The MA Philosophy program is offered by the Department of Philosophy .

Advisors: Dr. Carlos A. Sanchez

University Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit a complete graduate application by applying through the CSU Cal State Apply system and meet all the university admission requirements .

Students can be admitted to either classified or conditionally classified standing.

 Admission to Graduate Standing - Classified

Candidates must meet all university requirements for admission. In addition, a student will be admitted to classified status only if:

1. At least 18 units in philosophy have been taken including at least 6 units in upper-division work, at least 6 units in the history of philosophy, at least 3 units in ethics, and at least 3 units of symbolic logic (Phil 9 or its equivalent). Exceptions based on comparable studies and experience may be made with graduate committee approval.

2. The average grade received in the 18 units is at least a “B”.
3. Three letters of recommendation have been submitted.

Admission to Graduate Standing - Conditionally Classified

Applicants who meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate Division but who do not meet all the requirements for classified standing will be admitted as conditionally classified.

Advancement to Candidacy 

The university requirements for advancement to candidacy  for the master’s degree are outlined in the Graduate Policies and Procedures  section. Students should seek advancement to candidacy as soon as possible for their given program and on the advice of their graduate program coordinator. Graduate students may submit a Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy form to the Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations (GAPE) office after satisfying the following: achieved classified status; completed a minimum of nine letter-graded units with all grades “C” or higher; fulfilled the Campus Graduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CGGWAR) requirement; achieved a minimum cumulative and program 3.0 GPA, and, graduate within the seven-year time limit for degree completion. Graduate students must submit their petition no later than one semester prior to graduating. Courses that satisfy the CGGWAR are listed in the course requirements for the program.

Program of Study Requirements

Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, GPA, and culminating experience requirements as outlined in the Graduation Requirements  section of the Graduate Policies and Procedures . Students must comply with all other graduate requirements contained in this catalog.

Culminating Experience (Plan A or Plan B)

Plan A - Thesis
Designed for students who wish to do a thesis.

Plan B - Option 1: Reading Intensive
Designed for students who wish to do a guided, individualized reading project.

Plan B - Option 2: Applied Philosophy Project
Designed for students who wish to do a project.