Master of Arts in Philosophy

This program is accredited via our partnership with Woolf University.

In an age where disinformation abounds, GCAS is pleased to offer an advanced degree in philosophy, accredited by the European Union. Your research will be supported by some of the world’s leading thinkers. Our MA in philosophy exposes students to a history of philosophy, continental philosophy, philosophical theology, and psychoanalysis. The program is divided into two parts:

• 10 short courses (3 ECTS credits each for a total of 30)
• 60 ECTS credits with MA thesis research, writing, and defending.

Courses can be taken online and/or in person when we offer a course or courses in a residential context. Only a few courses are residential for the time being (for example, our seminars in Belfast). Each course meets four (4) times for discussion. Students write short weekly reflections and complete a polished 1,500-word research paper at the end of the course. Students also present once per course for ten (10) minutes with a Question and Answer session. Once the student completes all ten courses they move on to write the MA thesis (20,000 words) and take the Master’s Comprehensive Examination (MCE).

The student will defend their MA thesis in front of a committee in person or online. The MCE is a four-hour written examination on a topic germane to philosophy. The student is required to meet with their academic supervisor at least once per month to ensure writing and research targets are accomplished. Students can also meet up with their peers once a week, which is optional.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the European Union. Once completed, the degree can be used to continue into post-graduate education and apply for corporate or other positions. GCAS also offers a Ph.D. program in philosophy to which graduates of the MA in Philosophy are invited to apply.

*subject to change depending on EU regulations.

• Genealogy of Ideas
• Philosophy of Art
• Philosophical Theology
• Philosophical Figures: Simone Weil
• Hegel
• Deleuze
• Philosophy and Psychology
• Radical Theory
• Critical Paradigms
• Epistemology
• Structuralism and Phenomenology

The course teaches students comprehensive and specialized subjects in philosophy; it develops skills in critical thinking and analysis. By exposing students to both the broad themes of philosophy and specialized topics and key historical figures, students will gain an advanced understanding of the field.

The overall course objectives of the program are:

Knowledge

• Students will gain comprehensive knowledge and understanding of philosophy, including knowledge that is at the forefront of the field.
• Students will be able to apply their academic scholarly abilities to produce innovative analyses of key philosophical topics.
• Students will display original thinking on the basis of the knowledge they gain in the course.

Skills

• Develop advanced, innovative, and multi-disciplinary problem-solving skills.
• Communicate philosophical concepts clearly and unambiguously to specialized and non-specialized audiences.
• Develop advanced abilities related to research methods and the conventions of appropriate, graduate-level philosophical writing.
• Critically evaluate alternative approaches to solving key philosophical questions on the basis of academic scholarship and case studies, demonstrating reflection on social and ethical responsibilities.
• Formulate philosophical judgments and despite incomplete information by integrating knowledge and approaches from diverse domains including academic scholarly articles, verbal discussions, and original ideation and research.
• Enquire critically into the theoretical strategies for handling key philosophical questions.
• Develop new skills in response to emerging knowledge in the field and professional techniques to demonstrate leadership and innovation in the scholarly community.

Competences

• Formulate research-based solutions to philosophical and scholarly questions in environments of incomplete information.
• Manage decisions with autonomy in complex and unpredictable environments
• Organize projects and people for scholarly discussions in a way that is responsive to the conventions of rigorous philosophical engagements.
• Demonstrate learning skills needed to maintain continued, life-long critical engagement.

We anticipate graduates from GCAS’s programs to go onto a variety of careers and positions. These include working on policy for nonprofits and NGOs, as well as in academia, management consulting, and investment banks. The degree’s emphasis on critical thinking makes it useful for entrance into almost any position.