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Philosophy Master's
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Program type:
Major
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
2 years
Credit Hours:
30
Find new approaches to the world's most pressing dilemmas and work to create change
in the world through political action and policy making.
The Master of Arts in Philosophy at UNT offers a world-class learning experience that
prepares students for both academic and non-academic careers. Graduate students study
with nationally and internationally known faculty members in the fields of environmental
philosophy and the philosophy of science, technology, and society. Our curriculum
is grounded in the history of philosophy with a strong emphasis in environmental philosophy.
It also offers broad latitude for students to craft a degree plan to suit their interests,
including interdisciplinary work across campus and internships beyond campus
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Request More InfoWhy Earn a Philosophy Master's?
When you pursue a Master's degree in Philosophy at the University of North Texas, you'll join an internationally recognized program that is known for its focus on environmental ethics and philosophy.
The master's degree is appropriate for students wishing to develop master's-level expertise in philosophy before pursuing doctoral studies in philosophy or related fields. It also provides an excellent background for students planning careers in law, policy, environmental science, public and private sector environmental firms, and nongovernmental organizations.
The Department of Philosophy and Religion is a diverse community of international faculty, students, and staff whose commitment to philosophizing the most pressing scientific, political and social issues of our day takes us to the edge of current research practices while keeping us firmly in touch with the perennial processes of philosophy.
You'll study with nationally and internationally recognized professors and researchers. Our program was founded by emeritus professors Eugene C. Hargrove and Pete A.Y. Gunter. Our faculty members work in the field as well as the classroom, teaching courses in:
- Eco-feminism
- Eco-phenomenology
- Environmental aesthetics
- Environmental justice
- Environmental policy
- Environmental justice
- Hinduism and Jainism
- Land ethics
- Philosophy of animals
- Philosophy of biocultural conservation
- Philosophy of ecology
- Philosophy of food
- Philosophy of science and technology
- Philosophy of water
- Religion and ecology
Marketable Skills
- Evaluation of written materials
- Oral presentation of ideas
- Basic structures of policy formation
- Basic understanding of environmental ethics/law
- Writing an extended text
Philosophy Master's Highlights
We are home to the first journal in the field, Environmental Ethics (founded 1979)
and the Center for Environmental Philosophy.
We are also home to the world's first field station in environmental philosophy, science,
and policy at Cape Horn, Chile.
UNT Philosophy has the country's only research group on the philosophy of impact.
We pursue a number of research projects, including the Philosophy of Water Project,
The Philosophy of Food Project, and the Philosophy for Children Project.
UNT welcomes leaders of local non-governmental organizations in these regions to communicative
engagements to share their strategies for empowering villagers toward self-reliance,
discussing challenges they face, and contributing their insights with specialists
working in anthropology and environmental philosophy.
The Philosophy and Religion Graduate Student Association (PRGSA) is a student organization
for graduate students studying Philosophy and Religion at UNT. that fosters and strengthen
community among philosophy graduate students, present a shared graduate student voice
to the faculty and creates dialogue between the faculty and graduate students.
What Can You Do With a Philosophy Master's?
Students pursuing academic careers in the humanities and the sciences may take the Master of Arts in Philosophy as preparation for Ph.D.-level work in philosophy and related fields.
The curriculum for the Master of Arts provides students with foundational training in the history of Western philosophy and religion, environmental philosophy, the philosophy of science and technology, and interdisciplinary experiences through a flexible program. It is also a good background for students planning careers in law, journalism, or work in the private, public, or non-governmental sectors.
Philosophy Master's Courses You Could Take
Environmental Philosophy (3 hrs)
Intensive analysis of new positions in environmental philosophy with special emphasis
on their theoretical value as a contribution to contemporary philosophy and their
practical value with regard to environmental policy and decision making.
Asian Philosophies and Religions (3 hrs)
Provides an insight into worldviews by studying the major Asian philosophies and religions
such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Daoism, Confucianism, Shinto and Zen.
Feminist Philosophy (3hrs)
In-depth examination of traditional philosophical themes from diverse feminist perspectives,
theories and lived experiences. An intersectional and transnational approach to topics
such as language, embodiment, identity, power and the environment, as well as the
history of the women's movement and ongoing dialogues about feminist theories, methods
and practices.
Social and Political Philosophy (3 hrs)
A focused examination of the relation between philosophical ideas and community, natural
right, justice, political freedom and authority. Exploration of historical and contemporary
figures and schools of thought, may include Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, and Mill, as
well as Rawls and his critiques, feminist political thought, and critical race theory.
Ethical Theory (3 hrs)
A focused examination of a variety of metaethical and normative theories of moral
philosophies, such as virtue ethics, utilitarianism, deontology, emotivism, and care
ethics. Explorations of historical and contemporary philosophical ethics may include
feminist ethics, and canonical figures such as, Aristotle, Kant, and Mill.
Philosophy of Science and Technology (3 hrs)
A focused examination the relationship between science and technology, the role of
experiment and instrumentation in scientific practice, the social construction of
scientific knowledge and technical artifacts, the nature of technology in human perception
and experience, and the broader social impacts of science and technology.
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