Accelerated M.A. Program

Complete your undergraduate degree and get an M.A. in Philosophy in as little as five years.

About the Program

Typically you would apply for Accelerated Master's Program in Philosophy in spring semester of your junior year. The deadline is March 11. If you are accepted, you will be notified in that same semester and in time for you to enroll in appropriate classes at the start of your senior year. This enables you to complete the Accelerated Master's Program in one additional year beyond your senior year.

This program is open only to University of Arizona undergraduates majoring either in Philosophy or Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law.

The Accelerated Master's Program in Philosophy is independent of the University of Arizona Philosophy Ph.D. program. This means you will not be given special consideration relative to other applicants if you choose to apply to the doctoral program.

Application and Admission Process

To apply for Accelerated Master's Program in Philosophy, you must:

  1. Meet the Admissions Requirements established by the Graduate College.
  2. Submit to the Department of Philosophy via the UA Graduate College online application.

Be sure to include the following in your application:

  • Two letters of recommendation from professors with whom you have studied
  • A writing sample
  • A statement of purpose
  • Transcripts
  • Recommended: completed at least four Philosophy classes in two different areas

The application code is UAAMP721X01. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

For general information regarding graduate degrees and tuition, please see Graduate College’s degree and tuition policies.

Program Requirements

The requirements for completion of an M.A. in Philosophy include attaining a 3.0 GPA in ten three-unit graduate courses at or above the 500 curricular level for a total of 30 units.

Typically, three of these courses will be graduate seminars numbered PHIL 596A through PHIL 596Z, and the remaining seven courses will be graduate surveys numbered PHIL 500 through PHIL 594. Of these ten courses, you must take at least one from each of the following fields:

  • Metaphysics or Epistemology
  • Ethics, Political Philosophy, or Value Theory
  • History of Philosophy
  • Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Mind or Cognitive Science.

Four of the 10 courses that satisfy the requirement of the M.A. may also simultaneously satisfy requirements of the B.A. in Philosophy or B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law.

Optional Thesis

The Accelerated Master's Program does not have a thesis requirement.  You may, however, opt to write a thesis instead of taking one of the graduate seminars. 

For a petition to be successful, you must secure a faculty member to supervise the thesis and two other faculty members to serve on the thesis committee and conduct an oral defense. In such cases, the thesis will be a paper of approximately 6,000 – 10,000 words.

Sample Program Schedule

Year 1, Senior Year

Fall semester

  • Two graduate survey courses numbered from PHIL 500 through PHIL 595

Spring semester

  • One course numbered from PHIL 500 through PHIL 595
  • One graduate seminar numbered from PHIL 596A through PHIL 596Z

Year 2, Post-baccalaureate Year

Fall semester

  • Two courses numbered from PHIL 500 through PHIL 595
  • One graduate seminar numbered from PHIL 596A through PHIL 596Z

Spring semester

  • Two courses numbered from PHIL 500 through PHIL 595
  • One graduate seminar numbered from PHIL 596A through PHIL 596Z

Questions?

Contact Professor Mark Timmons, Director of Graduate Studies, for more information or set up a brief informal meeting.