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M.A. Program

Philosopher   
 The M.A. degree may be awarded under either of two options. The thesis option requires 24 hours of approved course work, plus a thesis. The non-thesis option requires 33 hours of approved course work. M.A. students are expected to form an advisory committee, and to work with the committee to develop a balanced program. If the thesis option is chosen, the thesis is normally expected to be approximately 60-90 pages -- equivalent to three term papers. The department does not award teaching assistantships to students in the M.A. program.

A student wishing to obtain the M.A. degree in philosophy may be allowed to use up to three courses (9 credit hours) of coursework at a comparable institution to count towards the M.A. degree at Purdue. Any such use of transfer credit must be approved by the Graduate Committee before the Master's Plan of Study form will be sent to the Graduate School. 

The Residency Requirements for the M.A. Degree
The total number of hours of academic credit used to satisfy residency requirements consists of all course credit hours that appear on the plan of study, other graduate course credit hours with grades of C or better that appear on the Purdue transcript, and research hours that appear on the Purdue transcript. 

At least one-half of the total credit hours used to satisfy degree requirements must be earned in residence on the Purdue campus where the degree is to be granted. Course credits obtained via televised instruction from a campus shall be considered to have been obtained in residence on that campus. 

At least 30 total credit hours are required.