Requirements for Admission, MA Program
Applicants are admitted to the Center’s MA program in philosophy if the Admissions Committee judges that they will be able to carry out the program successfully. The Admissions Committee consists of the Director of the Center and all Center faculty members. Requirements for admission are as follows:
Official transcript of an earned bachelor’s degree, preferably with an undergraduate major in philosophy or in a related liberal arts field. Students in their senior undergraduate year must furnish this evidence as soon as possible after they complete their degree requirements.
At least 18 hours of undergraduate philosophy in courses that would prepare the student for the program at the Center for Thomistic Studies. A maximum of 12 hours of graduate work in philosophy may be accepted as transfer credit towards the M.A. degree at the discretion of the Director.
An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Official transcripts of all academic work after high school.
A record of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination.
Letters of recommendation from three professional educators qualified to evaluate the applicant’s academic background and scholastic ability.
A writing sample, preferably an essay from a course in philosophy or a related liberal arts field. Students who have written an MA thesis in a related liberal arts field must submit their MA thesis.
Application forms are available online at the Center website. There is no deadline date for applications, but students are advised to apply as early as possible—and no later than February 1 to assure full consideration for scholarships and fellowships.
Degree Requirements - MA in Philosophy
Language - Latin, pass at MA level
Courses:
30 hours, of which 18 hours are constituted by the following set of Center core courses and 12 of which are electives.
Center Core in Thomistic Studies
(1) PHIL 5314 Thomas Aquinas on Human Nature (2) PHIL 5304 Thomistic Metaphysics (3) PHIL 5338 Thomistic Ethics (4) A fourth course in Thomistic Philosophy chosen from among the following:
PHIL 5309 The Life and Works of Thomas Aquinas
PHIL 5311 Selected Problems in [Thomistic] Epistemology
PHIL 5312 Philosophy of Natural Law
PHIL 5317 Philosophy of Nature
PHIL 5335 Aquinas’ Polemical Writings
PHIL 5337 St. Thomas on Justice (Secunda Secundae)
PHIL 5351 The Logical Theory of Thomas Aquinas
PHIL 5359 Essence and Existence in Aquinas
PHIL 5362 Aquinas and the Problem of Evil
PHIL 5363 Law and Grace in Aquinas
PHIL 5369 Thomistic Political Philosophy
PHIL 5392 Twentieth Century Thomist Revival
PHIL 5393 Contemporary Thomism
(5) PHIL 5359 Introduction to Philosophical Latin (6) PHIL 5340 M.A. Comprehensive Exam Course
Where necessary, and with the approval of the Director of the Center, students may substitute a three-hour elective for one of the courses not in the Center Core.
MA Comprehensive Exam
A three credit-hour Comprehensive Exam Course: involves the student in the reading and outlining of twelve (12) books for the MA exam.
A six-hour written examination, divided into two sessions.
A one-hour oral exam administered by three faculty examiners.
Master’s Thesis
A master’s thesis is required only for those not proceeding on to the doctoral program in the Center. Students seeking a terminal MA may take MA Thesis PHIL 5300 or PHIL 5600. Either of these courses may be substituted for PHIL 5340 M.A. Comprehensive Exam at the discretion of the Director.
