Philosophy

Chair: Charles M. Young
(909) 621-8612
Humanities@cgu.edu
www.cgu.edu/philosophy

Academic Program

The Philosophy Department seeks to provide a solid foundation in the history of Western philosophy, approaching traditional problems and texts in the light of contemporary interests and methods. Study and research focus on classic texts from the ancient, modern (16th through 18th centuries), and contemporary periods. Students may also combine philosophy with other interests.

The faculty includes philosophers from the other Claremont Colleges, who teach and advise at the graduate level, as well as full-time CGU appointees. The program is enriched by visitors from other universities and countries and by the participation of accomplished adjunct faculty.

The department offers both a Master of Arts degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree. The M.A. program is designed for students who seek either to expand their experience with the Western philosophical tradition in preparation for pursuing professional degrees and occupations outside of philosophy, or to enrich their knowledge of the fundamental strands of that tradition before moving on to more specialized study in Ph.D. programs in philosophy. The Ph.D. program admits at most a few students each year, typically graduates of the M.A. program who plan to specialize in the history of philosophy. Many graduates of our M.A. program go on to Ph.D. programs elsewhere.

Advising. First-year students meet individually with advisors before they register for the first semester and again later in the second semester to discuss their progress. Advanced students are advised individually as needed.

Combined Programs

The variety of fields represented in the faculty and the flexibility of Graduate University programs make possible combined programs to suit many individual interests.

Community college teachers of philosophy who wish to advance or refurbish their knowledge of the subject will find it possible to combine work in philosophy and education.

Dual-Degree Master’s Program

Students enrolled in other programs at CGU may also pursue an M.A. in philosophy in any of the above tracks upon admission to a dual degree program. For more information about the dual degree in general, see the “Dual Degree Programs” section in this Bulletin.