Philosophy, MA

Program Category: MA Programs
Chair: Christopher Peacocke
Director of MAO Studies: Michele Moody-Adams
Director of Admissions: Akeel Bilgrami
Degree Programs: Full time/part time: MA
Website: philosophy.columbia.edu

Home to a distinguished tradition of philosophical research and teaching, the Department of Philosophy provides a comprehensive academic atmosphere for pursuing advanced study in a wide range of philosophical subjects and methods—systematic, analytic, and historical. The department has a faculty with an unusually broad range of interests and areas of expertise that span the main periods of the history of western philosophy and nearly every major area of contemporary philosophical debate.

The MA program is intended both for students who are seeking a free-standing MA in philosophy, and for students interested in receiving further training in philosophy before applying to PhD programs in philosophy. Students in the MA program may be enrolled part time or full time. 

The department offers, with the Physics department, an MA in the Philosophical Foundations of Physics. It aims to meet the needs of an increasing population of gifted students who are intrigued by the growing scholarly interest in the relationship between the philosophy of science and the foundations of physics. The MA in the Philosophical Foundations of Physics can be completed in two semesters (ten courses) of full-time enrollment or during a maximum of eight semesters of part-time enrollment. Limited funding opportunities are available.

For further information concerning any of our graduate programs, please see the department website or contact the director of graduate studies or the director of admissions. 

Special Admissions Requirements

In addition to the requirements listed below, all students must submit one transcript showing courses and grades per school attended, a statement of academic purpose, a writing sample on a philosophical topic (a course paper, term paper, etc.), a personal statement, and three letters of evaluation from academic sources.

All international applicants whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

For more information, please refer to our Admissions Information and Frequently Asked Questions pages.

*GSAS will accept up to four recommendations, regardless of the number required by your program of interest. However, to be eligible for admission at GSAS, at least TWO letters must be submitted by academic recommenders.