What this site is
This site provides information about substantial funding (defined below) available for students at terminal master's programs in philosophy in the US and Canada. In order to keep the site's maintenance to a minimum, it does not provide links, program information, contact information, or any other information about these programs. A program's listing on this site is not an endorsement, and nothing here should be construed as an evaluative judgment about a program.
What "substantial funding" means
In order to be listed on this site, a program must offer substantial funding to terminal MA students. This is defined as funding that meets the following conditions:
Condition 1 generally means that the funding comes in the form of a tuition waiver and a stipend, typically connected with an instructional position such as a teaching assistantship. In some cases, it consists of a fellowship that requires no teaching.*
Condition 2 generally means that the funding is awarded by the philosophy department itself, and does not depend upon a university-wide scholarship competition, job search process, etc. It also means that the funding is explicitly awarded to terminal MA students. So, for example, in a program with both a PhD program and a terminal MA program, funding that goes only to PhD students does not count, even if some PhD students who receive funding leave the program after completing their MA.
*In a few cases, I cannot tell whether the program's funding meets this condition; in particular, in some cases, it is not clear whether the funding includes any tuition remission. Particularly in cases where the program is at a private university, a lack of tuition remission would render whatever funding is offered insubstantial. To err on the side of inclusivity, I have listed these programs anyway. If I learn that a program does not meet this condition, I will remove it.
- The funding includes at least 50% tuition remission and at least $2,000/semester for living expenses
- The funding is offered every year to at least one incoming terminal master's student in philosophy
Condition 1 generally means that the funding comes in the form of a tuition waiver and a stipend, typically connected with an instructional position such as a teaching assistantship. In some cases, it consists of a fellowship that requires no teaching.*
Condition 2 generally means that the funding is awarded by the philosophy department itself, and does not depend upon a university-wide scholarship competition, job search process, etc. It also means that the funding is explicitly awarded to terminal MA students. So, for example, in a program with both a PhD program and a terminal MA program, funding that goes only to PhD students does not count, even if some PhD students who receive funding leave the program after completing their MA.
*In a few cases, I cannot tell whether the program's funding meets this condition; in particular, in some cases, it is not clear whether the funding includes any tuition remission. Particularly in cases where the program is at a private university, a lack of tuition remission would render whatever funding is offered insubstantial. To err on the side of inclusivity, I have listed these programs anyway. If I learn that a program does not meet this condition, I will remove it.
Advice
Before applying to a terminal MA program, you should consult with at least one person you trust who works in academic philosophy, preferably someone who has been your instructor in an undergraduate course. You should talk with them frankly about your strengths and weaknesses as a philosophy student, and your educational and career goals. You should also ask them for their honest assessment of the programs you're considering applying to. Do not form your judgments about the merits of a program on the basis of what you hear from anonymous people posting on an Internet forum. In my experience, such people rarely know what they're talking about, and are often just plain wrong.
About the owner
My name is Geoff Pynn. I am an associate professor of philosophy at Elgin Community College. For six years, I was the graduate adviser for the MA program at Northern Illinois University. I created this site in 2015 to combat persistent misinformation about the availability of funding at terminal MA programs. Since I no longer work in a graduate program, I'd like to hand this page over to someone who does. Please contact me at [email protected] if you're interested!