MA Philosophy - UST Philosophy Department

Master of Arts, major in Philosophy

Philosophy Cluster, UST Graduate School

Why an M.A. in Philosophy at UST?

As a discipline that seeks the truth and is a guide for life, the program aims to analyze the different aspects of reality, to see their intentions, and to combine them into a systematic whole. The study of Philosophy involves not only the objects under investigation, but also the subject who investigates not only the thought, but also the thinker. More importantly, the study teaches the students to think analytically and critically to enable them to provide deeper insights into the nature of being human, of things, and of values to live by.

Based on the objectives of the UST Graduate School and the UST Department of Philosophy, the following are the Program Intended Learning Outcomes of the M.A. major in Philosophy Program:

Produce a systematic body of work (a thesis of around 30,000 to 50,000 words) representative of his/her chosen field of mastery from among the research strengths of the UST Department of Philosophy: Filipino Philosophy, Oriental Thought and East-West Comparative Philosophy, Aristotelian-Thomistic Philosophy and Scholasticism, Continental Philosophy, and Anglo-American Philosophy.
Continue the UST Department of Philosophy’s tradition of academic excellence and ethical consciousness through intellectual exchange with professional peers, publication of individual research, and teaching.
Identify the complex issues and debates involved in the research areas outlined above and the ability to explain and transmit the nuances of these issues and debates to through continuous research and publication.

Evaluate and challenge the ethical import of the abovementioned philosophical issues and debates within the spheres of personal and inter-personal life, profession, religion, education, politics, and society.
Demonstrate proficiency in gathering resources from classical philosophical texts to the latest theoretical trends published in the most reputable philosophy journals (inter alia) and the ability to critically integrate and effectively articulate the contents of these resources in research, publication, and teaching.
Recognize intellectual and cultural diversity through exposure to various philosophical ideas gleaned from both local and international sources.
Engage philosophically in social, political, and religious issues in a global context.
Pursue the culture of philosophical research through the exploration of emerging trends in philosophy in preparation for higher studies.

Master of Arts in Philosophy Program Structure

TOTAL UNITS: 42

A. Prerequisites (6 units)

3 units: St. Thomas and Critical Thinking
3 units: Research Methods for the Humanities

B. Core (9 units: Any 3 core courses)

C. Specialization (12 units: Any 4 specialization courses)

D. Guided Philosophical Research (GPR-MA)

E. Cognate (at least 3 units)

Any allied course related to the thesis topic of the student; to be determined at the very beginning, based on the submitted initial research proposal

F. Terminal Requirements (9 units)

Written Comprehensive Examinations (WCE)
3 units: Thesis Writing 1 (Proposal)
3 units: Thesis Writing 2 (Colloquium or Conference Presentation)
3 units: Thesis Writing 3 (Thesis Defense)

Click here to view the program overview

The UST M.A. major in Philosophy program

is unique in the country because

it is the only graduate philosophy program

that incorporates a Guided Philosophical Research (GPR-MA) course as a requirement.

Learn more about the GPR Courses and the Department's research culture here.

Guided Philosophical Research 1A:

Work-in-Progress Seminar Attendance and Presentation

Prerequisites: 12 units of Specialization Courses and a thesis adviser formally assigned by the Philosophy Program Lead.

Requirements:

Compulsory attendance Work-in-Progress Seminar sessions sponsored by the Department of Philosophy.
Submission of three thought-pieces” (maximum of 1000 words each) based on at least three sessions attended to be assessed by the thesis adviser and certified by the Program Lead.
Presentation of the tentative thesis proposal in at least one of the Work-in-Progress seminars. The paper should be duly approved by both the thesis adviser and Program Lead. Assessment is based on a certificate of presentation signed by the Chair of the Department of Philosophy and submission of the full paper presented.
Terminal submission: GPR Form 1, and 3 marked thought-pieces.

Professorial Roster

Jove Jim S. Aguas

Karol Wojtyla, Martin Buber, Phenomenology, Existentialism

jsaguas@ust.edu.ph

Fleurdeliz Altez-Albela

Emmanuel Levinas, Phenomenology, Existentialism

faalbela@ust.edu.ph

Jovito V. Cariño

Thomas Aquinas, Alasdair MacIntyre, Social and Political Philosophy

jvcarino@ust.edu.ph

Alfredo P. Co

Chinese Philosophy, Indian Philosophy, East-West Comparative Philosophy

apco@ust.edu.ph

El Mithra M. Dela Cruz

Indian Philosophy, Sri Aurobindo, Existetialism

emdelacruz@ust.edu.ph

Emmanuel C. De Leon

Filipino Philosophy, Martin Heidegger, Philosophy of Pluralism

ecdeleon@ust.edu.ph

Peter Paul E. Elicor

Philosophy of Childhood, Philosophy for/with Children, Epistemology, Feminist Philosophy and Indigenous Philosophy, and include topics such as epistemic injustice, culture, positionality, and indigenous issues