Master of Arts in Philosophy - Analytic Philosophy

The Master of Arts (MA) in Philosophy program offered through Loyola University Chicago's respected Department of Philosophy offers a unique array of benefits that result in powerful preparation for your future professional and academic pursuits.
The department offers various terminal master's degrees in philosophy, one of which is the generic philosophy MA. Although the requirements for this degree are basically the same as those for the non-terminal master's degree that is the first stage of doctoral studies, students pursuing the generic MA in philosophy are usually motivated by either the desire for self-development or the hope of laying down an intellectual foundation for graduate work in other areas such as history or theology. In exceptional cases, a very well qualified student in this or another terminal MA program may be considered for admission into the PhD program, but such students compete with other PhD program applicants for admission and must complete all PhD program requirements, including some MA requirements not required for the terminal MA.
Through the master's in philosophy, you will develop a strong foundation in the core areas of philosophy and be prepared for specialized research at the doctoral level. You will also gain an excellent intellectual foundation for further graduate study in areas like history, theology, and English.

In addition to a pathway toward the doctorate, the MA in Philosophy can lead to fulfilling careers in fields ranging from education to the law.

Specific job options include:
Our graduates of the MA in Philosophy program have gone on to the following professional roles and academic pursuits:
PhD student, Loyola University Chicago, PhD student, Georgia State University, PhD student, Michigan State University
PhD student, Indiana University, PhD student, Marquette University, Law student, Tulane Law School, Operations & audience development manager
Teacher of theology, Visiting professor and campus minister, Writer, Instructor of philosophy, Physician, associate professor of medicine

Application requirements for the Philosophy MA include:
Official Transcripts
3 Letters of Recommendation
3.0 Minimum GPA
Resume/CV
Statement of Purpose
Writing Sample
An applicant for admission must ordinarily hold (or receive prior to matriculation) a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. In addition, because academic qualifications are of major importance, the applicant ordinarily must have achieved a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit your official education credentials (e.g., transcripts, mark sheets, degree certificates, graduation diplomas) and evaluation fee directly to any NACES member companies.

For the TOEFL, a minimum score of 79 on the iBT
For the IELTS, a minimum score of 6.0 is required.
International applicants, or US residents who completed post-secondary education abroad: You are required to submit non-US transcripts to Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) for evaluation of credentials. To be considered for admission, the evaluation report must show that your non-US education is equivalent to a US bachelor's degree.