Philosophy (MA)

Department Website

Program Description

Philosophy strives to answer the most fundamental questions about the world and our place in it. While people often implicitly assume answers to many of these questions, philosophy as a discipline seeks to identify and answer them through rigorous and informed inquiry and reasoning.

These questions have been pursued for thousands of years, in many different ways and in many different cultures, and the study of this rich history is itself part of the increasingly global discipline of philosophy. Its main branches include metaphysics (questions about the structure of reality); ethics (questions about the good, the right, and the virtuous); epistemology (questions about knowledge, truth, and inquiry); philosophy of mind (questions about cognition, consciousness, and emotion); philosophy of language (questions about meaning and its linguistic expression); and political philosophy (questions about justice, liberty, and the state). At the same time, no field of inquiry or endeavor is without its own most fundamental and therefore philosophical questions; hence, philosophy encompasses a wide range of interdisciplinary areas such as philosophy of science (including philosophies of physics, biology, cognitive science, and the social sciences); philosophy of mathematics; aesthetics; philosophy of law; and philosophy of religion. Many academic disciplines that are now well established as mature fields of inquiry in their own right began as branches of philosophy. Among philosophy’s most important tools is logic—another field of inquiry originated by philosophers.

Faculty in NYU’s internationally recognized Department of Philosophy are deeply engaged in developing new philosophical knowledge; in training graduate students to become the next generation of leaders in philosophy; and in preparing undergraduates for the many professional pursuits that benefit from critical thinking, analysis, and argumentation (including education, law, medicine, politics, business, computer science, and publishing) and for the kind of life deepened by awareness and reflection that is most worth living.

Admissions

All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the general application requirements, which include:

• Academic Transcripts
• Test Scores (if required)
• Applicant Statements
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Recommendation, and
• A non-refundable application fee.

Program Requirements

The program requires the completion of 32 credits, of which at least 24 must be taken in the department.

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Major Requirements
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
Total Credits		32

Additional Program Requirements

Research Paper

Students must complete a substantial research paper of appropriate quality, which may be written either in connection with a seminar or under the supervision of a departmental adviser and which must receive a grade of B+ or better.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid

1st Semester/Term		Credits
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
	Credits	8
2nd Semester/Term
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
	Credits	8
3rd Semester/Term
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
	Credits	8
4th Semester/Term
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
PHIL-GA ----	Philosophy Elective	4
	Credits	8
	Total Credits	32

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have acquired:

1. The ability to conduct independent philosophical research, with emphasis on the ability to identify questions of philosophical significance, to master the philosophical literature surrounding a given question, and to analyze and critically assess that literature.
2. The ability to make original contributions to the field, whether by advancing an ongoing contemporary debate or by enhancing our understanding of the history of philosophy.
3. A proficiency in written communication, with emphasis on the ability to write high-quality, professional-level research papers.
4. A proficiency in oral communication, with emphasis on the ability to discuss.

Policies

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Graduate School of Arts and Science Policies

Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page.