Explore the Possibilities with
a Master of Arts in Philosophy
Degree Overview
Earn your Master of Arts in Philosophy (MA in Philosophy) 100% online degree program.
Our award-winning Catholic Philosophy program prepares students to be missionary disciples throughout the world.
This program engages students through the pursuit of truth, prayer and wisdom, offering 5 concentration choices.
Holy Apostles is the only Newman Guide college to offer an online MA in Philosophy.
Career Opportunities
-
- Theology or Philosophy Teacher
- Youth Minister
- Director of Religious Education
- College Professor
Looking for information on programs, admissions, or financial aid? We’re here to help.
Graduate Degree
Master of Arts in
Philosophy
- Online
- Eligible for transfer credits
2 to 4 years
Program Length
36
Total Credits
$426
Per Credit Hour
December 6
Application Due
January 4
Online Start Date
Ready to Apply?
Take your next step toward your success and your future!
Philosophy…tends to smooth and fortify the road to true faith, and to prepare the souls of its disciples for the fit reception of revelation. .”
– Pope Leo XIII, Aeterni Patris, 4 –
The MA Philosophy Core
Foundational Courses
PHH 605 Ancient & Medieval Philosophy
PHH 620 Modern & Contemporary Philosophy
Core Courses
PHE 610: Ethics
PHS 610: Philosophical Anthropology
PHS 611: Logic and Epistemology
PHS 621: Philosophy of Nature and Metaphysics
Concentration Courses
See concentrations below for required courses and recommended electives.
Concentration Information
With 5 concentration options, you’ll have the opportunity to study what you feel most passionate about!
Not sure what that might be? No problem! We’re here to help you discern!
Christian Wisdom Overview
The Christian Wisdom concentration provides the student with a comprehensive understanding of metaphysics. Topics include the One and the Many and the transcendentals of Beauty, Truth and Goodness.
The concentration enables students to understand how these subjects of study relate to habits of an acting person to comprise distinct, but essentially connected, principles of philosophy, science.
The Master of Arts in Philosophy concentration in Christian Wisdom is available 100% Online.
Coursework
A candidate for the M.A. in Philosophy is required to complete course work from the various areas of graduate study. The specific degree requirements for the Christian Wisdom Concentration may be found in the Degree Plan below.
Concentration Core:
PHS 731 The One and the Many
PHS 741 St. Thomas on Being and Nothingness
PHS 751 The True, the False, the Lie, and the Fake
PHS 761 The Good, the Bad, the Beautiful, and the Ugly
Concentration Electives (Any 2 graduate-level philosophy courses):
Suggested:
PHS 783 Dante’s Divine Comedy
PHS 781 Thomistic Personalism: Knowledge and Love
Comprehensive Exam Course
Summative Evaluation: Comprehensive Exam
Ethics Overview
The Ethics concentration will provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of Aristotelian and Thomistic ethics. Topics include the fonts of morality, natural law, the nature of virtue, medical ethics, and sexual ethics. This program will teach students about the main ethical theories concerning acts and virtues in Western philosophy with a special emphasis on Thomistic ethics. Additionally, it will allow for the study of texts that lay out the main pros and cons about ethical issues such as social justice, abortion, war and peace, and sexual ethics.
The Master of Arts in Philosophy concentration in Ethics is available 100% Online.
Coursework
A candidate for the M.A. in Philosophy is required to complete course work from the various areas of graduate study. The specific degree requirements for the Ethics Concentration may be found in the Degree Plan below.
Concentration Core:
PHE 663 Natural Law
MTH/PAS/PHE 680 Marriage and the Theology of the Body
PHE 775 Political Philosophy
MTH/PAS/PHE 841 Catholic Social Teachings
Concentration Electives (Any 2 graduate-level philosophy courses):
Suggested:
PHE 505 Narrative and the Moral Life
PHE 615 Nicomachean Ethics
Comprehensive Exam Course
Summative Evaluation: Comprehensive Exam (Philosophy)
General Studies Overview
The General Studies concentration is designed to provide a broader awareness of philosophy in general through an interdisciplinary concentration core. Students must select at least one course from each of the other four concentrations following completion of their co-requisite courses and program core.
Additionally, the concentration will provide students with an understanding of their own identity as individual substances of a rational nature and enable students to cultivate a general philosophical awareness.
The Master of Arts in Philosophy concentration in General Studies is available 100% Online.
Coursework
A candidate for the M.A. in Philosophy is required to complete course work from the various areas of graduate study. The specific degree requirements for the General Studies Concentration may be found in the Degree Plan below.
Concentration Core:
ANY course from Christian Wisdom
ANY course from Ethics
ANY course from History of Philosophy
ANY course from Systematic Philosophy
Concentration Electives (Any 2 graduate-level philosophy courses):
Comprehensive Exam Course
Summative Evaluation: Comprehensive Exam (Philosophy)
History of Philosophy Overview
The History of Philosophy concentration provides the student with a comprehensive understanding of the history of philosophical thought from the pre-Socratic period to the present day. Emphasis is placed on Ancient, Arabic, Medieval, Modern, and Contemporary philosophy.
Additionally, the program will enable students to understand philosophical themes and arguments in their proper historical context and interpret historical philosophical texts with accuracy and charity.
The Master of Arts in Philosophy concentration in History of Philosophy is available 100% Online.
Coursework
A candidate for the M.A. in Philosophy is required to complete course work from the various areas of graduate study. The specific degree requirements for the History of Philosophy Concentration may be found in the Degree Plan below.
