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Faculty
Thomas S. Weston, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, Chair of Department (Graduate Adviser)
Andrew L. Feenberg, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy
Leon Rosenstein, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy
Stephen L. Weber, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, University President
Deborah G. Chaffin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Philosophy
Eugene A. Troxell, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Philosophy
Steven L. Barbone, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Philosophy
J. Angelo Corlett, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Robert M. Francescotti, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Mark R. Wheeler, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Philosophy
The Department of Philosophy offers a program of graduate studies leading to the Master of Arts degree in philosophy. This curriculum is designed to provide advanced study in the field of philosophy as a basis for further graduate work and to meet the needs of students who plan to teach in colleges or hold other positions of leadership.
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All students must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the University with classified graduate standing as described in Part Two of this bulletin. Students may be considered for admission to the graduate program in philosophy in one of two ways.
1. Admission with classified graduate standing requires:
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a. An undergraduate major in philosophy or a minimum of 24 units of upper division work in philosophy.
b. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in upper division work in philosophy.
2. Admission with conditional classified graduate standing requires:
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a. Twelve units of upper division work in philosophy.
b. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in upper division work in philosophy.
Students admitted with a grade point average below 2.0 acquire classified graduate standing by completing sufficient units of upper division work in philosophy to yield a total, with previous work, of at least 24 such units. Units earned to complete this undergraduate requirement do not fulfill unit requirements for the master's degree. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required for all units attempted after admission.
Units earned to satisfy requirements for a major do not fulfill unit requirements for the master's degree. Other units may fulfill such requirements if earned in courses acceptable on master's degree programs in philosophy.
All students must meet the general requirements for advancement to candidacy as stated in Part Two of this bulletin.
In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master's degree as described in Part Two of this bulletin, the student must complete a program of at least 30 units of upper division and graduate courses selected with the approval of the graduate adviser.
Students must complete a minimum of 24 units from courses in philosophy listed below as acceptable on master's degree programs. The 24 units shall include (1) either 796 or 799A and (2) a minimum of 12 units in 600-numbered courses which must include Philosophy 600 and 610 or 620.
Students in the program may elect one of two plans, A or B, to complete the requirements for the degree. Plan A requires the writing of a thesis under Philosophy 799A as part of the outlined course program. If Plan B is elected, the student must pass a comprehensive examination, consisting of two written and one oral, and complete three units in Philosophy 796.
The master's examination shall be conducted by a committee of at least three members selected by the graduate adviser after consultation with the student. Each of the written parts of the examination will be based on a bibliography drawn up by the committee administering the examination after consultation with the student. The oral part of the examination will be in a specific problem area or on a major philosopher. At least three weeks prior to the end of the semester preceding the semester of the examination, the student will consult with his or her committee to determine the bibliographies for the written exams and the subject matter for the oral exam. This consultation must be completed no later than three days after the official close of the semester. A student will not be permitted to enroll in Philosophy 796 if this consultation has not been completed. The master's examination may be repeated only once.
506. Twentieth Century Continental Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Six upper division units in philosophy.
Major figures and movements in European philosophy from Husserl to the present.
507. Twentieth Century Anglo-American Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Six upper division units in philosophy.
Major movements, issues, or figures of twentieth century Anglo-American philosophy. Course may be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units.
508. Existentialism (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
The philosophical aspects of existentialism. Major emphasis is on the diversity of thought within a common approach as this is shown in individual thinkers.
510. Philosophy of Law (3)
Prerequisites: Three units in philosophy and three units in political science.
The nature of law and the logic of legal reasoning. An exploration of certain key legal concepts such as causation, responsibility, personality, and property.
512. Political Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 101, 102 or 103.
Selected aspects of the political structures within which we live, such as law, power, sovereignty, justice, liberty, welfare.
521. Deductive Logic (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 120.
Principles of inference for symbolic deductive systems; connectives, quantifiers, relations and sets. Interpretations of deductive systems in mathematics, science and ordinary language. Not open to students with credit in Mathematics 523.
523. Theory of Knowledge (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
The major theories of human knowledge: mysticism, rationalism, empiricism, pragmatism.
