StudyQA — Master: Philosophy — University of Hawaii at Manoa

Photos of university / #uhmanoanews

Description Contents Requirements Funding

The MA program is designed to serve both those who intend to go on to work in philosophy at the doctoral level at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and those who wish to pursue philosophical studies beyond the baccalaureate level for other reasons. It can provide philosophical training of interdisciplinary relevance for students intending to work in other scholarly areas, in business, or in the professions, as well as for those wishing to teach in schools or community colleges.

The MA student learning outcomes are the following:

Students acquire basic proficiency in at least one philosophically significant language other than English.
Students are able to conduct research which leads either to a thesis or a significant portfolio of shorter works.
Students demonstrate the ability to write and prepare presentations at high levels of proficiency.
Since students come to the program with diverse professional goals the following outcomes are appropriate for many, but not for all:
- Students are prepared to enter a Ph.D. program
- Students are prepared to teach philosophy at the junior-college level
- Students are prepared to enter a graduate-level professional school

While a thesis option is available, the MA program primarily emphasizes course work.

PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy: Survey of Problems (3) Introduction to the kinds of problems that concern philosophers and to some of the solutions that have been attempted. DH
PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy: Morals and Society (3) Philosophical attempts to evaluate conduct, character, and social practices. DH
PHIL 102 Asian Traditions (3) Universal themes and problems from Asian perspective. DH
PHIL 103 Introduction to Philosophy: Environmental Philosophy (3) A critical examination of environmental issues; analyzing the nature of the human being, the nature of nature, and the relationship of the human being to nature. DH
PHIL 110 Introduction to Deductive Logic (3) Principles of modern deductive logic. FS
PHIL 111 Introduction to Inductive Logic (3) Introduction to the theory of arguments based on probabilities and to the theory of decision-making in the context of uncertainty. A-F only. FS
PHIL 211 Ancient Philosophy (3) An introduction to the history of philosophy based on translations of texts originally written in classical Greek or Latin. DH
PHIL 212 Between Ancient and Modern Philosophy (3) Introduction to the history of philosophy based on translations of texts originally written in post-classical Latin or Arabic. DH
PHIL 213 Modern Philosophy (3) Introduction to the history of philosophy based on texts or translations of "modern" works, that is works originally written in a modern European language. DH
PHIL 218 Women Philosophers (3) Introduces students to the ideas of women philosophers. Repeatable one time. A-F only. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL or WS, or consent. (Alt. years) DH
PHIL 280 The Meaning of War (3) Exploration of ethical questions related to the many facets of war–e.g., patriotism, tribalism, holy war, self-sacrifice, cowardice, media coverage, propaganda, torture, genocide, pillage, suicide tactics, battlefield immunity. (Alt. years) DH
PHIL 300 Business Ethics (3) Case studies and critical analyses of ethical issues in business. Readings from business, philosophy, law, etc. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL or BUS or BLAW, or consent. DH
PHIL 301 Ethical Theory (3) Problems and methods in theory of moral conduct and decision. Pre: any course 101 or above in PHIL or above 100 in POLS or SOC; or consent. DH
PHIL 302 Political Philosophy (3) Problems and methods in philosophical theories of political legitimacy. Pre: any course 101 or above in PHIL or above 100 in POLS or SOC, or consent. DH
PHIL 303 Social Philosophy (3) Problems and methods in examination of contemporary life, values, and institutions in light of traditional philosophical problems of freedom, justice, authority, equality. Pre: any course 101 or above in PHIL or above 100 in POLS or SOC, or consent. DH
PHIL 304 Metaphysics (3) Problems arising from attempts to categorize rationally what is, and what appears to be. Among others, topics may include universals and particulars, personal identity, freedom and determinism, and time. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL, or consent. DH
