The Five-Year Combined-Degree Program (formerly known as the 3/2 Program) offers a limited number of exceptional undergraduate philosophy and/or Philosophy, Politics and Law (PPL) majors the opportunity to enroll in a master's degree program that specializes in Social, Political, Ethical and Legal Philosophy (SPEL).
Through this combined-degree program, you to receive both the bachelor's and master's degrees in a total of five years. Your fourth year in the undergraduate program is also your first year in the SPEL master's program.
There are various reasons why the five-year program may be right for you:
You should plan to apply to the five-year combined program in the spring of your junior (third) year or the fall of your senior (fourth) year.
During your fourth year:
Prior to the beginning of your fifth year:
During the fifth year of study:
Completion of the five-year combined-degree program is equivalent to the SPEL master's degree and you'll earn what is called a "terminal master's."
Please note that any one course may simultaneously fulfill more than one of these requirements.
You must complete a minimum of 32 credits, with a cumulative grade point average of at least a B.
This must include eight seminars, seven of which must be SPEL seminars, and one of which may be chosen from other Philosophy graduate courses.
Seven required SPEL seminars:
Courses offered by other departments can be taken by consultation with your adviser.
The SPEL colloquium - four semesters:
We encourage everyone in the five-year combined program to complete the following proficiency requirements before the beginning of your fifth year. It's very difficult to complete the proficiencies on top of a full graduate load, while also studying for comprehensive exams or writing a master's thesis.
A grade of at least B:
A grade of at least B:
In this program, you may choose between taking the master's comprehensive exams and writing a master's thesis.
Comprehensive exams 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 in the five-year combined degree program who choose to take the comprehensive exams must pass them by April of their fifth year.
Master's thesis. Students in the five-year combined degree program who choose to write a thesis begin work on the thesis at the beginning of their fifth year, and complete drafts according to a provided timeline. Each student works intensively with an advisor throughout the thesis process. The thesis must be passed by a committee of three faculty members, the majority of whom must be members of the Philosophy department. Students must defend the thesis in an oral defense by April of the fifth year.
Complete all undergraduate requirements, with a major in Philosophy and/or in PPL.
Apply to the five-year combined degree program in the spring of your junior year or the fall of your senior year.
Complete all proficiency requirements (PHIL 122, PHIL 201 and PHIL 202) before beginning the fifth year of the program. Most of you will complete these requirements by the end of their fourth year, though it is possible to take PHIL 122 during the summer preceding the fifth year.
In the first year in the five-year combined degree program, (typically the fourth year as an undergraduate), you'll be required to take a total of two graduate courses and to enroll in the one-credit SPEL colloquium (a series of speakers and workshops). Although you can choose to take both graduate courses in one semester, it may be prudent to take one graduate course per semester if you've been admitted to the program before the fall of your fourth year. The two graduate courses taken during the fourth year may "double-count" towards your undergraduate major. You should enroll in the SPEL colloquium for both semesters of the fourth year, though if you're admitted in the fall of their fourth year, you may enroll in the SPEL colloquium beginning in the spring semester.
During the fifth year of study, you'll be considered a full-time graduate student pursuing an MA in philosophy. The student must complete all remaining requirements for the SPEL MA, including six more graduate seminars, two more semesters of the SPEL colloquium, and the MA comprehensive exams or the M.A. thesis. See above description of the requirements for the details.
Prior to submitting your application, please make an appointment to speak with the Director of Graduate Studies in Philosophy, Professor Robert Guay.
Students seeking acceptance into the program should apply first directly to the Philosophy department. If you're accepted into the program, students must then apply formally to the Graduate School before enrolling in the program.
The following must be submitted to Joy Tassey, Administrative Assistant for the Philosophy Department:
Admissions are done on a rolling basis and applications will be considered as soon as they're complete. You should plan to apply in the spring of your junior year or the fall of your senior year. Applications must be completed no later than the day before Thanksgiving break in the fall of your senior year.
Students who are admitted and wish to enroll must then fill out the application provided by the Graduate School.
GRE scores are not required. The Philosophy department will forward letters of recommendation to the Graduate School, so students do not need to repeat that part of the process in filling out the Graduate School's application.
If you have any questions please contact Robert Guay.