525. Metaphysics (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
Prominent theories of reality, e.g., realism and nominalism, materialism and idealism, teleology and determinism.
528. Theory of Ethics (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
Significant and typical value theories and systems and the concrete problems such theories seek to explain. Emphasis will be on moral values.
531. Philosophy of Language (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
An introduction to theories of meaning for natural languages and formal systems; concepts of truth, synonymy and analyticity; related epistemological and ontological problems.
532. Philosophy of History (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
The nature of history and historical inquiry. As metaphysics: A study of theories of historical development. As methodology: History as science, truth and fact in history, historical objectivity, the purpose of history.
535. Philosophy of Religion (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
Philosophical examination of issues raised by the religious impulse in man.
536. Philosophy of Mind (3)
Prerequisite: Three upper division units in philosophy.
Analysis of the concept of mind, intention, behavior, etc. Developments generated by works of such philosophers as Wittgenstein, Wisdom, and Ryle.
537. Philosophy of Science (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
The basic concepts and methods underlying contemporary scientific thought. Contributions of the special sciences to a view of the universe as a whole.
541. History of Aesthetics (3)
Prerequisite: Philosophy 101, 102 or 103.
Major documents in the history of aesthetics.
542. Philosophy of Art (3)
Prerequisite: Six units in philosophy.
The nature of aesthetic experience. Principal contemporary theories of art in relation to actual artistic production and to the function of art in society.
543. Philosophy and Literary Theory (3)
Prerequisites: Three upper division units in philosophy and three upper division units in literature.
Relations between philosophy and literary discourse. Strategies of interpretation offered by major contemporary thinkers.
575. A Major Philosopher (3)
Prerequisite: Six upper division units in philosophy.
The writings of one major philosopher. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units applicable to the major. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.
596. Selected Topics (3)
Prerequisite: Six upper division units in philosophy.
A critical analysis of a major problem or movement in philosophy. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree. Maximum credit of six units of 596 applicable to the major in philosophy. Maximum combined credit of six units of 596 and 696 applicable to a 30-unit master's degree.
599. Special Study (1-3)
Prerequisite: Upper division or graduate standing and consent of instructor.
Directed individual study in philosophy on a theme or topic chosen in consultation with the instructor. Maximum credit six units. Maximum combined credit six units of Philosophy 599 and 798 applicable to the M.A. degree in Philosophy.
600. Seminar in the History of Philosophy (3)
Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in philosophy.
A major philosopher, school, or problem. Their historical roots and subsequent historical significance. See Class Schedule for specific content. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.
610. Seminar in Philosophical Problems: Values (3)
Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in philosophy.
Problems in such fields as ethics, politics, aesthetics. See Class Schedule for specific content. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.
620. Seminar in Philosophical Problems: Knowledge and Reality (3)
Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in philosophy.
A problem or group of problems in metaphysics, epistemology and logic. See Class Schedule for specific content. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.
630. Seminar in Current Philosophical Issues (3)
Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in philosophy.
Problems in current philosophical publications. See Class Schedule for specific content. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.
696. Seminar in Selected Topics (3)
Prerequisite: Twelve upper division units in philosophy.
Intensive study in specific areas of philosophy. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit three units applicable to a master's degree. Maximum combined credit of six units of 596 and 696 applicable to a 30-unit master's degree.
796. Studies in Philosophy (1-3) Cr/NC
Prerequisites: An officially appointed examining committee and
advancement to candidacy.
Preparation for the comprehensive examination for students taking the M.A. under Plan B. Maximum credit three units applicable to a master's degree.
798. Special Study (1-3) Cr/NC/SP
Prerequisites: Twelve upper division units in philosophy and consent
of staff; to be arranged with department chair and instructor.
Individual study. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.
799A. Thesis (3) Cr/NC/SP
Prerequisites: An officially appointed thesis committee and
advancement to candidacy.
Preparation of a project or thesis for the master's degree.
799B. Thesis Extension (0) Cr/NC
Prerequisite: Prior registration in Thesis 799A with an assigned
grade symbol of SP.
Registration required in any semester or term following assignment of SP in Course 799A in which the student expects to use the facilities and resources of the university; also student must be registered in the course when the completed thesis is granted final approval.
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