Philosophy, MA
Prepare for a future in education or the workforce with foundational skills that support philosophical thinking by studying philosophy and current philosophical topics. Learn from scholars whose research is foundation-funded and published with leading academic presses.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Philosophy master's description
In the Master of Arts program in philosophy at The School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, you are able to study both traditional and contemporary philosophy, including ethics, political philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of law, philosophy of science, feminist philosophy, philosophy of language, experimental philosophy and the history of philosophy.
You have access to an active colloquium series and regular philosophical conferences on diverse topics. Members of the faculty are involved in interdisciplinary work in a variety of fields and enjoy close ties with the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics, the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law and a number of other graduate programs at ASU. The Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics also sponsors a wide range of activities, including large-scale conferences, distinguished visitors and support for graduate study.
The program seeks to maintain a balance between course offerings in the traditional areas of philosophy and opportunities for you to study current philosophical developments.
Why study philosophy at ASU?
Beyond coursework, you can help build a lively scholarly community. The student-run Southwest Graduate Philosophy Conference gathers graduate students from across the region to present their work, receive feedback and network, while a weekly work-in-progress series offers faculty and students timely, constructive input on their active research.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
30 credit hours and a portfolio, or
30 credit hours and a thesis
Required Core Areas (9 credit hours) Electives and Research (15 or 21 credit hours) Culminating Experience (0 or 6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Thesis students take 15 credit hours of electives. Portfolio students take 21 credit hours of electives, which must include PHI 592 Research for three credit hours. Students should see the academic unit for the list of courses approved for each core area in epistemology, metaphysics and value theory.
epistemology (3)
metaphysics (3)
value theory (3)
PHI 599 Thesis (6) or
portfolio (0)
There are two culminating experience options for the master's degree program in philosophy: the thesis option and the nonthesis portfolio option.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Students will be able to identify and articulate a philosophical problem or question in one of the core areas in philosophy --- that is, metaphysics, epistemology and value theory.
- Students will be able to construct a reasoned defense of a clear, creative, and original solution to a philosophical problem in one of the core areas of philosophy --- that is, metaphysics, epistemology and value theory.
- Students will be able to evaluate a solution or answer to a philosophical problem or question (such as one of those explicated in the course readings).
- Students will be able to explain a philosophical argument or point verbally.
Students will be able to identify and articulate a philosophical problem or question in one of the core areas in philosophy --- that is, metaphysics, epistemology and value theory.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information The statement of purpose should explain the applicant's specific intent and be no more than 600 words in length. The writing sample must be a piece of philosophical writing, preferably a seminar paper or published article of no more than 20 pages and not a thesis or dissertation.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency, a copy of an article or research paper in their native or principal research language, as well as the English writing sample required of all students regardless of their current residency. The philosophy program requires a TOEFL iBT® score of at least 5 or a score of 100 (taken at a testing center) if taken before January 21, 2026, or a score of 7.0 on the IELTS.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 05/01 | Final* |
| Session A/C | In Person | 02/15 | Priority* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
*A priority deadline means that applications submitted and completed before the priority deadline will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadlines will be reviewed in the order in which they were completed and on a space-available basis. An application is complete after all materials are received by Admission Services.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this philosophy master's degree prepares you for
The MA program in philosophy helps students develop and hone skills that are highly marketable and easily transferable.
Philosophy teaches its students to think critically, creatively and imaginatively. Though routine jobs are increasingly being lost to advances in automation and artificial intelligence, these skills are irreplaceable by technology, highly sought-after by employers and transferrable from one occupation to another. Graduates have the ability to read closely and with a critical eye; to analyze complex problems and identify all the possible solutions, including some creative solutions; to assess the merits of each possible solution; and to articulate and argue for or against various possible solutions in clear, precise and unambiguous language.
As philosophy focuses on honing certain skills rather than acquiring a particular body of knowledge, philosophy prepares its students for a wide variety of careers rather than for just one particular occupation. Indeed, philosophy prepares its students for any career requiring problem-solving; clear, critical and creative thinking; and excellent reading, writing and communication skills.
The master's degree program in philosophy is designed to prepare students to enter doctoral programs; teach philosophy at the community college level; or work in any area that requires critical and analytical thinking, such as medicine, law, government or publishing.
Career examples include:
- businessperson
- computer programmer
- counselor
- educator
- journalist
- lawyer
- politician
- public policy analyst
- publisher
- writer
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch
|
COOR 4595
SHPRSGradInfo@asu.edu
480-965-5778
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
