Accelerated Masters Pathway in Social Philosophy
The Accelerated Masters Pathway (AMP) in Social Philosophy is a 30-credit 4+1 program open to students in any major who also want to deepen their understanding of ethics, social justice, and political philosophy. Ideal for students pursuing law, public policy, racial justice and gender equity work, healthcare and bioethics, climate justice, international ethics, or Tech/AI policy, the program provides ethical foundations, theoretical frameworks, and analytic reasoning skills needed to engage these fields critically and responsibly.
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
- Work with internationally recognized faculty in philosophy to evaluate ethical and social challenges shaping our world
- Design your degree by clustering courses in a primary and secondary area of focus you choose
- Integrate theoretical study with work in the world through a semester-long internship in the PHIL 511: Social Ethics Practicum
- Gain global perspectives on questions of ethics and social justice through the non-European Traditions requirement
How to Apply
Admissions Requirements
- Must be a junior
- One course above the 100-level in Philosophy
- 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 writing; does not need to be in philosophy, but should demonstrate theoretical and argumentative ability)
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 Social Philosophy requires 30 credit hours of coursework, an MA Examination, and a semester-long internship through PHIL 511 Social Ethics Practicum. In addition to completing the required coursework, students work with faculty advisors to choose a primary and secondary area of focus aligned with their career goals. They use these areas to select courses and choose an internship appropriate to their goals.
Required Courses
The following courses are required for the AMP in Social Philosophy:
- 5 courses in Social and Political Philosophy/Ethics
- All students must take PHIL 480 Social and Political Philosophy
- 3 taken in Primary Area of Focus, 2 in Secondary Area of Focus
- Areas are determined by the student through advising. Suggested areas include: Social and Political Philosophy/Philosophy of Law, Critical Philosophy of Race/Feminism, Human Security, Climate Justice, Bioethics, International Issues and Perspectives and AI/Technology Issues and Policy
- One (1) Non-European Traditions course
- 3 Elective Courses, two of which may be taken outside Philosophy
- PHIL 511 Social Ethics Practicum: 90-hours internship that supports students interests and career goals; determined through advising and requires students to complete a series of papers using theoretical knowledge to analyze the policies and practices of their internship organization.
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 Social 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. It is expected that this research project will be based on work done in the PHIL 511: Social Ethics Practicum.
Contact Us
- Graduate Program Director: Prof. Jennifer Gaffney
- Undergraduate Program Director: Prof. Kristen Irwin
- Chair of the MA in Social Philosophy Committee: Prof Joy Gordon
Please direct all application inquiries to: philgrad@luc.edu and gradapp@luc.edu
The Accelerated Masters Pathway (AMP) in Social Philosophy is a 30-credit 4+1 program open to students in any major who also want to deepen their understanding of ethics, social justice, and political philosophy. Ideal for students pursuing law, public policy, racial justice and gender equity work, healthcare and bioethics, climate justice, international ethics, or Tech/AI policy, the program provides ethical foundations, theoretical frameworks, and analytic reasoning skills needed to engage these fields critically and responsibly.
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
- Work with internationally recognized faculty in philosophy to evaluate ethical and social challenges shaping our world
- Design your degree by clustering courses in a primary and secondary area of focus you choose
- Integrate theoretical study with work in the world through a semester-long internship in the PHIL 511: Social Ethics Practicum
- Gain global perspectives on questions of ethics and social justice through the non-European Traditions requirement
How to Apply
Admissions Requirements
- Must be a junior
- One course above the 100-level in Philosophy
- 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 writing; does not need to be in philosophy, but should demonstrate theoretical and argumentative ability)
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 Social Philosophy requires 30 credit hours of coursework, an MA Examination, and a semester-long internship through PHIL 511 Social Ethics Practicum. In addition to completing the required coursework, students work with faculty advisors to choose a primary and secondary area of focus aligned with their career goals. They use these areas to select courses and choose an internship appropriate to their goals.
Required Courses
The following courses are required for the AMP in Social Philosophy:
- 5 courses in Social and Political Philosophy/Ethics
- All students must take PHIL 480 Social and Political Philosophy
- 3 taken in Primary Area of Focus, 2 in Secondary Area of Focus
- Areas are determined by the student through advising. Suggested areas include: Social and Political Philosophy/Philosophy of Law, Critical Philosophy of Race/Feminism, Human Security, Climate Justice, Bioethics, International Issues and Perspectives and AI/Technology Issues and Policy
- One (1) Non-European Traditions course
- 3 Elective Courses, two of which may be taken outside Philosophy
- PHIL 511 Social Ethics Practicum: 90-hours internship that supports students interests and career goals; determined through advising and requires students to complete a series of papers using theoretical knowledge to analyze the policies and practices of their internship organization.
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 Social 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. It is expected that this research project will be based on work done in the PHIL 511: Social Ethics Practicum.
Contact Us
- Graduate Program Director: Prof. Jennifer Gaffney
- Undergraduate Program Director: Prof. Kristen Irwin
- Chair of the MA in Social Philosophy Committee: Prof Joy Gordon
Please direct all application inquiries to: philgrad@luc.edu and gradapp@luc.edu