Information And Application

Admission procedures are simple. Send (a) the completed Graduate School application, (b) official transcripts of all-previous college work, (c) GRE scores, and (d) application fee ($50 domestic / $60 foreign) to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Send (e) two letters of recommendation from former instructors, (f) a writing sample that best presents your philosophical ability, (g) and any other relevant materials to the Philosophy Department. Note: Letters of recommendation should be submitted directly from referees and should be written on professional letterhead; also, letters of recommendation, statements of purpose, and writing samples should be sent directly to the Philosophy Department's Director of Graduate Studies (see below), not to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Admission to the M.A. Program in Philosophy is based upon the holistic consideration of several factors: the transcripts; GRE scores; letters of recommendation; writing sample; and any other materials relevant to the application. Such materials might include evidence of commitment to philosophy, high motivation, multilingual proficiency, work experience, and community involvement.

Successful candidates have usually had a GPA of at least 3.0 over the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate study and GRE scores of at least 600 (verbal), 600 (quantitative), and 5.0 (writing). Students with lower GPAs and GRE scores have been admitted if their other credentials indicated likelihood of success in our graduate program. No single criterion is decisive. In particular, no numerical cut-offs are used to disqualify applicants.

An undergraduate major or minor in Philosophy is not required. Applicants with little background in philosophy may be admitted under the provision that they complete appropriate leveling work.