PHIL 305 Philosophy of Religion (3) Problems and methods. Nature of religious experience, alternatives to theism, existence of god, relation between faith and reason, nature of religious language. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL or REL; or consent. DH
PHIL 306 Philosophy of Art (3) Problems and methods in aesthetic valuation and in appreciation, creation, and criticism of artworks. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL or ARCH or ART or MUS or any DL course 100 or above; or consent. DH
PHIL 307 Theory of Knowledge (3) Problems and methods in epistemology. Nature of knowledge, its varieties, possibilities, and limitations. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL, or 200 or above with either DB or DP or DS designation; or consent. DH
PHIL 308 Philosophy of Science (3) Problems and methods. Domains of inquiry, methods of validation, and attendant moral concerns. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL, or 200 or above with either DB or DP designation; or consent. DH
PHIL 310 Ethics in Health Care (3) Ethical issues in application and organization of biomedical resources; professional responsibility, confidentiality, euthanasia, experimentation on human subjects, etc. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL or MED or NURS or with a DB designation; or consent. DH
PHIL 311 Philosophy and Aesthetics of Film (3) Aesthetics and ontology of film and video, based on readings in the philosophy of film and the viewing of a number of films per semester. Pre: one course in PHIL or THEA, drama or film; or consent. See department for list of approved courses.
PHIL 312 Ethics in Practice (3) Team-taught exploration of five contemporary ethical issues using a variety of philosophical approaches and methods. Pre: any 101 course or above in PHIL or above 100 in POLS or SOC; or consent. (Once a year)
PHIL 313 Philosophy and Evolution (3) Explores the ethical and epistemological implications of the theory of evolution. Pre: one course in PHIL or BIOL, or consent. (Alt. years)
PHIL 314 Critical Thinking: Pre-Medicine (3) Scientific and social perspectives on the nature of disease and their impact on medical practice. Exploration of these topics through reading, writing and critical inquiry. Pre: any course in PHIL, 100 or above; or any two BIOL, CHEM or PHYS courses; or consent.
PHIL 315 The Role of Models in Global Environmental Science (3) Introduction to philosophy of science for those with some background in the natural sciences. Special emphasis on issues arising from the construction and use of models. Pre: any course 200 or above in PHIL or any course 200 or above with either DB or DP designation, or consent. (Alt. years: spring) (Cross-listed as OCN 315)
PHIL 316 Science, Technology, and Society (3) Investigation of some of the complex interconnections between science, technology, and society. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL or in a course with either DB or DP or DS designation, or consent. DH
PHIL 317 Critical Thinking: Pre-Law (3) Introduction to concepts and techniques for evaluating arguments with special emphasis on their application both to questions of law and to issues in jurisprudence. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL or POLS or SOC, or consent. DH
PHIL 318 Philosophy of Law (3) Historical and contemporary issues in law and legal theory. Law and morality; legal responsibility, justice, rights, punishment, judicial reasoning. Pre: any course 101 or above in PHIL or above 100 in BLAW or POLS or SOC, or consent. DH
PHIL 319 Ethical Issues in the Law (3) Exploration of ethical issues that have come before (mainly U.S.) courts, including but not confined to, medical and criminal justice ethics. Repeatable one time. A-F only. Pre: 101 or a course numbered 200 or above in PHIL or HIST or ENG or with a DS designation; or consent.
PHIL 320 American Philosophy (3) Survey of major philosophers and schools in development of American thought up to modern times. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL, or consent. DH
PHIL 330 Islamic Philosophy (3) Survey of major Islamic philosophers and schools. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL or ARAB, or consent. DH
PHIL 350 Indian Philosophy (3) Survey of major orthodox and heterodox systems: Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavadgita, Vedanta, Jainism, Buddhism. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL or PALI or SNSK; or consent. DH
PHIL 360 Buddhist Philosophy (3) Survey of central thinkers and schools. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL, CHN, JPN, PALI, SNSK, or TIB; or consent. (Cross-listed as ASAN 360) DH
