Master's in Philosophy

The University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon is a leading Canadian institution known for its diverse academic programs, cutting-edge research, and commitment to inclusivity. With a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees across multiple disciplines, the university offers a comprehensive educational experience. Its world-class research facilities and centers contribute to advancements in fields like agriculture, health sciences, and sustainability. The campus provides modern facilities and a vibrant community, promoting inclusivity and Indigenous engagement. Overall, the University of Saskatchewan prepares students for successful careers while fostering a dynamic learning environment.

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.