As a small department, the Philosophy department offers the MA degree through a fully-funded program carefully designed to fill a special niche in philosophy graduate education.

This course-based, two-year program is geared toward students who:

• have decided to pursue a PhD in philosophy and would benefit from additional coursework to supplement their undergraduate work
• who may not have studied in English or at a North American institution before
• who are considering pursuing a Ph.D. but would like a supportive environment in which to make a more informed decision
• or those who are looking, for any reason, to strengthen their philosophical foundations before moving into a specialization in a Ph.D. program

The department cultivates an exciting and rich philosophical community with ongoing colloquia, workshops, conference and travel opportunities, pedagogical instruction, and seminars.

It is an MA-only program. This puts the faculty at SFU in a great position to focus on the unique needs and opportunities of philosophical work at the master’s level. 

It has a Co-op program for eligible students, where one term of work is done in a paid internship setting. 

This is a great chance to test out your skills outside of academia and to get great job training from SFU Co-op staff.

• Statement of Intent
• Reference Letters
• Transcripts
• English proficiency test scores
• Passport

MA applicants are expected to have either a 3.33 cumulative GPA or a 3.5 GPA in third and fourth-year philosophy courses. 

SFU is particularly interested in talented, keen students who might not have the standard requisite background in philosophy. 

If your degree is in another field, or your philosophical education is adequate only in a narrow area, SFU encourages you to apply. If it does not find that you are quite ready, it may still accept you under one of the following headings:

Conditional admission: If there is a specific requirement that you are missing, SFU may admit you on the condition that the requirement is fulfilled either before your arrival or in the first semester here. 

Typical examples of such conditions are the completion of a degree, or of a course, you are currently enrolled in with a certain GPA, or the enrolment in and completion of specific philosophy courses.

Admission with Additional Coursework: If your education is weak in some specific areas of philosophy, SFU may admit you unconditionally, but require you to complete a specified number of extra courses as part of your program.

Typically, these would be advanced undergraduate or graduate courses in the relevant areas of philosophy.

Post Baccalaureate Diploma Program. If it turns out that, while you are potentially a good candidate for the program, your philosophical background is not sufficient for any of the three options above, this diploma program is recommended for building the background. 

Indeed, if you are thinking of applying to the graduate program in the near future but are uncertain of your background, SFU recommends that you enrol in the program and take some undergraduate philosophy courses in the department before you apply.