Graduate Programs in Social, Political, Ethical and Legal Philosophy (SPEL)
The graduate program in social, political, ethical and legal philosophy (SPEL) offers
graduate students advanced coursework and individual research in classical, modern
and contemporary social and political philosophy, ethics and the philosophy of law.
Students in the SPEL program receive a traditional education in philosophy and its
major sub-fields while typically specializing in areas of social, political, ethical,
and/or legal philosophy. The SPEL program is strongly committed to a pluralistic approach,
embracing not only the Anglo-American (analytic) and Continental (European) traditions,
but also emerging and other long-established traditions.
Master of Arts (MA) in SPEL Philosophy
Students may pursue the MA either as a preparation for applying to a Ph.D. program
or as a terminal degree. A terminal philosophy MA through SPEL is an excellent preparation
for further professional development in public policy, law, government service, medicine,
or business.
- Required Coursework
The MA degree may be earned by completing the following requirements (for which students
may request waivers based on their particular circumstances).
Required coursework (any one course may simultaneously fulfill more than one of these
requirements):
- A minimum of 32 credits with a cumulative grade-point average of at least a 3.3.
- Eight seminars, seven of which must be SPEL seminars and one of which may be chosen
from other philosophy graduate courses or in consultation with the student's advisor
from courses offered by other departments
- One first-year SPEL seminar in social and political philosophy and one first-year
SPEL seminar in ethics, to be taken during the first year of residency (one in the
fall, the other in the spring).
- At least two SPEL seminars emphasizing the history of philosophy. This is broadly
construed, ranging from the ancient world to the 17th, 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries,
and may be in Western or non-Western philosophy.
- One SPEL seminar that draws mainly from the Anglo-American tradition, and one SPEL
seminar that draws mainly from the Continental European tradition.
- One SPEL seminar in metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy
of science or philosophy of mind.
During each semester of their first two years in the program, all students (including
those entering with an MA degree) are required to enroll in the SPEL colloquium.
- Proficiency Requirements
- Level 1 logic requirement: A grade of B or higher in an undergraduate course on formal
logic, or completion of the final examination in (undergraduate) Elementary Logic
(PHIL 122) with a grade of B or higher, or a grade of at least B on the SPEL examination
in Basic Formal Logic.
- History of Philosophy requirements: A grade of B or higher in undergraduate courses
in ancient Greek philosophy and modern philosophy, or completion of the final examinations
in (undergraduate) Plato and Aristotle (PHIL 201) and Descartes, Hume and Kant (PHIL
202) with grades of B or higher.
- Comprehensive Exams or Thesis
- All students earning an MA and seeking acceptance into the PhD program must pass the
MA comprehensive exams, which consist of two written exams, one in social and political
philosophy, and the other in ethics. Reading lists are provided to assist students
in preparing for these exams. Students are required to take the exams in September
of their second year in the program. A student who fails either or both of the comprehensive
exams may be allowed to retake the exam(s) once, in January of their second year in
the program.
- Students seeking a terminal MA may either pass the comprehensive exams described above,
by January of their second year in the program, or may write a master’s thesis. The
thesis must be passed by April of a student’s second year in the program.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in SPEL Philosophy
Acceptance into the PhD program requires satisfactory completion of the MA requirements
described above or their equivalent (such as an appropriate MA degree from another
institution). Under normal conditions, students accepted with an MA in philosophy
from another institution are exempt from all MA requirements other than the first-year
SPEL seminar and the colloquium. However, students who did not study social and political
philosophy and ethics as part of their MA work will be asked to take the MA comprehensive
exams as described above.
- Required Coursework
- Students entering with an MA from another institution must take the first-year SPEL
seminars during the first year of residency, and must enroll in the SPEL colloquium
every semester for their first two years of residency.
- A minimum of 24 additional course credit hours (six seminars), with a cumulative grade
point average of at least 3.3, which may, when applicable, be chosen from departments
other than the Philosophy Department, in consultation with the student's advisor.
Students must also complete the appropriate number of dissertation credits required
by the Graduate School.
- Proficiency Requirements
- Level 1 logic requirement: A grade of B or higher in an undergraduate course on formal
logic, or completion of the final examination in (undergraduate) Elementary Logic
(PHIL 122) with a grade of B or higher, or a grade of at least B on the SPEL examination
in Basic Formal Logic.
- Qualifying Exam and Dissertation
- Acceptance of a dissertation prospectus and satisfactory performance on a PhD qualifying
examination given by the student's third semester of full-time residence in the PhD
program (i.e., the third semester after completing the MA requirements). A committee
of three faculty members, the majority of whom are members of the Philosophy Department,
approve the prospectus and administer the exam which includes both a written and an
oral component.
- Satisfactory completion of a dissertation under the direction of a dissertation committee
chosen by the student in consultation with her or his faculty advisor. The committee
is composed of at least three faculty members, the majority of whom must be members
of the Philosophy Department. The dissertation must be approved by the dissertation
committee and defended in an oral examination.
SPEL Graduate Program Documents:
