Overview
AU’s MA program in Philosophy provides unique degree flexibility by offering three different tracks:

MA in History of Philosophy,
MA in Philosophy and Social Policy,
and MA in Ethics, Peace and Global Affairs

In addition to preparing student for PhD programs or law school, the Department’s emphasis on research, writing, and philosophical interpretation prepares its students for careers in government, education, and business. Recent graduates are pursuing PhDs at universities throughout the U.S. or are working in organizations such as the World Bank, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Institute of Peace.

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Admissions Requirements

• BA at an accredited college or university
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester hours of study
• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on all previous relevant graduate work
• Two letters of recommendation
• University’s standard application procedures
• GRE scores (The GRE is offered electronically bi-weekly; see gre.org for
  details).
• A writing sample
• For international students beginning Fall 2003, a minimum score on the TOEFL exam will be required:

• 600 on paper TOEFL
• 250 on computerized TOEFL
• 580 on re-centered SAT verbal
• 500 on GRE verbal

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New Students
As a new graduate student, you probably have questions such as where to find a place to live, how to get a parking permit and ID card, how to use DC's public transportation, or how to obtain health insurance. American University's New Student Programs Office provides answers to these questions and many others.

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Graduate Handbooks
Detailed information about department, graduate school and university policies, procedures, requirements and regulations. Please select one of the following links:

Handbook for History of Philosophy & Philosophy and Social Policy Tracks

Handbook for the Ethics, Peace and Global Affairs Track

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Student Perspectives

"The MA in Philosophy and Social Policy has allowed me to use philosophy in a practical way every day. I have a great internship at the Ethics Resource Center, and the classes I am taking work with each other to create a total learning experience. The professors take an active interest in students' lives and are a constant help in finding jobs and internships and providing personalized learning opportunities."

-Brenda Hanzl, 2002

"As a student in the History of Philosophy track, what most strikes me about this department is the closeness which we students share both among ourselves and with professors. Over the past few years I have formed relationships in the department that I am sure will last for years to come. The graduate courses are small and provide the perfect environment in which to flourish as a student. The course offerings are a great mix of traditional and marginalized branches of philosophy. I can honestly say I would not be where I am today if it weren't for this department."

-David Gougelet, 2002

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Alumni
Here's a partial list of where our former graduate students are:

• Presidential Management Internship
• Ethics Officer, World Bank
• American Academy of Arts & Science (AAAS)
• Representative Felix Grucci's office (D. NY)
• Program Development Manager for Co-op America, a national nonprofit organization using economic activism to promote social change
• Assistant to the Executive Director at The American Committee for Peace in Chechnya
• Peace Corps
• Senior Project Assistant at the National Academy of Engineering
• Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC
• Professional social worker
• Research Associate for the Ethics Resource Center
• Ethics and Policy Integration Centre
• Pardon office of the Justice Department
• Assistant Director of Student Affairs
• teacher at SEED Public Charter School in DC
• middle school teacher
• high school teacher
• sixth grade social studies teacher
• tenure-track professor at the University of Mississippi (PhD, University of Memphis)
• PhD in secondary education, with a focus on Middle School Education and Constructivism, at the University of South Carolina
• School of Professional Psychology, George Washington University
• PhD Program in Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University
• PhD Program in Philosophy, Stony Brook University
• PhD Program in Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania
• PhD program in Philosophy, University of Memphis
• PhD program in Philosophy, Michigan State University
• PhD program in Political Science, University of Montana
• JD program, University of Pennsylvania School of Law
• Assistant Professor, LeMoyne College
• Boston University School of Law
• Visiting Assistant Professor, St. John Fisher College
• Adjunct Professor at Long Island University
• Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Department of History, Philosophy, and Geography, Missouri Western State College
• Visiting Assistant Professor, Kansas State University
• professor at the University of Denver (PhD, University of Maryland)
• Loyola University, Baltimore
• PhD from University of Utrecht, focus in Madhva Sampradaya in Hinduism

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