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Graduate Calendar
Fall 2020

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PHILOSOPHY

PROGRAM
Philosophy (MA)

COURSES
PHILOSOPHY


Master of Philosophy (MA)

General Nature of the Program
The aim of the program is to give students the opportunity to deepen their philosophical understanding both by broadening their undergraduate background and/or by allowing them to concentrate their studies in one of the two specific areas of focus in our program. One area is informal logic, the theory of argument, and the theory of critical thinking; the other area is twentieth-century continental philosophy and critical social theory. It is expected that theses and major papers will be written in one of these two areas. The possibility of concentrating in some other area exists but is conditional upon staffing resources, which are subject to change. The Philosophy M.A. program is structured in such a way as to encourage maximum participation by students in seminars and to allow extensive contact with professors outside of formal class time.

Admission Requirements
See the admissions section of the Graduate Calendar for general requirements for admission into an M.A. program at the University of Windsor. The Philosophy program normally requires a BA honours in Philosophy or its equivalent for regular admission to the Master's program (M-2 admission level) and a general BA in Philosophy or its equivalent for admission to the qualifying stream of the Master's program (M-1 admission level).

Students are admitted to either the coursework or the major paper stream

Program Requirements

For general requirements for the Master's degree, see section titled, The Master's Degree - Program Requirements. The following are particular requirements for the M.A. in Philosophy:

1) The student may proceed to the degree in any one of the following ways:

(a) The major paper stream
Students admitted to the major paper stream must successfully complete six graduate courses, including the Departmental Seminar (PHIL 8900), pass the MA examination, and write a major research paper (PHIL 8960). A maximum of two courses may be taken from a cognate field.

(b) The coursework stream
Students admitted to the coursework stream must successfully complete eight graduate courses, including the Departmental Seminar (PHIL 8900), and pass the MA examination. A maximum of two courses may be taken from a cognate field.

Students who wish to move from the coursework stream to the major paper stream must satisfy the following conditions: (i) complete at least six graduate courses (two of these courses may be in a cognate field), including the Departmental Seminar (PHIL 8900), with a minimum average of 80%; (ii) pass the MA examination; (iii) submit to the Graduate Coordinator a major research paper plan that was approved by the academic supervisor.

(c) The thesis stream
Students who wish to move from the coursework stream or the major paper stream to the thesis stream must satisfy the following conditions: (i) complete at least four graduate courses in philosophy, including the Departmental Seminar (PHIL 8900), with a minimum average of 85%; (ii) pass the MA examination; (iii) submit to the Graduate Coordinator a thesis plan that was approved by the academic supervisor. In addition to satisfying these conditions, students in this stream must also write a thesis (PHIL 8970).

2) All students proceeding to the degree must pass the MA examination following the successful completion of the Departmental Seminar (PHIL 8900). In the event of a failing grade, students will be provided an opportunity to retake the exam before completing the first year of their program. Students who fail the MA examination for a second time will be asked to withdraw from the program.

3) M.A. Qualifying Year (M-1 admission): Students at the I Master's level are required to take PHIL-4910 (Honours Seminar) (see section titled, Philosophy Courses in the Undergraduate Calendar).

4) Program Approval: Each student must have his or her projected program approved by the Graduate Coordinator.