Graduate Program

Philosophy

Master of Arts in Philosophy

Fields of Specialization

Contemporary Continental Philosophy
Eastern Philosophy
Comparative Philosophy

Dean
J. Douglas Kneale
Faculty of Humanities

Associate Dean
Carol U. Merriam
Faculty of Humanities

Core Faculty
Professors
Wing-Cheuk Chan (Philosophy), Christine Daigle (Philosophy),
R. Raj Singh (Philosophy)

Associate Professors
Michael Berman (Philosophy), Richard S. G. Brown (Philosophy),
Rohit Dalvi (Philosophy), Rajiv Kaushik (Philosophy),
Brian Lightbody (Philosophy)

Assistant Professors
Athena Colman (Philosophy)

Graduate Program Director
Brian Lightbody
blightbody@brocku.ca
573 Glenridge Avenue, GLN 268
St. Catharines, ON   L2S 3A1
905.688.5550, extension 5313

Administrative Assistant
Frances Meffe
philosophy@brocku.ca
573 Glenridge Avenue, GLN 263
St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1
905.688.5550, extension 3315

Program Description

The Master's program focuses on three areas: recent and contemporary Continental and Asian thought, as well as Comparative philosophy. The program also accommodates the rise in importance of post-structuralist continental thinkers. Such inclusions indicate the type of dynamic rapport the Department wishes to keep with the wider philosophical community. Consequently, the majority of courses offered in any one year will be selected from the following specializations:

Contemporary Continental Philosophy (Existentialism, Phenomenology, Hermeneutics, Post-Structuralism): Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Beauvoir, Merleau-Ponty, Levinas, Gadamer, Foucault, Deleuze, Guattari, Kristeva, Irigaray, Habermas or some contemporary European movement, such as Structuralism, the Frankfurt School, etc.

Eastern Philosophy: Indian and Upanishadic Philosophy: texts from the six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy, especially Vedanta, Early Indian Buddhist traditions, especially Madhyamika schools and Yogacara Buddhism; Bhakti traditions, Gandhi; Chinese Philosophy, especially Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Buddhism.

Comparative Philosophy: Comparison of Eastern and Western traditions with respect to problems of being, knowledge, person, values, and philosophical method.

In addition, from time to time, half-courses and tutorials may be offered on the following topics: [For example,] Issues in recent Anglo-American (Analytic) Philosophy, Studies in Classical Philosophy (Pre-Socratics, Plato and/or Aristotle), [etc.]. These topics fall outside the principal focus of the graduate program, but are represented by individual members of the Department. (If in a given year a half-credit in one of the above happens not to be offered, an individual tutorial therein may be arranged.)

Admission Requirements

Successful completion of an Honours Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in Philosophy with an overall average not less than 75%. Applicants must supply a statement of interest. Knowledge of languages other than English may be required as appropriate.

The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of suitable candidates.

Individuals interested in part-time study should consult with the Graduate Program Director.

Degree Requirements

In order to complete the degree requirements for the Master of Arts in Philosophy, there are two paths from which to choose: the M.A. thesis option, which requires the successful completion of four (4) half-credits in the philosophy program and a thesis; and the major research paper option, which requires the successful completion of six (6) half-credits as well as a major research paper. Thesis candidates are limited to a maximum of one half-credit directed reading course; major research paper candidates may take up to two one half-credit directed reading courses. The Graduate Program Director of the Department must approve the course curricula of each Philosophy graduate student.

The MA program is designed to be normally completed in one year (twelve months) of full-time studies.

Residence Regulations

The department requires the full-time graduate students' regular presence on campus (with the exception of formally approved absences and leaves). Since most graduate students have teaching assistantships in the regular academic year (Fall/Winter) and need to see their supervisors during the spring and summer terms, most graduate students stay in town for the first twelve months of their program. In any case, the general graduate studies regulations at Brock specify residency requirements, which apply to philosophy students as well.

Graduate Studies Regulations

All M.A. students are urged to read carefully the sections of the graduate calendar (available on line) setting out university regulations governing M.A. studies at Brock University. The Department of Philosophy is bound by all university-wide academic regulations adopted by the Brock University Senate. While the Graduate Officer is available to assist students and answer their questions, it is the responsibility of the students to ensure that their programs meet all university requirements for the degree sought. The purpose of the present information bulletin is to clarify departmental policy regarding certain matters, which fall under department jurisdiction and are of concern to our graduate students.

IMPORTANT LINKS

Philosophy MA Graduate Program Handbook

Graduate Studies Home Page
http://www.brocku.ca/graduate-studies/

Graduate Calendar: Philosophy
http://www.brocku.ca/webcal/2012/graduate/phil.html

HTML Forms
http://www.brocku.ca/graduate-studies/current-students/student-forms