II. The Specialized M.A. Program

A. Rationale

The goal of the program is to provide students with a knowledge of the history, methodologies and sub-disciplines of philosophy to enable them to bring philosophical insights to bear on work in professional careers of various kinds where the application of philosophy is appropriate and useful or where philosophical activity plays a central role.

The Specialized M.A. program provides suitable preparation for at least three modes of professional work: (a) integrating philosophical insights into careers in law and government, business, health care or social service, given suitable professional training, as required or appropriate, (b) integrating philosophical insights into certain interdisciplinary academic careers, given suitable academic preparation in another discipline, and (c) teaching applied philosophy at a college or high school level, although not at the University level.

The program is designed as a “terminal” MA program, normally for students who have no intention to proceed to do doctoral studies in Philosophy. It is not intended to be preparatory to a PhD in Philosophy or to a career doing research or teaching Philosophy at the University level. Those aiming for an academic career in Philosophy should apply to the PhD program, which awards an MA as part of the total course of study. Those considering the Specialized MA program should be aware that there is no presumption that successful completion of the program will provide adequate preparation for doctoral studies in Philosophy.

B. Planning a Course of Study

The Specialized M.A. program is designed to give students as much flexibility as is feasible in a program in Applied Philosophy. Programs of study may be designed specifically by a student together with the student’s MA Committee to suit the student’s academic interests and career objectives. Among the fields of study that are available are aesthetics, bio-medical ethics, business ethics, environmental philosophy, ethics and moral theory, and political philosophy.

C. The Specialized M.A. Committee

During the first semester of the program, the Graduate Director assigns to each Specialized M.A. student a supervisory committee consisting of at least two members of the graduate faculty. This committee is called the Specialized M.A. Committee. One member of the Committee, the M.A. Supervisor, is assigned the responsibility of advising the student, supervising the student’s work, and organizing meetings of the Committee. The Graduate Director will normally consult with the student about the composition of the Committee. If the student knows the interests of members of the Graduate Faculty well enough, he or she may suggest various individuals for membership.

The student will work with his or her M.A. Supervisor and Committee in designing a specific course of study. The course of study required of each student, including the required Core courses and the choice of Core Supplement, must be approved both by the student’s MA Committee and the Departmental Graduate Committee. The course of study may be in any area of Applied Philosophy for which an MA Committee can be formed and in which, in the judgment of the Graduate Committee, a sufficient number and variety of courses is being offered.

D. Basic Components of the Program

The following highlights the various stages of the program and the associated requirements. (In each case, the committee responsible for supervision is noted in parentheses.) Further details concerning these stages of the program will be found below.

1. Admission to Specialized M.A. (Graduate Committee)

2. Constitution of the Specialized M.A. Committee (Graduate Director)

3. Preparation of Tentative Degree Program

(Specialized M.A. Committee, Graduate Committee, Director of Graduate Studies)

4. Course Work

•  Basic Course Core Requirement : Six four-hour courses or seminars in philosophy

• Core Basic Course Supplement: Either (a) an internship together with an internship rep ort o internship report (b) r (b) three additional four hour courses or seminars in Philosophy
• Culminating Experience Course Requirement: An additional two courses or eight credit hours , thesis or project.

(Specialized M.A. Committee, Graduate Committee, Director of Graduate Studies)

5. Internship Option

(Specialized M.A. Committee, Graduate Committee, Director of Graduate Studies)

6.M.A. Examination

Students submit a substantial essay or “thesis”, write an examination, or complete a project, and may be required to take an oral examination, as appropriate to the student’s course of study.

(Specialized M.A. Committee, Graduate Director, Graduate Committee.)

E. Specialized M.A. Program Requirements

1. Course Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 44 credit hours including the Core Requirement, the Core Supplement, and an additional 2 courses (8 credit hours) of electives or cognates. Normally this work is completed in two academic years.

CORE BASIC COURSE REQUIREMENT : (24 Hours) six courses or seminars in Philosophy (24 hours).

CORE BASIC COURSE SUPPLEMENT (12 hours) consisting of either (a) an internship together with an internship report or (b) three additional four hour courses or seminars in Philosophy.

CULMINATING EXPERIENCE (8 hours) two additional courses , thesis or project.

ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS

(1) No core course may be taken for S/U grading. No more than one course per semester may be taken for S/U grading.

(2) No more than four courses overall may be “reading” courses, except with the consent of the student’s M.A. Committee and the Graduate Director.

(3) None of the following courses may be used as a core requirement or core supplement: PHIL 650, 651, 679, 698. PHIL 691 and 697 may be used only by students electing the internship option.

2. Specialized M.A. Internship Option

The internship consists of work in applied philosophy of some type other than taking courses in philosophy for 12 credit hours during the equivalent of one semester, spread over one or more periods of time. There will be careful supervision and review of the internship at all stages including preparation and approval by the Graduate Committee and the Specialized M.A. Committee and on-campus internship supervisor and including an internship report which is presented to the Graduate Committee in the semester after completion of the internship. Internships are pursued under PHIL 691, 697. Proper application requires timely completion of the Internship Approval Form. For additional information, see above , section I.G, “The Internship Option”, in the description of the Ph.D. Program.

3. M.A. Examination

To complete the MA, students submit a substantial essay or “thesis”, write an examination, or complete a project, and may be required to take an oral examination, as appropriate to the student’s course of study. The nature of the examination is determined by the student’s Specialized M.A. Committee together with the Graduate Director and the departmental Graduate Committee.

The “M.A. Thesis” or essay is a substantive original philosophical essay of, typically 30-50 pages. The thesis should address some philosophical issue and offer original analysis and argumentation in support of the student's approach to this problem or issue. The student is expected to be knowledgeable of and to take into account the important literature bearing on the problem. Students who have successfully completed an internship may draw on their experiences in the thesis, but this is not required.

When the student's Specialized M.A. Committee determines that the student is ready to sit for the M.A. examination on the student’s thesis, project, or area of study, a public oral examination or defense of the essay or project may be conducted After a brief summary of the thesis, the student will answer questions posed by members of the Committee, and, as time permits, questions of other persons in attendance. It is expected that, in addition to defending the essay or project itself, the student will be able to provide informed responses to questions about the philosophical texts studied in completing the essay or project in accordance with the Committee's directions.

F. Specialized M.A. Normal Progress

•  Year 1:
  • Fall
    • 12 hours course work
    • C complete TDP
  •  Spring
    • 12 hours course work
    • Complete Core Requirements
  • Summer
    • Optional
• Year 2:
  • Fall
    • 12 hours course work or Internship option
    • Complete Core Supplement
  • Spring
    • 8 hours course work, M.A. Thesis or Project preparation
    • Complete course requirements
    • M.A. Examination
  •  Summer
    • If Needed

Note 1: Students enrolled in the program on a part-time basis will progress at a slower rate.

Note 2: Students who fail to make normal progress may be dropped from the program.

G. Doctoral Studies

NOTE: The Specialized M.A. program is designed as a “terminal” MA program, normally for students who have no intention to proceed to do doctoral studies in Philosophy. It is not intended to be preparatory to a Ph.D. in Philosophy or to a career doing research or teaching Philosophy at the University level.

Students who decide during their Specialized M.A. studies that they would like to take the Ph.D. at B.G.S.U. must apply for the Ph.D. program just as if they were external candidates. To complete their Specialized M.A., they should complete the requirements for the M.A. Examination of the Ph.D. program. If admitted to the Ph.D. program, they will have to complete all requirements on the same basis as other students in the Ph.D. program, including the Ph.D. Core requirements.