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Dec 06, 2025
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2025-2026 University Catalog
Philosophy, MA
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About the Program
The Department of Philosophy offers courses of study leading to the M.A. in Philosophy for International Students and Ph.D. Purdue Philosophy is a large and active intellectual community. Graduate students in the program acquire a solid grounding in four traditional areas of philosophy while developing their own specialized research programs. They are guided by faculty whose research strengths span the philosophic spectrum: from PPE to the history of philosophy, from continental European philosophy to cognitive science and AI, and from the philosophy of religion to contemporary ethical theory to the philosophy of science. Overlapping faculty research areas reflect departmental research strengths that provide a range of opportunities for graduate students. An excellent faculty-student ratio and a commitment to sound graduate education allow for close and informal relations among faculty and students, particularly in graduate seminars and reading groups. Master’s students can pursue a thesis or non-thesis option. See below for each set of requirements. Program Website Program Requirements - Thesis
30 Credits RequiredRequired Courses (24 credits)
Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Science Courses (9 credits)
Students must take 525 or 532, and two other courses from the list below. History of Philosophy Courses (6 credits)
Choose two. Value Theory Courses (6 credits)
Students must take 524 or 624 and one other course, listed below. Formal Methods Course (3 credits)
Students must pass one course with a grade of B or better or a written exam (on material equivalent to PHIL 553) administered by the department. The course normally used to fulfill this requirement is 553. Substitutions for 553 are permitted only in years in which 553 is not offered. Thesis Research (6 credits)
If the thesis option is chosen, the thesis is normally expected to be approximately 60-90 pages-equivalent to three term papers. Program Requirements - Non-Thesis
33 Credits RequiredRequired Courses (33 credits)
Students seeking a non-thesis MA should take three additional courses (or 9 credits) in addition to the thesis-MA curriculum, listed under Program Requirements - Thesis. Concentrations
Departmental concentrations: - Human Rights Studies Concentration (GR)
- Second Language Philosophy Professional
Interdisciplinary concentrations and programs: GPA Requirements
Students must pass graduate level courses with a cumulative Purdue GPA of 3.3 or higher. Graduate Programs Disclaimer
- The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Students should consult with their advisor/department for more information.
- Not all graduate programs may be actively recruiting students and course modality availability may vary.
- Please refer to the Explore Graduate Programs website for a list of currently available graduate programs.
- Transfer credit policy: Credits earned for graduate study at other universities (both domestic and international) may be applied toward an advanced degree. Only credit hours associated with graduate courses for which grades of B- or better were obtained will be eligible for transfer. Any additional conditions under which credit transfers may be made are determined by the various departments.
- Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
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