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.

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.

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.

• Scholarships

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.

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 4.2.

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.

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.

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

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.

• Begin an application
• Detailed application instructions

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.

• After you've applied

Graduate Admissions
Department of Philosophy
9 Campus Drive - Arts Room 518
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A5

Graduate Chair
Leslie Howe
Email: l.a.howe@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