PHIL 370 Chinese Philosophy (3) Survey of important schools and thinkers in classical Chinese traditions: Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, Legalism. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL or CHN; or consent. DH
PHIL 380 Japanese Philosophy (3) Survey of central thinkers and schools from ancient to modern. Pre: any course 100 or above in PHIL or JPN, or consent. DH
PHIL 399 Directed Research (V) Repeatable up to a maximum of 6 credits. Pre: consent.
PHIL 402 Introduction to Phenomenology (3) Methods of analyzing the structures of experience, as developed by Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Sartre, etc. Pre: any course 200 or above in PHIL, or consent. DH
PHIL 406 Introduction to Zen (Ch'an) Buddhist Philosophy (3) Development and philosophical significance of basic precepts, explored through translations of Chinese and Japanese sources. Pre: any course 200 or above in PHIL or CHN or JPN, or consent. DH
PHIL 414 (Alpha) Western Movements and Periods (3) (B) Greek; (C) late antiquity; (D) medieval; (E) Renaissance; (F) continental rationalism; (G) British empiricism; (H) German idealism; (I) 19th century; (J) 20th century. Repeatable two times in different alphas, not in same alpha. Pre: any course 200 or above in PHIL, or consent.DH
PHIL 417 Philosophy in Literature (3) Philosophical themes in the literary mode in world literature. Pre: any course 200 or above in PHIL or any DL course 200 or above, or consent. DL
PHIL 418 Feminist Issues in Philosophy (3) Examination of basic feminist issues in philosophy, and of responses to them. Pre: any course 200 or above in PHIL or WS, or consent. (Cross-listed as WS 419) DH
PHIL 422 Philosophical Psychology (3) Classical and modern theories of mind, cognition, and action. Pre: any course 200 or above in PHIL or PSY, or consent. DH
PHIL 436 Philosophy of Language (3) Contemporary theories in semantics and syntax; problems of meaning, reference, speech acts, etc. Pre: any course 200 or above in PHIL or LING, or consent. DH
PHIL 438 Gender and Environmental Philosophy (3) Interdisciplinary approach to women's perspectives and roles on ecological and environmental issues; critical analysis of eco-feminism as a social and political movement; cross-cultural comparison of women's roles in human ecology. Pre: any course 200 or above in PHIL or WS or any course 200 or above with a DB or DP designation, or consent. (Cross-listed as WS 438) DH
PHIL 445 Symbolic Logic (3) Intermediate-level course covering proof techniques for classical, first-order predicate calculus, and an introduction to meta-theory. Pre: 110 or any course 200 or above in ICS or MATH; or consent. DH
PHIL 448 Individual Philosophers/Topics (3) Examination of work of a major Eastern or Western philosopher, or topic of philosophical concern. Repeatable three times. Pre: 100, 101, 102, 103, 211, 212, 213, or consent.
PHIL 449 Undergraduate Capstone (3) Capstone seminar for undergraduate majors. Concentration on a topic of current philosophical concern. Repeatable one time with consent. Pre: declared major in PHIL with at least six courses 200 or above in PHIL, or consent. DH
PHIL 492 Philosophy with Children (3) Examines the theory and practice of doing philosophy in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms. Pre: any course 200 or above in PHIL or EDUC, or consent.
PHIL 493 Teaching Philosophy (3) Supervised work in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms, facilitating philosophical inquiry with students. Repeatable one time. Pre: 492 or consent.
PHIL 500 Master's Plan B/C Studies (1) Enrollment for degree completion. Pre: master's Plan B or C candidate and consent.
PHIL 611 Studies in Ethics (3) Key issues in contemporary philosophical debates about ethics. Repeatable one time with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 301.
PHIL 614 Studies in Metaphysics (3) Key issues in ontological and cosmological theory. Problems of materialism, idealism, phenomenalism, etc. Repeatable one time with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 304.
PHIL 615 Studies in Philosophy of Religion (3) Key issues in theory of religious experience, language, reasoning. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 305.
PHIL 616 Studies in Aesthetics (3) Key issues in contemporary aesthetics, against background of traditional Western and Eastern theories. Repeatable one time with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 306.
