MA Philosophy - UST Philosophy Department

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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)

            

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.



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
Leovino Ma. Garcia
Paul Ricoeur, Emmanuel Levinas, Phenomenology

Rhochie Avelino E. Matienzo
Søren Kierkegaard, Existentialism, Philosophy of Religion
rematienzo@ust.edu.ph
Robert A. Montaña
Thomistic Philosophy, Ethics and Human Rights, Logic and Critical Thinking, Alan Gewirth
ramontana@ust.edu.ph

Ian Raymond B. Pacquing
Erich Fromm, Social and Political Philosophy
ibpacquing@ust.edu.ph

Roland Theuas D. Pada
Jacques Derrida, Martin Heidegger, Axel Honneth, Critical Theory
rdpada@ust.edu.ph

Paolo A. Bolaños
Friedrich Nietzsche, Theodor Adorno, Critical Theory, Social and Political Philosophy
pabolanos@ust.edu.ph
Franz Giuseppe F. Cortez
Paulo Freire, Critical Business Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy
ffcortez@ust.edu.ph
Darlene O. Demandante
Jacques Lacan, Jacques Ranciere, Psychoanalysis
dodemandante@ust.edu.ph

Marella Ada Mancenido-Bolaños
Philosophy for Children, Philosophy of Childhood, and Feminism
mmbolanos@ust.edu.ph

Jeffry V. Ocay
Critical Theory (Marcuse and Honneth), Applied Ethics (Social Ethics and Bioethics), Indigenous Rights and Politics of Recognition in South East Asia
Raniel SM. Reyes
Friedrich Nietzsche, Gilles Deleuze & Félix Guattari, Franco Berardi, Byung-Chul Han, Social and Political Philosophy
rsreyes@ust.edu.ph

Michael Anthony C. Vasco
Indian Philosophy, John Rawls, Phenomenology, Social and Political Philosophy
mcvasco@ust.edu.ph


We look forward to welcoming you to the Department of Philosophy!
Welcome to the UST Graduate School
G/F Thomas Aquinas Research Complex
University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila, 1015 Philippines
graduateschool@ust.edu.ph

© 2024 UST Department of Philosophy
© photos, respective owners: The Department, The Varsitarian, Concilium Philosophiae, Manila Bulletin, Brian de Guzman, J. Tewell
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