On This Page:
Exam Requirements
Schedule
Exam Format and Topics
Ancient/Modern Exam Committee Members
Area Exam Committee Members
2007-2008 Exam Schedule
Reading Lists

Exam Requirements

All candidates for the MA in philosophy are required to take two comprehensive examinations: one in history of philosophy (either ancient or modern) and the other chosen from among the following areas:

Students should aim to complete both exams by the January sitting of their second year. A student may not take either the history or the area exam more than two times.  Both the history and the area exam must be passed to fulfill the requirement.  Any student who changes topics on a subsequent examination, because he or she failed the first attempt, will be considered to be repeating that topic--that is to say, the examination will count as the second sitting for the history exam or the second sitting for the area exam. A second failure of the history exam or the area exam is grounds for dismissal from the program.

Exam Schedule

Students may take one or both exams during any period in which the examination is offered. Comprehensive examinations are offered at three standard sittings:

• in August (on the third and second Fridays prior to the beginning of the Fall semester),

• in January (on the last two Fridays prior the beginning of the Spring semester), and

• in late May (typically the last two Fridays of May).

Students must petition the department to take the examination at other times. For specific dates within the current year, check with the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. Students planning to take an exam should contact the Coordinator of Graduate Studies to get the questions and to coordinate taking the exam.

Students are strongly advised to give significant and early thought to a schedule for taking their MA exams. They should take their first exam at the May or August sitting prior to beginning their second year in the program.

Exam Format and Topics

The examinations are four-hour, closed book examinations, consisting of three questions from which the student selects two. See the Expectations for Comprehensive Exams. Sample questions from prior exams are available to give you a sense of what to expect.

Students who are taking their exams at a computer will do so in one of the computer labs in Clement Hall. We recognize that some students may be more familiar with their own laptop machines, or with Mac platforms. However, for purposes of writing the fairly simple text documents called for in a comprehensive exam, only a moderate familiarity with the machines in the labs will be necessary.  We urge students to acquire such a familiarity in advance of the exams.

Of course, students may opt to hand write their exams. If they do so, they will be assigned an appropriate location on the day of their exam.

Ancient/Modern Exam Committee Members

*committee chair

Area Exam Committee Members

*committee chair

2007-2008 Exam Schedule

Reading Lists

For Area Exams, see the Coordinator for Graduate Studies and the Area Exam committee.