The Department of Philosophy offers MA (with or without thesis) and PhD programs in Philosophy. The programs are offered in English and French.

The Department participates in the following collaborative programs: women’s studies (at the master’s level) and Canadian studies (at the PhD level), which make it possible for students to obtain a specialization in either domain.

The program is governed by the general regulations of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS).

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the MA program a candidate must have an honours BA in Philosophy (or the equivalent) with a minimum "B" average. The Department reserves the right to impose a preliminary examination.

Candidates lacking the necessary background may be admitted to a qualifying program.

An application dossier must include official transcripts and two letters of recommendation. For the master's with thesis, the dossier must also include a description of the intended field of research, and a sample of written work in philosophy (15-25 pp.).

Language Requirements

Proficiency in both French and English is strongly encouraged so that students may take advantage of the full range of activities - lectures, personal contacts, and courses - available in the Department (graduate courses are normally not duplicated in the two languages).

Collaborative Program in Women's Studies at the Master's Level

The Department of Philosophy is a participating unit in the collaborative program in women's studies at the master's level. This program has been established for students wishing to enrich their training in philosophy by including an interdisciplinary component in Women's studies. The specific requirements of the collaborative program include two core courses and a thesis on a topic related to Women's studies. Only one of the core "FEM" courses will be counted for credit towards the requirements of the master's in philosophy.

Students should normally apply for admission to the Women's studies collaborative program at the same time as they apply for admission to the master's program in philosophy. For further details, please consult the Women's Studies brochure of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Degree Requirements

1. The MA program with thesis, consisting of 4 (one-session) courses, an approved thesis project, and a thesis, including defence.
2. The MA program without thesis, consisting of 8 (one-session) courses. In exceptional cases, students may take one course in another department.

• Passing (50%) the FLS 1000 exam; OR
• Completing 6 credits of FLS courses at your level (as determined by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute); OR
• Successfully completing a Philosophy graduate seminar given in French. (N.B. As per University regulations, students may write examinations and papers in the official language of their choice.)

Duration of the program

Residence