PHIL 617 Studies in Epistemology (3) Key issues in contemporary philosophical debates about knowledge. Repeatable one time with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 307.
PHIL 622 Studies in Hermeneutics (3) Important debates concerning the methodology of textual interpretation. Pre: graduate standing or consent.
PHIL 630 History and Theory of Science (3) Exploration of problems at the intersection of historical studies of science as a process and philosophical analysis of basic concepts of the sciences. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 308 or 316.
PHIL 670 Confucianism (3) Ethical, social, institutional problems in classical theory. Repeatable one time with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 370.
PHIL 671 Neo-Confucianism (3) Logic, epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics of major Chinese Neo-Confucian philosophers, 11th–16th century. Repeatable one time with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 370.
PHIL 672 Daoism (3) Critical examination and evaluation of major philosophical ideas in Lao Zi, Zhuang Zi, and the Neo-Daoists. Repeatable one time with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 370.
PHIL 699 Directed Research (V) Repeatable up to 30 credits. Pre: graduate standing and consent.
PHIL 700 Thesis Research (V) Repeatable up to six credits. Pre: master's Plan A candidate and consent.
PHIL 720 Seminar on Individual Philosophers (3) The most significant texts of an important philosopher. Repeatable three times in the MA program; an additional four times in the PhD program. Pre: graduate standing or consent.
PHIL 725 Seminar in Philosophical Topics (3) Close study of a topic of important philosophical controversy. Repeatable two times in the MA program; an additional three times in the PhD program. Pre: graduate standing or consent.
PHIL 730 Seminar in Islamic Philosophy (3) Major philosophical problems in Islamic thought. Focus either on a specific topic or one author. Repeatable one time. Pre: graduate standing or consent. (Once a year)
PHIL 735 Seminar on Philosophical Periods (3) Close study of a period of significant and connected philosophical activity within a philosophic tradition. Repeatable two times with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent.
PHIL 740 Seminar in Philosophical Texts (3) Reading, analysis, and critical discussion of one (or of several closely related) philosophical text in its original language (sometimes in conjunction with established translation). Repeatable two times with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent.
PHIL 750 Seminar in Indian Philosophy (3) Major philosophical problems in the development of Indian thought during its formative period. Repeatable two times with consent of instructor and Graduate Chair. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 350.
PHIL 760 Seminar in Buddhist Philosophy (3) Major philosophical problems in the development of Buddhist thought during its formative period. Repeatable one time with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 360.
PHIL 770 Seminar in Chinese Philosophy (3) Fundamental issues, problems, movements, and schools of Chinese philosophy, such as classical Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, Chinese logic, and Neo-Confucianism. Repeatable one time with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 370.
PHIL 771 Seminar in Yi Jing (3) Metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, and axiological views of Yi Jing and its claim as foundational work for classical Confucianism, Daoism, and Neo-Confucianism. Pre: graduate standing or consent.
PHIL 780 Seminar in Japanese Philosophy (3) Various periods, movements, and thinkers in Japanese philosophy. Topic changes each semester. Consult department for more information. Repeatable one time with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent. Recommended: 380.
PHIL 790 Seminar in Comparative Philosophy (3) Comparison of widely differing philosophical traditions. Specific topic changes each semester. Consult department for more information. Repeatable two times with consent. Pre: graduate standing or consent.
PHIL 800 Dissertation Research (V) Repeatable unlimited times.

Requirements

Application form;
One official copy of transcripts directly from the registrar of each institution attended;
Official GRE (GEN) scores (required of all doctoral applicants; strongly recommended for M.S. applicants);
Official TOEFL score report (Foreign applicants); and
Application fee $100
Interest statement;
Three letters of recommendation from former professors or employers;
Curriculum vitae (one page).