Master of Arts / PhD in Philosophy

The highly ranked MA/PhD in philosophy at UMass Amherst will help you produce rigorous and meaningful philosophy, engage in original research alongside respected faculty, and prepare for a career as an academic. You’ll pursue coursework in traditional fields of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, logic, and the history of philosophy, as well as build and hone your teaching skills by working with faculty and the university’s Center for Teaching, and by volunteering with primary and secondary school students in our Philosophy for Kids outreach program. You are your peers will also benefit from various reading groups with topics such as ethics, propositional attitudes, and selected philosophers, as well as an active departmental speaker series and student-organized colloquia in which you can present your work.

Students in the PhD program may receive the master’s degree upon completion of all components of the preliminary requirement other than the area examination, as well as applicable requirements of the Graduate School. We do not offer a terminal MA program.