Program
Applications, including the supporting documents, must be received by February 1, in order to begin the program in the following September and be considered for funding. Late applications will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. There are no January admission intakes.
| Program | Expected Length | Project and/or thesis | Course based |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.A. | 2 years |
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) offers a friendly and supportive environment in which to pursue an M.A. degree in philosophy. Students enjoy small seminar classes and one-on-one contact with faculty members. The department offers courses in core areas of faculty expertise and thesis supervision in most areas of philosophy. Faculty members have research interests which give the department special strengths in metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, moral psychology, 18th- and 19th-century philosophy, ethics, and meta-ethics, social and political philosophy, philosophy of language, philosophy of mathematics, and aesthetics. Applications are particularly welcome from students interested in pursuing topics in these areas of study. Locally, the department collaborates with the Women's and Gender Studies Program and the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies' Interdisciplinary Studies Program. We have regular departmental seminars, visiting speakers, social gatherings, and other events in which our students are encouraged to participate as part of their graduate education.
All students do coursework in their first year (normally, five courses each year). Students who meet the requirements to remain in the thesis option, complete their coursework in the first year and complete their thesis in the second year; students transferring into the course based option normally do half their coursework in the first year and half their coursework in the second year.
The course-based program is the department's preferred option, nevertheless, incoming students are placed in the thesis-based program by default but are not required to remain in this program. Students who wish to remain in the thesis program for their second year must meet a number of conditions in their first year, as follows:
- They must have successfully completed of all their first year courses, including five regular seminar courses, with a cumulative average of at least 80%;
- They must have assembled an advisory committee of supervisor and two advisors;
- They must have satisfactorily completed and obtained approval of a thesis proposal, with approval received no later than 30 June (that is, the end of their first year).
Students may transfer to the course-based program at any time. Students in this program must complete 30 credit units of coursework (a total of 10 graduate level courses or equivalent, normally over two years), as well as attending PHIL 990, and complete GPS 960.
Graduates of the program have gone on to Ph.D. work at some of the top programs in North America and Europe. The department also participates in the Interdisciplinary Studies Ph.D. Program, in which philosophical studies of an interdisciplinary nature may be pursued. Those seeking admission to the Ph.D. program should visit the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies' Interdisciplinary Studies website for further information.
The department also supports the university's promotion of research in Indigenous studies and welcomes applicants wishing to undertake thesis research that applies the conceptual frameworks and methods of various areas of to the study of issues pertaining to indigeneity.
Research supervisors
It is not necessary to find a potential supervisor before you begin an application. The list below though may be helpful to learn about the research interests of our faculty.
| Name | Research areas |
|---|---|
| Metaphysics; philosophy of art; philosophy of language; philosophy of literature | |
| Feminism; philosophy of mathematics; philosophy of science; sexuality | |
| Bullshit; Deception; Desire; Embodiment; Identity; Kierkegaard; Narrative; Play; Pretence; Self-Deception; Selfhood; Sport | |
| Epistemology; metaphysics; philosophy of science | |
| Philosophy of law, political philosophy, ethics | |
| Moral philosophy, Aquinas ethics and the Thomistic philosophical tradition, Bernard Lonergan | |
| Philosophy of Mind; Mental Causation; Consciousness; Emotion; Personal Identity; Free Will | |
| Social and Political Philosophy; Modern and Contemporary European Philosophy; Critical Theory | |
| Ethics; Kantian Ethics; Metaethics; Moral Psychology; Philosophy of Death; Practical Reason; Self-Knowledge in Ethics | |
| Ancient philosophy, German idealism, Indian philosophy and comparative philosophy | |
| Medieval philosophy and theology, Thomas Aquinas, philosophy of religion | |
| Ethics, philosophy of religion, philosophy of law |
Tuition and funding
Funding
Scholarships and teaching assistantships of up to $18,000 per calendar year for the M.A. are available to qualified applicants on a competitive basis; funding may also be supplemented by additional departmental grading awards.
Graduate students at USask can receive funding from a variety of sources to support their graduate education.
Tuition
Thesis or project-based master's program
Graduate students in a thesis or project-based program pay tuition three times a year for as long as they are enrolled in their program.
| Term | Canadian students | International students |
|---|---|---|
| September 1 - December 31, 2024 | ||
| January 1 - April 30, 2025 | ||
| May 1 - August 31, 2025 | ||
| Total per academic year |
Course-based master's or postgraduate diploma program
Students in course-based programs pay tuition for each class they take. Every class is assigned a number of credit units (usually three) which determines their cost. If a student is not enrolled in any classes for a term, they will need to register in a 'Maintenance of Status' class that is assessed tuition equivalent to 3 credit units to stay in their program.
