M.A. Program in Philosophy
With graduate courses in all core areas of philosophy, paid teaching opportunities, and 1-on-1 research mentoring, our program has strengths in two core areas: Global Philosophy and the Ethics of Science and Technology.
The Philosophy Department at SJSU is one of the most diverse in the country in terms of the philosophical traditions it represents. Our M.A. allows students to engage in coursework and research on a wide range of practical and theoretical topics. Our department also hosts a rich social life that includes reading groups, monthly philosophy dinners for students, weekly tea and cookies, and a strong Ethics Bowl team. We welcome students with undergraduate degrees in various disciplines, including those with an established career. Our full-time and part-time options as well as our evening seminars allow students with busy schedules to engage in a serious and sustained study of the fundamental questions of human existence.
Global Philosophy
Students who wish to concentrate on global philosophy will immerse themselves in a wide range of rich intellectual traditions. Our courses and seminars align with the expertise of our faculty, which includes specialists in the history of medieval philosophy (J. Aleksander), analytic philosophy (N. Friedman-Biglin, A. Vaidya), Mexican and Latin American Philosophy (C. Sanchez), Indian Philosophy (A. Vaidya and K. Brown), and Chinese Philosophy (B. Mou).
Key courses: Advanced Seminar in a Selected Philosophy or Tradition, Advanced Seminar in Epistemology and Metaphysics Asian Philosophy, Latin American Philosophy, Comparative Philosophy, Existentialism and Phenomenology, Metaphysics & Epistemology, Philosophy of Language.
Ethics of Science and Technology
We offer various opportunities for students to specialize in moral, political, and legal philosophy applied to science and technology. Our faculty specializes in the history and ethics of science (J. Stemwedel, R. Betzler), bioethics and the philosophy of race (J. Liz), the ethics and political philosophy of artificial intelligence (E. Brown), and metaethics and the philosophy of law (R. Chan).
Key courses: Advanced Seminar in Ethics or Aesthetics; Ethical Theory; Ethics in Science; Computers, Ethics, and Society; Social and Political Philosophy, Social Justice, Philosophy of Law, Medical Ethics and Philosophy of Race.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact one of Philosophy M.A.’s two co-advisors:
Dr. Carlos Sanchez
carlos.sanchez@sjsu.edu
Dr. Étienne Brown
etienne.brown@sjsu.edu
