MA in Philosophy

Charles River Campus, Boston, United States

Shortlist

# 51-100QS Subject Rankings

PhilosophyMain Subject Area

Program overview

Main Subject

Philosophy

Degree

Study Level

Masters

The MA in Philosophy is a terminal degree for full- or part-time students. The program helps to prepare students to make contributions to philosophical discussion and debate and offers considerable flexibility within the program of study. This flexibility can serve as a vehicle to combine an intensive philosophical training with various interests (for example, aesthetics with training in a fine art, or political philosophy with training in law). Additionally, the departmentâ€™s philosophical life is significantly enriched by its close association with Boston Universityâ€™s Center for Philosophy and History of Science, the Institute for Philosophy and Religion, and the Institut fÃ¼r die Wissenschaften vom Menschen (Vienna). Within its masterâ€™s degree program, the philosophy department offers a concentration in the philosophy of science. This curriculum is designed for those who are seeking to understand the conceptual foundations of the natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences), cognitive sciences, mathematics, medicine, psychology, economics, and other social sciences. While philosophy of science usually focuses on contemporary science, in this program students are also afforded the opportunity to study the history of science as well as issues at the interface of science and religion. All applicants should have completed the equivalent of an undergraduate major in philosophy, typically with an average of B or higher. Students with minors in philosophy are also encouraged to apply. The masterâ€™s thesis consists of an investigation or study of a specific problem, theme, or area of philosophy; it is composed under the direction of a current member of the Department of Philosophy. Aimed at helping prepare the student to make contributions to philosophical discussion and debate, the thesis should take the form of a scholarly publication or monograph, not over 19,000 words, with adequate documentation and bibliography, as appropriate (these are included in the word limit). The thesis must be examined by two faculty members and defended at an oral examination before the same two professors. One of the professors will be the thesis director.

Program overview

Main Subject

Philosophy

Degree

Study Level

Masters

Admission requirements

Exam Scores

IELTS

Tuition fee and scholarships

Scholarships

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

A list of available scholarships around the world

A scholarship application checklist

Download Scholarship Guide

More programs from the university

One of the largest private universities in the country, Boston University educates approximately 16,000 undergraduate students each year. Nearly 3,900 faculty members teach in 250 programs of study at 17 schools and colleges.

In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked BU 37th in the nation and 39th among global universities. The faculty features a Pulitzer Prize winner, a MacArthur fellow, a former US Poet Laureate, and dozens of Guggenheim fellows. The student-faculty ratio is 10:1 and the average class size is 27.
BU is a member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only group of North America’s most prestigious research universities. One of only four Boston-area members, BU boasts particular interdisciplinary breadth and depth of excellence in cloud computing and cyber security; engineering biology; infectious diseases; neuroscience; photonics; urban policy; education; and the humanities. It’s not unusual to find undergraduates in the cutting-edge labs and work spaces of prominent researchers tackling life-changing challenges.

Recognized around the world, the University fields applications for admission from students representing over 150 countries. By the same token, thousands of Terriers get their passports stamped every year for study, research, and internships on all seven continents. Once they graduate, BU students are among the most employable in the country and the world—5th and 6th, respectively, according to Times Higher Education.
BU is implementing a University-wide general education curriculum called the BU Hub, which ensures every graduate will possess the essential knowledge, skills, and habits of mind needed to think deeply, generate new ideas, and put them into action, particularly within the context of a hyper-fast, globally connected world.

On campus, daily life is a swirl of languages, faces, and religions, with 450+ student clubs, countless shows and lectures, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a slew of pubs and restaurants, and 22 varsity athletic teams, including the thrills and spills of Terrier hockey.

The University is nestled in the heart of Boston, a hotbed of high tech and biomedicine, and the birthplace of American history, serving as an extended classroom for students, offering study, internships, and professional opportunities with some of the world’s most influential leaders in fields from art to finance to biotech. It’s no wonder BU is called “Boston’s university.”

Arts and Humanities (6)

B.A. in Biology - Quantitative Biology

B.A. in Geography - Physical Geography

B.A. in Philosophy and Physics

BA in Ancient Greek

BA in Ancient Greek and Latin

BA in Archaeology

View All

Business and Management (6)

B.S. in Advertising

BA/MPH in Health Law, Bioethics and Human Rights

BS/MPH in Health Law, Bioethics and Human Rights

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Accounting

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Finance

View All

Engineering and Technology (6)

B.A. in Mathematics and Computer Science

BS in Computer Science

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Management Information Systems

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

View All

Life Sciences and Medicine (6)

B.A. in Anthropology

B.A. in Anthropology - Anthropology and Religion

B.A. in Biology

B.A. in Biology - Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Genetics

B.A. in Biology - Ecology and Conservation Biology

B.A. in Biology - Neurobiology

View All

Natural Sciences (6)

B.A. in Astronomy and Physics

B.A. in Earth Sciences

B.A. in Earth Sciences - Geophysics and Planetary Sciences

B.A. in Mathematics

B.A. in Mathematics and Philosophy

BA in Astronomy

View All

Social Sciences and Management (6)

B.A. in Economics and Mathematics

B.A. in Geography - Human Geography

B.A. in Mathematics and Mathematics Education

B.S. in Communication Studies

BA in English

BA in Geography with a Specialization in Human Geography

View All

The largest university in Boston and the fourth-largest private educational institution in the country, Boston University counts some 15,000 graduate students among its student body.

Nearly 3,900 faculty members teach at 17 schools and colleges and when not at the front of the classroom, they can be found at BU’s 125+ research centers and institutes and 2,326 laboratories spread across three city campuses. The faculty features a Pulitzer Prize winner, a MacArthur fellow, a former US Poet Laureate, and dozens of Guggenheim fellows.
BU is a major, global research institution and a member of the Association of American Universities, an invitation-only group of 62 of North America’s most prestigious research universities. One of only four Boston-area members, BU boasts particular interdisciplinary breadth and depth of excellence in cloud computing and cyber security; engineering biology; infectious diseases; neuroscience; photonics; urban policy; education; and the humanities. Home also to a medical school and teaching hospital, in FY2017 BU landed more than $400M in federal research dollars. In the commercial sector, some 200 companies are developing and selling products based on BU discoveries.

U.S. News & World Report for 2019 ranked numerous BU graduate programs among the country’s top 50: Sargent College’s occupational therapy program (#1), School of Public Health’s program (#10), Business (#42), Education (#34), Law (#22), Engineering (#34), Biomedical Engineering (#12), Medical Research (#29), Medical Primary Care (#26), Social Work (#10), as well as graduate programs in Computer Science, Math, Physics, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology.