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Philosophy (History and Philosophy of Science), MA

Philosophy (History and Philosophy of Science), MA

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Academic programs / Graduate degrees / Philosophy (History and Philosophy of Science), MA

Belief, Science, Scientist, beliefs, history, life sciences, philosophy

ASU is no longer accepting new students to this program. Please explore Degree Search for other similar program options.


Program description
Degree awarded: MA  Philosophy (History and Philosophy of Science)

Nationally, there is great interest in science and in understanding the nature of science and the forces that change scientific research. The job market in philosophy is strong for philosophers of science, and especially in the life sciences, with some positions remaining unfilled even when the market is intensely competitive in other areas. In addition, the history and philosophy of science is becoming a strong disciplinary emphasis within growing professional societies.

Some programs, elsewhere, focus primarily on philosophy or primarily on history, but those that bring the two together are regarded among the strongest in each area. The objective here is to provide a program for students who come to history and philosophy of science from the humanities and who seek a career based in philosophical analysis of the sciences. ASU's MA program in philosophy with a concentration in the history and philosophy of science has the research strength competitive with any international program.

At a glance
  • STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree requirements

30 credit hours including the required capstone course (HPS 551) and a thesis

Graduate coursework includes:

history of science (3)
philosophy of science (3)
topics in the history of science (3)
topics in the philosophy of science (3)
research methods in the history and philosophy of science (3)
prospectus writing (3)
research and thesis (12)

Admission requirements

General university admission requirements:

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency

This program is no longer accepting applications.

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Career opportunities

Both the MA and doctoral programs in philosophy focus on helping students develop and hone skills that are highly marketable to a wide variety of careers rather than for just one particular occupation: clear, critical and creative thinking and excellent reading, writing, communication and problem-solving skills.

Philosophy graduates are able to think critically, creatively and imaginatively; read closely and with a critical eye; analyze complex problems; identify all possible solutions to problems, including some creative out-of-the-box solutions; assess the merits of each possible solution; and articulate and argue the pros and cons of various solutions in clear, precise and unambiguous language.

These skills are irreplaceable by technology, highly sought-after by employers, and transferrable from one occupation to another.

Career examples include:

  • businessperson
  • computer programmer
  • counselor
  • educator
  • journalist
  • lawyer
  • politician
  • public policy analyst
  • publisher
  • writer
Contact information
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