Thesis option
Students take a total of 30 semester credit hours (ten courses). At least 24 hours (eight courses) must be taken in the Department of Philosophy and Religion; 6 hours (two courses) may be taken outside of the department. Outside course work is optional, not required.
After completing course work, students will submit a Master’s Thesis, a substantial work of original scholarship. Students may enroll in PHIL 5950 after they have completed course work and have not yet completed the thesis. Students must pass an oral defense of the Master’s Thesis.
Comprehensive exam
Comprehensive Examination
Satisfying the Toulouse Graduate School Requirement for Qualifying Examination.
The purpose of the comprehensive exam is for the non-thesis MA student in philosophy to develop a background in the major figures and themes in the history of philosophy.
Consistent with the Toulouse Graduate School Requirement for Qualifying Examination and Admission to Candidacy this comprehensive exam will require the student to demonstrate competency in the basic areas of philosophy.
Students are eligible for the comprehensive exam following the completion of course work. Exams will be administered by the end of the spring semester. Exams can be administered by the end of the fall semester with the consent of the Director of Graduate Studies.
Students are required to take one MA Comprehensive Examination in the history of philosophy. There is a suggested readings list for the exam. The comprehensive exam questions will be based on the reading list and recently offered courses. Sample questions are posted at the department web site.
The exam will be four hours long, administered in the Department of Philosophy and Religion, written on an internet disabled computer.
Evaluation, Grading, and Appeals
The Comprehensive Exam Committee will grade the student’s examination with a Pass/Fail grade in a timely manner.
Pass: The comprehensive exam satisfactorily meets the Graduate School’s Qualifying Exam Requirement.
Fail: The comprehensive exam does not satisfactorily meet the Graduate School’s Qualifying Exam Requirement.
A pass grade is required to satisfy the non-thesis MA degree requirements.
A Fail grade is permissible. Students may retake the exam once. The retake will take place on or near July 1 (or February 1 if the exam is taken in the fall).
Appealing the Fail Grade
In the event of a second Fail grade, the student may appeal the grade. An appeals committee comprised of the Comprehensive Exam Committee, Director of Graduate Studies, and the Department Chair will confer to determine the merits of the appeal. If the appeal is upheld, the examination will be re-graded by the Executive Committee. If any members of the Executive Committee are also on the Comprehensive Exam Committee, the exam will be graded by members of the Tenure and Promotion Committee who are not on the Comprehensive Exam Committee.
A Fail grade after the appeal and second grading will result in dismissal from the Program for unsatisfactory progress.
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