Department of Philosophy - University of Waterloo

Introduction

The Philosophy Department offers a one-year MA program and a four-year PhD program. For general information about the programs and requirements, see Graduate Degrees at Waterloo.

The normal background for MA students is that provided by a four-year Honours BA in Philosophy, and in general, applicants to the PhD program will have completed an MA in Philosophy.

We also encourage applications to the MA program from students who were not Philosophy majors as undergraduates, though in some cases we may ask students to take extra courses (see Applying From Undergraduate Programs in Fields Other Than Philosophy below). Note also in such circumstances that since admission is competitive, it is important to show the admissions committee that you have philosophical skills and talent; if you are unsure how best to do this, contact the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies, Professor Patricia Marino.

Graduate study normally begins in the Fall term, which starts in September. The official application deadline is February 1, but applications should be submitted by January 15 to ensure consideration for Fall Term admission.

Admissions Process and Requirements

Students are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

Performance in undergraduate work, especially in philosophy
Recommendations of previous instructors
Quality of written work submitted with the application
Description of proposed area of research

The following materials are required for admission at both the MA and PhD levels; the online application, which can be accessed here, will guide you through the process of submitting these:

Transcripts from previous institutions
Three letters of reference
A writing sample
Statements answering the questions below, each of at most 250 words

Question 1. Please provide a brief statement of interest that outlines the areas of philosophy you hope to pursue in the program.

Question 2. Please explain why the University of Waterloo Department of Philosophy is a good place to pursue such a project, and why your background makes you well suited to pursue it successfully.

For your writing sample, a philosophy paper of around 2500 words is desirable; longer and shorter papers are acceptable too, but please don't send anything longer than 5,000 words. At the time you apply, an unofficial transcript is fine; if and when you enroll you will be asked to submit official copies.

We do not require the GRE.

Academic Background of Applicants

a) From Normal Undergraduate Programs in Philosophy

The normal background for MA students is that provided by the four-year Honours BA at The University of Waterloo (see description here). The core courses in the program are in the fields of Epistemology and Metaphysics Logic, Ethics, and History of Philosophy.

International students with qualifications judged to be equivalent to a Canadian Honours BA in philosophy are normally admitted to full graduate student status, but may be required to take certain specific courses in order to rectify deficiencies in background, either as part of or in addition to their regular graduate program.

b) From a Canadian General B.A. or Equivalent Program

Students admitted with the three-year Canadian general BA degree or its equivalent will be as qualifying students. A qualifying student is admitted to graduate status but not to a degree program. The qualifying year is a year of work approximately equivalent to the fourth year of an honours program. Students who do well during that year are eligible for admission to full degree status.

c) From Undergraduate Programs in Fields Other Than Philosophy

We encourage students with some philosophy background but whose degree is in another field to apply to our graduate problem; typically we will consider such students as "transitional students." Transitional students will normally be required to complete selected graduate or undergraduate courses, to be specified in writing at the time the student is recommended for admission, in addition to the usual requirements of the MA program. A transitional student is admitted directly into the MA program and is eligible for financial assistance.

d) From Graduate Programs

Students who have completed an MA in Philosophy should apply to the PhD program. Students who have completed other advanced degrees in Philosophy or who have already completed work at another PhD program may be given advanced status in our PhD program; consult the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, Patricia Marino, for more information.