Master of Arts

Each program requires a minimum of 45 units in philosophy. Students in a special program may be allowed or required to replace up to nine units of philosophy with nine units in the field of specialization. Although the requirements for the MA are designed so that a student with the equivalent of a strong undergraduate philosophy major at Stanford might complete them in one year, most students need longer. Students should also remember that although 45 units is the minimum required by the university, more units are often necessary to complete department requirements. Up to 6 units of directed reading in philosophy may be allowed. There is no thesis requirement, but an optional master’s thesis or project, upon faculty approval, may count as the equivalent of up to eight units. A special program may require knowledge of a foreign language. At least 45 units in courses numbered 100 or above must be completed with a B- or better grade at Stanford. Students are reminded of the university requirements for advanced degrees, particularly that the MA, students must complete three full quarters as measured by tuition payment.

The General Program requires a minimum of 45 units in Philosophy courses numbered above 99. These courses must be taken for a letter grade, and the student must receive at least a B- in the course.

Students must take at least one course numbered over 105 from three of the following five areas (courses used to satisfy the undergraduate core cannot also be counted toward satisfaction of the graduate core). Crosslisted and other courses taught outside the Department of Philosophy do not count toward fulfilling core requirements.

1. Logic and semantics

2. Philosophy of science and history of science

3. Ethics, value theory, and moral and political philosophy

4. Metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of language

5. History of philosophy

Each master’s candidate must take at least two courses numbered above 200; these cannot be graduate sections of undergraduate courses.

Students must take at least three courses numbered over 105 in one of the five areas listed in the Graduate Core section.

Each program requires a minimum of 45 units in philosophy. Students in a special program may be allowed or required to replace up to nine units of philosophy with nine units in the field of specialization. Although the requirements for the MA are designed so that a student with the equivalent of a strong undergraduate philosophy major at Stanford might complete them in one year, most students need longer. Students should also remember that although 45 units is the minimum required by the university, more units are often necessary to complete department requirements. Up to 6 units of directed reading in philosophy may be allowed. There is no thesis requirement, but an optional master’s thesis or project, upon faculty approval, may count as the equivalent of up to eight units. A special program may require knowledge of a foreign language. At least 45 units in courses numbered 100 or above must be completed with a B- or better grade at Stanford. Students are reminded of the university requirements for advanced degrees, particularly that for the MA, students must complete three full quarters as measured by tuition payment.

Four courses in philosophy at the graduate level (numbered 200 or above), including courses from three of the following five areas:

1. Philosophy of language

2. Logic

3. Philosophy of mind

4. Metaphysics and epistemology

5. Philosophy of science

At most two of the four courses may be graduate sections of undergraduate courses numbered 100 or higher.

• Three courses numbered 100 or higher from outside Philosophy chosen in consultation with an advisor. These courses should be from two of the following four areas:

  1. Psychology

  2. Linguistics

  3. Computer Science

  4. Education

The remaining courses are chosen in consultation with and approved by an advisor.

Each program requires a minimum of 45 units in philosophy. Students in a special program may be allowed or required to replace up to nine units of philosophy with nine units in the field of specialization. Although the requirements for the MA are designed so that a student with the equivalent of a strong undergraduate philosophy major at Stanford might complete them in one year, most students need longer. Students should also remember that although 45 units is the minimum required by the university, more units are often necessary to complete department requirements. Up to 6 units of directed reading in philosophy may be allowed. There is no thesis requirement, but an optional master’s thesis or project, upon faculty approval, may count as the equivalent of up to eight units. A special program may require knowledge of a foreign language. At least 45 units in courses numbered 100 or above must be completed with a B- or better grade at Stanford. Students are reminded of the university requirements for advanced degrees, particularly that for the MA, students must complete three full quarters as measured by tuition payment.

Admission is limited to students with substantial preparation in philosophy or linguistics. Those whose primary preparation has been in linguistics may be required to satisfy all or part of the undergraduate core requirements described in the “General Program” subsection above. Those whose preparation is primarily in philosophy may be required to take additional courses in linguistics.