Accelerated Masters Pathway in Philosophy
The Accelerated Masters Pathway (AMP) in Philosophy is a 30-credit 4 + 1 program open to students in any major with an interest in philosophy. Integrating a grounding in the history of philosophy with current debates in social and political philosophy, ethics, and contemporary philosophy, the program offers rigorous and pluralistic training in the core areas of philosophy, close mentorship from internationally recognized faculty, and strong preparation for PhD study as well as professional careers in fields such as law, bioethics, public policy, and related areas.
The Accelerated Masters Pathway (AMP) lets you earn both your bachelor's and master's degrees in just five years instead of six—saving you time and tuition. You can save even more using the Returning Rambler scholarship.
Program Highlights
- Writing workshops and vocational seminars to introduce students to coursework in graduate school
- Professional development and placement workshops to prepare students for doctoral programs, as well as professional careers in law, publishing, education, public policy, and more
- Generalist training in the history of philosophy and an emphasis on philosophical pluralism
- Work with internationally recognized faculty in social and political philosophy, ethics, and bioethics
How to Apply
Admissions Requirements
- Must be a junior
- 5 completed courses in Philosophy, at least 2 at the 300-level and no more than 2 at the 100-level
- 3.3 minimum GPA
Application Materials
- Transcripts (provided internally through Loyola)
- 3 faculty recommendation forms
- A statement of purpose (1-2 pages single-spaced stating your interests and goals)
- A writing sample (recommended length: 8 to 15 pages; should be your best piece of philosophical writing)
Application Deadline
- For students starting their senior year in the Fall: March 15 of junior year
- For students starting their senior year in the Spring: October 15 of junior year
For more information visit the Philosophy Department’s Graduate Admissions webpage
Program Requirements
The AMP in Philosophy requires 30 credit hours of graduate coursework and an MA Examination.
Required Courses
The following courses are required for the AMP in Philosophy:
- 1 course in Ancient Philosophy
- 1 course in Medieval Philosophy
- 1 course in Modern Philosophy
- 1 course in Continental Philosophy
- 1 course in Analytic Philosophy
- 5 elective courses
AMP Structure
- Senior Year: Students take 2 graduate courses/semester for a total of 4 courses that count toward the BA or BS and MA; these courses replace general undergraduate electives.
- MA Year 5: Students take 3 graduate courses/semester for a total of 6 courses; PHIL 511 is typically taken in semester 1 of this year.
Research Tool Requirement
There is no research tool or language requirement for the MA in Philosophy.
MA Examination
Students must pass an MA Examination, which consists of an oral defense conducted by three faculty members on a substantial research paper or thesis the student has written. The focus of the examination is on the argument and analysis of the paper, as well as on the research, engagement with primary texts, and originality that the argument and analysis demonstrate.
Contact Us
- Graduate Program Director: Prof. Jennifer Gaffney
- Undergraduate Program Director: Prof. Kristen Irwin
Please direct all application inquiries to: philgrad@luc.edu and gradapp@luc.edu
The Accelerated Masters Pathway (AMP) in Philosophy is a 30-credit 4 + 1 program open to students in any major with an interest in philosophy. Integrating a grounding in the history of philosophy with current debates in social and political philosophy, ethics, and contemporary philosophy, the program offers rigorous and pluralistic training in the core areas of philosophy, close mentorship from internationally recognized faculty, and strong preparation for PhD study as well as professional careers in fields such as law, bioethics, public policy, and related areas.
The Accelerated Masters Pathway (AMP) lets you earn both your bachelor's and master's degrees in just five years instead of six—saving you time and tuition. You can save even more using the Returning Rambler scholarship.
Program Highlights
- Writing workshops and vocational seminars to introduce students to coursework in graduate school
- Professional development and placement workshops to prepare students for doctoral programs, as well as professional careers in law, publishing, education, public policy, and more
- Generalist training in the history of philosophy and an emphasis on philosophical pluralism
- Work with internationally recognized faculty in social and political philosophy, ethics, and bioethics
How to Apply
Admissions Requirements
- Must be a junior
- 5 completed courses in Philosophy, at least 2 at the 300-level and no more than 2 at the 100-level
- 3.3 minimum GPA
Application Materials
- Transcripts (provided internally through Loyola)
- 3 faculty recommendation forms
- A statement of purpose (1-2 pages single-spaced stating your interests and goals)
- A writing sample (recommended length: 8 to 15 pages; should be your best piece of philosophical writing)
Application Deadline
- For students starting their senior year in the Fall: March 15 of junior year
- For students starting their senior year in the Spring: October 15 of junior year
For more information visit the Philosophy Department’s Graduate Admissions webpage
Program Requirements
The AMP in Philosophy requires 30 credit hours of graduate coursework and an MA Examination.
Required Courses
The following courses are required for the AMP in Philosophy:
- 1 course in Ancient Philosophy
- 1 course in Medieval Philosophy
- 1 course in Modern Philosophy
- 1 course in Continental Philosophy
- 1 course in Analytic Philosophy
- 5 elective courses
AMP Structure
- Senior Year: Students take 2 graduate courses/semester for a total of 4 courses that count toward the BA or BS and MA; these courses replace general undergraduate electives.
- MA Year 5: Students take 3 graduate courses/semester for a total of 6 courses; PHIL 511 is typically taken in semester 1 of this year.
Research Tool Requirement
There is no research tool or language requirement for the MA in Philosophy.
MA Examination
Students must pass an MA Examination, which consists of an oral defense conducted by three faculty members on a substantial research paper or thesis the student has written. The focus of the examination is on the argument and analysis of the paper, as well as on the research, engagement with primary texts, and originality that the argument and analysis demonstrate.
Contact Us
- Graduate Program Director: Prof. Jennifer Gaffney
- Undergraduate Program Director: Prof. Kristen Irwin
Please direct all application inquiries to: philgrad@luc.edu and gradapp@luc.edu