Concentration Core:
PHH 650 Recent Catholic Philosophy
PHH 651 Aristotle
PHH 781 Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas
PHH 681 St. Thomas and Arabic Philosophy
Concentration Electives (Any 2 graduate-level philosophy courses):
Suggested:
PHH 793 Plato’s Republic
Comprehensive Exam Course
Summative Evaluation: Comprehensive Exam (Philosophy)
Systematic Philosophy Overview
The Systematic Philosophy concentration will provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of nature, human nature, and human thought from a Roman Catholic perspective. Topics include epistemology, metaphysics, categorical logic, philosophy of nature, and the study of the soul.
In addition, the program will educate students in the major thematic branches of Western Philosophy and cultivate within students intellectual habits and methodologies appropriate to the various areas of systematic philosophy.
The Master of Arts in Philosophy concentration in Systematic Philosophy is available 100% Online.
Coursework
A candidate for the M.A. in Philosophy is required to complete course work from the various areas of graduate study. The specific degree requirements for the Systematic Philosophy Concentration may be found in the Degree Plan below.
Concentration Core:
PHS 660 Natural Theology
PHS 641 Reason in the Theology of St. Thomas
PHS 721 Philosophy of Science
PHS 781 Thomistic Personalism: Knowledge and Love
Concentration Electives (Any 2 graduate-level philosophy courses):
Suggested:
PHS 657 Phenomenology
PHS 731 The One and the Many
Comprehensive Exam Course
Summative Evaluation: Comprehensive Exam (Philosophy)
Who Is This Program For?
- Those working in ministry
- Educators
- Catholic Professionals
- Clergy
- Those pursuing doctoral work
- Personal Formation
- Those in hospital ministry
FAQ
How long does it take to complete an MA in Philosophy?
The M.A. degree program may be completed in as quickly as 2 years. However, there is a 6-year time limit from entry into the program for completion of the degree requirements. Please see the Academic Catalog for additional information.
Is this an Online Program?
How do I apply?
Program Learning Outcomes
Students earning the Master of Arts in Philosophy will be able to:
- Explain and connect topics in the western history of ideas from antiquity to the contemporary period, at an advanced level, in philosophy of nature, epistemology, philosophical anthropology, metaphysics, natural theology, and ethics.
- Evaluate claims in philosophy of nature, epistemology, philosophical anthropology, metaphysics, natural theology, and ethics in light of key Thomistic insights, as well as their role in developing, or undermining, Christian teaching.
- Demonstrate a coherent and detailed knowledge of their philosophical concentration, its developing methodologies, its current literature, its history, its major theoretical constructs, and its classical and current problems and insights.
- Research and expound an argument to both a specialized and a popular audience from within the perennial philosophical tradition.
Is Holy Apostles College & Seminary accredited?
Are the Faculty members faithful to the Magisterium?
Who is the Program Director?
Program Director:
Dr. Timothy Smith, tsmith@holyapostles.edu
For a full listing of our faculty, please visit Faculty Listing.
FAQ
How long does it take to complete an MA in Theology?
How do I apply?
Program Learning Outcomes
Students earning the Master of Arts in Philosophy will be able to:
- Explain and connect topics in the western history of ideas from antiquity to the contemporary period, at an advanced level, in philosophy of nature, epistemology, philosophical anthropology, metaphysics, natural theology, and ethics.
- Evaluate claims in philosophy of nature, epistemology, philosophical anthropology, metaphysics, natural theology, and ethics in light of key Thomistic insights, as well as their role in developing, or undermining, Christian teaching.
- Demonstrate a coherent and detailed knowledge of their philosophical concentration, its developing methodologies, its current literature, its history, its major theoretical constructs, and its classical and current problems and insights.
- Research and expound an argument to both a specialized and a popular audience from within the perennial philosophical tradition.
Is Holy Apostles College & Seminary accredited?
Are the Faculty members faithful to the Magisterium?
Who is the Program Director?
Program Director:
Dr. Timothy Smith, tsmith@holyapostles.edu
For a full listing of our faculty, please visit Faculty Listing.
Is this an Online Program?
Yes, our 100% online courses make the M.A. degree program flexible for working and busy individuals. The MA in Philosophy degree may be completed completely online or on campus.
What You’ve
Been Looking For
An authentically Catholic education should be available to everyone.
Time and cost should not stand in your way.
You deserve the highest quality academics that are both convenient and affordable.
Let Holy Apostles set you on the path to achieving your goals.
Why Holy Apostles
Flexible & Online
Holy Apostles makes a quality education accessible. You can complete your degree any time, anywhere. Our small class sizes make learning easier, providing personalized attention from our excellent faculty.
Tuition you can afford
At Holy Apostles, we believe that a debt-free graduate is a gift to the Church. We are one of the most affordable colleges recommended by the Cardinal Newman Guide.
FAITHFULLY CATHOLIC
The Catholic university is “born from the heart of the Church,” as St. John Paul II stated in Ex Corde Ecclesiae.
From its very foundation, Holy Apostles College & Seminary has dedicated itself to proclaiming the truth and forming our students to do the same.
Explore the Possibilities
Looking for information on programs, admissions, or financial aid? We're here to help.
Speak to your personal Admissions Counselor today for more information.
Admissions Phone :
860-632-3000
Admissions Email:
admissions@holyapostles.edu
Contact Information