All Waterloo graduate program applications are completed via the online application through the Graduate Studies Office website. The application support material must be submitted in electronic file format. Or, if you have paper documents, they can be scanned into e-files (e.g. PDF) and uploaded to the application. Currently, the University of Waterloo graduate application fee is $100.
The Department of Philosophy offers a one year Master of Arts (MA) program. For general information about the program and requirements, see the Graduate Studies Office website.
We also encourage applications to the MA program from students who were not Philosophy majors as undergraduates, though in some cases we may ask students to take extra courses (see Applying From Undergraduate Programs in Fields Other Than Philosophy). Note also in such circumstances that since admission is competitive, it is important to show the admissions committee that you have philosophical skills and talent; if you are unsure how best to do this, contact the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies, Dr. Doreen Fraser.
Admissions Requirements
Students are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
- Performance in undergraduate work, especially in philosophy
- Recommendations of previous instructors
- Quality of written work submitted with the application
- Description of proposed area of research
The following materials are required for admission at the MA level; the online application will guide you through the process of submitting these:
- Transcripts from previous institutions
- Three letters of reference
- A writing sample
- Statements answering the questions below, each of at most 250 words
Question 1: Please provide a brief statement of interest that outlines the areas of philosophy you hope to pursue in the program.
Question 2: Please explain why the University of Waterloo Department of Philosophy is a good place to pursue such a project, and why your background makes you well suited to pursue it successfully.
For your writing sample, a philosophy paper of around 2500 words is desirable; longer and shorter papers are acceptable too, but please don't send anything longer than 5,000 words. At the time you apply, an unofficial transcript is fine; if and when you enroll you will be asked to submit official copies.
We do not require the Graduate Records Examination (GRE).
Proof of competency in English (if applicable). A score of at least 600 (250 on the computerized version) is required in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and 4.0 in the TWE. See the English Language Proficiency page for other acceptable tests of English.
Academic Background of Applicants
a) From normal undergraduate programs in Philosophy
The normal background for MA students is that provided by the four-year Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) at the University of Waterloo. The core courses in the program are in the fields of Epistemology and Metaphysics Logic, Ethics, and History of Philosophy.
International students with qualifications judged to be equivalent to a Canadian Honours BA in philosophy are normally admitted to full graduate student status, but may be required to take certain specific courses in order to rectify deficiencies in background, either as part of or in addition to their regular graduate program.
b) From a Canadian general Bachelor of Arts (BA) or equivalent program
Students admitted with the three-year Canadian general BA degree or its equivalent will be as qualifying students. A qualifying student is admitted to graduate status but not to a degree program. The qualifying year is a year of work approximately equivalent to the fourth year of an honours program. Students who do well during that year are eligible for admission to full degree status.
c) From undergraduate programs in fields other than Philosophy
We encourage students with some philosophy background but whose degree is in another field to apply to our graduate problem; typically we will consider such students as "transitional students." Transitional students will normally be required to complete selected graduate or undergraduate courses, to be specified in writing at the time the student is recommended for admission, in addition to the usual requirements of the MA program. A transitional student is admitted directly into the MA program and is eligible for financial assistance.
d) From graduate programs
Students who have completed an MA in Philosophy should apply to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program. Students who have completed other advanced degrees in Philosophy or who have already completed work at another PhD program may be given advanced status in our PhD program; consult the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, Dr. Doreen Fraser, for more information.
Degree Requirements
Course work option
For the Course work option, students must complete:
- PHIL 680A/B (Departmental Graduate Seminar);
- three one-term graduate courses (0.50 unit weight per course), at least one of which is a PHIL 674 course; and
- three Directed Research courses (PHIL 696).
The three Directed Research courses involve writing research papers under the supervision of three different members of the department. The choice of subjects is not restricted in advance, but must be agreed to by the student’s supervisor and by the Graduate Officer. Students with special interests may take one of these courses with a member of another department if they have received approval from the Graduate Officer.
To be granted the MA degree, students must complete 680A/B and the three one-term courses required for the MA degree with a 78% average with at least one mark in the 80-100% range. The grade requirement for the three PHIL 696 research courses in lieu of a thesis is no mark lower than 78% with at least one in the 80-100% range.
Thesis option
For the Thesis option, students must complete:
- PHIL 680A/B (Departmental Graduate Seminar);
- three one-term graduate courses (0.50 unit weight per course), at least one of which is a PHIL 674 course;
- one Directed Research course (PHIL 696);
- plus an MA thesis.
The Directed Research course will normally be taken with the thesis supervisor, and will involve research leading to the production of the thesis. Students wishing to take this option should have decided on their topic by mid-year.
To be granted the MA degree, students must complete PHIL 680A/B and the three one-term courses required for the MA degree with a 78% average with at least one mark in the 80-100% range. The grade requirement for PHIL 696, the preparatory research course for the thesis, is a mark no lower than 78%. The thesis must be accepted by a committee made up of the thesis supervisor and two other members of the department, to be selected in consultation with the Graduate Officer.