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Course Catalog

Philosophy

Chairpersons: Co-Chairs: Jay Ciaffa and Timothy Weidel
Director of the Philosophy Graduate Program: Danielle Layne
Professors: M. AlfinoK. BesmerJ. CiaffaD. Bradley , P. Burke, D. CalhounB. Clayton, B. Henning, T. Jeannot, D. KriesD. Layne , W. Pomerleau (Emeritus), E. Schmidt, M. Tkacz, R.M. Volbrecht (Emeritus) 
Associate Professors: T. Clancy, S.J., T. Di Maria, M. Kulp, C. Lassiter, Q. Liu, E. MaccaroneT. Tritten, , J. Wagner (Emeritus), T. Weidel
Assistant Professors: K. Fisher, M. Howard, D. Spearman, G. Turnbull
Lecturers: A. Arango, J. Braune, A. Fisher, C. Rogers, N. Shoaibi 

Master of Arts in Philosophy

The Master of Arts program in Philosophy builds on the central place of philosophical study in Gonzaga's Jesuit, Catholic, humanistic identity. Through coursework, supervised study, examinations, and a thesis, the program stresses understanding of the main problems of philosophy as they emerge in the history of philosophy, knowledge of the major figures and movements of the history of philosophy, and attention to contemporary philosophy and social and applied ethics. The program's focus on fundamental questions of reality, knowledge, and the good promotes skills of reflection and self-examination, and prepares students for critical engagement with and across human cultures. These goals reflect the mission of the Philosophy Department and the mission and identity of Gonzaga University, particularly the goals of intellectual inquiry, development and discipline of the faculties of intelligence and moral judgment, and intelligent and morally informed leadership. The program provides students with resources to make use of philosophical concepts and skills in a variety of career contexts, including Ph.D. studies in philosophy and related disciplines, such as theology, law, and politics, and philosophy teaching at the introductory, university, or community college level.
 
The Master’s degree is offered on a full-time or part-time with three programs (1 year program, 2 year program and an Accelerated 4 + 1 program for current GU undergraduates) basis during the regular session. While many courses offered in the Gonzaga Master of Arts program are cross-listed with undergraduate courses, a Graduate Seminar restricted to graduate students only is offered each fall and spring semester. A limited set of graduate-level philosophy courses is also available during summer.

Admissions

  1. Students applying to Gonzaga University must submit Gonzaga’s Graduate Application, which can be accessed online at https://www.gonzaga.edu/gradapply
  2. Along with the application for graduate study, each program at Gonzaga has distinct admission requirements. Please refer to the table below to view that detailed information.

 

Program Name

How To Apply Link

Master of Arts in Philosophy  https://www.gonzaga.edu/college-of-arts-sciences/departments/philosophy/graduate-program/ma-admissions 

Pre-requisite

B.A. with major (or acceptable background) in Philosophy from a regionally accredited college or university.

Requirements

Completion of the Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from Gonzaga University requires:

  1. 30-credit program hours, including eight seminars (24 credits) and an option to do a Thesis (6 credits) or take two more Graduate Seminars or Directed Studies. At least four seminars (12 credits) must be graduate-specific (PHIL 577 or 579). Students may also take up to four cross-listed Philosophy Major Seminars (PHIL 586, 587, or 588) and up to two Directed Study courses (PHIL 690 or 691) to complete their course requirements.
  2. Registration in the Graduate Seminar each semester in which the student is taking course work.
  3. Successful completion of a comprehensive examination (including written and oral components) (PHIL 697). Students are required to take PHIL 520/521 during the summer (as online courses) in order to prepare for this exam. Gonzaga Philosophy Major undergraduates can opt out of these two courses and take the comprehensive exam without enrolling in either 520/521, though they will be encouraged to do so.
  4. Successful completion of a logic exam, testing skills up to and including the predicate calculus (PHIL 695).
  5. The M.A. program has no foreign language requirement, but a thesis director may require a student to have competency in translating texts from a foreign language into English depending on the student’s thesis topic.

These requirements can be completed in one of the following three ways:

1 year MA Thesis

Required summer 2 PHIL 520/521 History of Philosophy courses (if a non-alumnus from GU)

1 year MA Non-Thesis

Required summer 2 PHIL 520/521 History of Philosophy (if a non-alumnus from GU)
Instead of a Thesis (6 credits), they can take two more Graduate courses or Independent Studies

2 year MA Thesis/Non Thesis 

Required summer 2 PHIL 520/521 History of Philosophy (if a non-alumnus from GU)
Instead of a Thesis (6 credits), they can take two more Graduate courses or Independent Studies

 
  1.  

PHIL 520 History of Philosophy I
3.00 credits
In order to prepare entry level graduate students for both 1) graduate level education before setting foot in the classroom in the fall and 2) the required Comprehensive Exam covering the material of the course, History of Philosophy I will cover the Ancient and Medieval portion of texts on the MA Reading List. This includes Plato’s Republic and Phaedo, Aristotle’s Metaphysics and Ethics as well as Augustine, Averroes, Aquinas and Anslem. The course will be a seminar and not lecture based with assessment via participation and daily in-class essays responding to questions that are likely to appear on the comprehensive exam.
PHIL 521 History of Philosophy II
3.00 credits
In order to prepare entry level graduate students for both 1) graduate level education before setting foot in the classroom in the fall and 2) the required Comprehensive Exam covering the material of the course, History of Philosophy II will cover the Modern portion of texts on the MA Reading List. This includes Descartes, Hume, Kant, Mill and Nietzsche. The course will be a seminar and not lecture based with assessment via participation and daily in-class essays responding to questions that are likely to appear on the comprehensive exam.
PHIL 532 Data and Algorithm Ethics
3.00 credits
Representative thought regarding educational agents, aims, and curricula.
PHIL 577 Graduate Seminar
3.00 credits
A seminar will be scheduled for graduate students in philosophy each fall and spring semester. Topics will vary. Class size is limited to allow for greater student participation and writing.
PHIL 579 Graduate Seminar
3.00 credits
A seminar will be scheduled for graduate students in philosophy each semester. Topics will vary. Class size is limited to allow for greater student participation and writing.
PHIL 586 Seminar
1.00- 3.00 credits
Topics will vary.
PHIL 587 Seminar
3.00 credits
Topics will vary.
PHIL 588 Seminar
3.00 credits
Topics will vary.
Equivalent:
RELI 579A - OK if taken since Fall 1996
PHIL 611 Continuing Research
.00- 1.00 credits
Required of all graduate students to maintain continuous enrollment in the program while completing their final project.
PHIL 690 Directed Study
1.00- 7.00 credits
Credits and material to be arranged. Must have form completed before registering.
PHIL 691 Directed Study
.00- 3.00 credits
PHIL 695 Logic Requirement
.00 credits
PHIL 697 Comprehensive Examination
.00 credits
Students must register via ZAGWEB for comprehensive exams.
PHIL 698 Research
1.00- 9.00 credits
PHIL 699 Thesis
6.00 credits
Students must register via ZAGWEB for Thesis credits.