Graduate students in course-based programs registered in any undergraduate classes will be assessed tuition for these classes at the undergraduate rate. International graduate students in these programs registered in undergraduate courses, whether or not the classes are part of their program of study, will also be assessed the undergraduate international differential rate of 4.84.
| Canadian students | International students | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per graduate credit unit | ||
| Maintenance of Status course | ||
| Cost per 3 credit unit graduate class |
Student fees
In addition to tuition above, students also pay fees for programs like health and dental insurance, a bus pass, and other campus services. The amount you need to pay depends on if you are taking classes full time or part time, and if you are on campus or not. The table below assumes you are on campus full-time.
| Fall 2024 | Winter 2025 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student fees | $504.45 CAD | $666.08 CAD | $35.00 CAD | $35.00 CAD |
Tuition information is accurate for the current academic year and does not include student fees. For detailed tuition and fees information, visit the official tuition website.
Admission requirements
Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English
- A completed on-line application, the application fee and all supporting application documents
- A cumulative weighted average of at least a 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. 60 credit units)
- A four-year honours degree, or equivalent, from a recognized college or university in an academic discipline relevant to the proposed field of study
Application process
Submit an online application
Before beginning your online application, be sure that you have carefully reviewed all program information and admission requirements on this page.
During the application, you'll be asked for:
- Personal information such as your name, address, etc.
- Contact information of your three referees
- For your letters of recommendation, two of your referees must be academic contacts, and the third may be academic or professional
- Your complete academic history from all previous post-secondary institutions
The application takes about 30 minutes to complete. You may save your application and return to it later.
At the end of the application, you will need to pay a non-refundable $120 application fee. Your application will not be processed until payment is received.
Submit required documents
Once you've submitted your online application, you will have access to upload your required documents, and provide the contact information for your references. To do this, go to the "Supplemental Items & Documents" tab in your application, and upload the documents outlined below.
Preliminary Statement of Marks
- Once you have submitted your application for admission and paid the application fee, you will be required to upload unofficial PDF copies of your academic transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended. This requirement will appear as Preliminary Statement of Marks or Additional Prelim. Statement under admission requirements on your Application Summary when you check your application status.
- The uploaded transcript can be an unofficial copy of the transcript issued by the university or college, and must include a grading key/legend.
- All pages of a transcript must be uploaded as a single PDF document.
- Uploaded transcripts will be considered unofficial or preliminary. Official copies of your transcripts will be required only for applicants offered admission. This requirement will appear as Post-secondary Transcript under admission requirements on your Application Summary when you check your application status.
Post-secondary Transcripts
If you receive an offer of admission, you will then be required to have your official post-secondary transcripts sent (by mail in a sealed envelope directly from the institution) to the address below. Please do not send official documents until we request them.
College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Room 116 Thorvaldson Building, 110 Science Place
Saskatoon, SK CANADA S7N 5C9
- Transcripts usually indicate the institution’s name, grading scheme (typically on back of transcript), your name, course names, numbers, credits, and the grades you have received. Depending on the country or institution, some features may not be available.
- Transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation.
- If you are a current University of Saskatchewan student completing your undergraduate program then a letter of completion of degree requirements will be required from your college.
Proof of English language proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English.
For students who are required to provide proof of English proficiency:
- It is your responsibility to have completed an official and approved test with the appropriate score before the application deadline.
- Tests are valid for 24 months after the testing date and must be valid at the beginning of the student's first term of registration in the graduate program.
- Applicants will be required to upload a PDF copy of any required language test score. Uploaded test scores will be considered unofficial or preliminary.
If you receive an Offer of Admission you may be required to have your official language test scores sent to the address below. Please do not send official documents until we request them.
College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Room 116 Thorvaldson Building - 110 Science Place
Saskatoon, SK CANADA S7N 5C9
In addition to the above official documents, please upload the following documents:
- Your curriculum vitae or resume
- A statement/letter of intent outlining the areas of philosophy in which you are currently interested and, if you intend to pursue the thesis option, in what areas or specific problems you would be interested in concentrating your research.
- A writing sample on some topic in philosophy (an essay or term paper for a philosophy course would be appropriate)
Contact
Graduate Admissions
Department of Philosophy
9 Campus Drive - Arts Room 518
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A5
Graduate Chair
Peter Alwards
Email: peter.alwards@usask.ca
Application Admin Support
Anna McKenzie
Email: asg.gradapplications@usask.ca
Program Admin Support
Nadine Penner
Email: asg.graduateprograms@usask.ca
- Department of Philosophy
Learn more about the academic unit offering this program - Program and Course Catalogue
To view official admission and program requirements