MA in Philosophy
This programme is accredited in the European Union. In an age where disinformation abounds, GCAS is pleased to offer an advanced degree in philosophy, accredited in the European Union. Your research will be supported by some of the world’s leading thinkers. The MA in Philosophy at GCAS exposes students to the history of philosophy, continental philosophy, philosophical theology, and psychoanalysis.
There are also several specializations you may choose to focus on, including:
The programme is divided into two parts:
10 short courses (3 ECTS credits each for a total of 30)
60 ECTS credits with MA thesis research, writing, and defending.
Courses can be taken online and/or in person when we offer a course or courses in a residential context. We offer a few residential courses each year in cities such as Paris, Belfast, Berlin, etc. However this degree programme is 100% online meaning all courses (including the residential ones) are taken online. Each course meets four (4) times for discussion. Students write short weekly reflections and complete a polished 1,500-word research paper at the end of the course. Students also present once per course for ten (10) minutes with a Question and Answer session. Once the student completes all ten courses they move on to write the MA thesis (20,000 words) and take the Master’s Comprehensive Examination (MCE). The student will defend their MA thesis in front of a committee in person or online. The MCE is a four-hour written examination on a topic germane to philosophy and the student’s research. The student is required to meet with their academic supervisor at least once per month to ensure writing and research targets are accomplished. Students can also meet up with their peers, which is optional.
Courses and Professors
Philosophy of Energy and Change, Clayton Crockett
Artificial Intelligence, Maxim Miroshnichenko
The Philosophy of Art Francisco Gonzalez
Philosophical Theology John D. Caputo
Philosophical TheologyBuddhism Mario D’Amato
Philosophical Figures, Hegel Todd McGowan
Philosophical FiguresPlato Rocky Gangle
Radical Theory Contemporary Themes Barry Taylor
Philosophy and Psychedelics Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes
Advanced Studies in Philosophy The Void Katherine Everitt
Philosophy and Psychology Freud and Lacan Jamieson Webster
Philosophy and Psychology and Feminism Bracha L. Ettinger
Philosophy and Psychology Bruce Fink
Critical Paradigms Rocky Gangle
Epistemology Decentralized Knowledge Creston Davis
Applications Open Now
Length of Degree: You can complete the MA in one year full-time. But most finish in 14 months.
Cost: The tuition investment is €6,000. We give every student financial aid by reducing the tuition cost.
Application Deadline:
Apply at any time. We are currently accepting applications. Start studying today.
Credits:
90 ECTS credits with MA thesis research, writing, and defending.
Prerequisites: BA Degree or higher
Degree Overview
The course teaches students comprehensive and specialised subjects in philosophy; it develops skills in critical thinking and analysis. By exposing students to both the broad themes of philosophy and specialised topics and key historical figures, students will gain an advanced understanding of the field.
The overall course objectives of the programme are:
Knowledge
Students will gain comprehensive knowledge and understanding of philosophy, including knowledge that is at the forefront of the field.
Students will be able to apply their academic scholarly abilities to produce innovative analyses of key philosophical topics.
Students will display original thinking on the basis of the knowledge they gain in the course.
Skills
Develop advanced, innovative, and multi-disciplinary problem-solving skills.
Communicate philosophical concepts clearly and unambiguously to specialised and non-specialized audiences.
Develop advanced abilities related to research methods and the conventions of appropriate, graduate-level philosophical writing.
Critically evaluate alternative approaches to solving key philosophical questions on the basis of academic scholarship and case studies, demonstrating reflection on social and ethical responsibilities.
Formulate philosophical judgments and despite incomplete information by integrating knowledge and approaches from diverse domains including academic scholarly articles, verbal discussions, and original ideation and research.
Enquire critically into the theoretical strategies for handling key philosophical questions.
Develop new skills in response to emerging knowledge in the field and professional techniques to demonstrate leadership and innovation in the scholarly community.
Competences
Formulate research-based solutions to philosophical and scholarly questions in environments of incomplete information.
Manage decisions with autonomy in complex and unpredictable environments
Organize projects and people for scholarly discussions in a way that is responsive to the conventions of rigorous philosophical engagements.
Demonstrate learning skills needed to maintain continued, life-long critical engagement.
Teaching and Facilities
The programme is taught 100% online. Classes will meet approximately once per week for around nine months. MA researchers attend one to two classes per month meaning the synchronous class time will be circa 5 hours per week*. After the teaching period, MA researchers will work on their dissertations. Each MA researcher will be assigned a supervisor that can best accommodate the topic and aim of the research project. GCAS has access to a wide range of supervisors internal and external to the institution. MA researchers’ input on this decision is welcome. During the dissertation period of the programme, MA researchers will regularly meet with their supervisor and their cohort. Although this is a full time programme, the majority of students in the programme have successfully completed the degree within 13 months who are employed full time.
Researchers in the MA in Philosophy programme have access to the entire GCAS ecosystem. This includes all courses offered in the E-School as well as on-site seminars. Furthermore, students will have access to all material recorded and stored in the GCAS library including courses taught by world-leading thinkers in the fields of economics, the natural sciences, sustainability, cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence and others.
Prerequisites for Acceptance
Our researchers come from some of the best academic institutions in the world, including UC Berkeley, Columbia University, London School of Economics, Swarthmore, Yale, New York University, and Case Western Reserve University, to name a few. However, as a research institute and college that is challenging traditional academia, we attract applicants who bring diverse backgrounds, experiences, and fresh perspectives to the conversation and research. If you are passionate about learning new skills and want to help reshape the future of learning, then we invite you to join our intellectual community by applying.
Our degree programme is rigorous and applicants must possess an accredited Bachelor’s degree to be considered for admission. Most applicants hold a first-class or strong upper-second-class undergraduate degree. For applicants with a degree from the USA, most applicants hold a minimum GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0. If your degree is not from the EU or the USA, contact our admission team for more information.
Admission is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent. Most successful applicants hold degrees in philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, psychoanalysis or a similar field of study. However, applications from all backgrounds are encouraged if sufficient motivation and interest can be demonstrated.
Programme Fees
Tuition Fees for the 2024 intake are EUR 6,000 for national and international students. Financial aid for a tuition fee reduction of up to 50% is available to students upon acceptance into the programme. Visit our scholarship page for more information. To help us accomplish our goal of truly accessible education, there is no application fee.
Accreditation
The programme is accredited by the European Union. Once completed, the degree can be used to continue into post-graduate education and apply for corporate or other positions. GCAS also offers a PhD programme in the Humanities and Social Sciences to which graduates of the MA in Philosophy are invited to apply.
*subject to change depending on EU regulations.
Career Opportunities
We anticipate graduates from GCAS’s programmes to go onto a variety of careers and positions. These include working on policy for nonprofits and NGOs, as well as in academia, management consulting, and investment banks. The degree’s emphasis on critical thinking makes it useful for entrance into almost any position.