is awarded on the basis of financial need. In addition, students may actively seek opportunities for financial support which might be available to them from foundations and other institutions. If you have questions or need assistance in applying, please contact the Arts and Humanities Admissions Coordinator.
You may, also, contact the Office of Student Financing, Claremont Graduate University, 160 East 10th Street, Claremont, CA 91711, by telephone 909.621.8337, by fax: 909.607.7285, or by email: finaid@cgu.edu.
For Further Information
Please contact the Arts and Humanities Admissions Coordinator to learn about:
Department of Philosophy
School of Arts and Humanities
121 East Tenth Street
Claremont, CA 91711
Tel.: 909.607.1278
Fax: 909.607.1221
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