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Major/Minor Requirements
Please see the course catalog for information about major/minor requirements and contact the philosophy undergraduate advisor at philadvi@ucsc.edu with any questions.
Senior Year
In the first quarter of your senior year, or when you have completed 135 units toward graduation, it is recommended that you meet with the undergraduate adviser to complete a final review of your degree progress.
The purpose of completing this milestone/checklist is to to ensure you are on track to finish all major requirements – and to make sure that you don’t experience any last minute surprises the quarter you intend to graduate.
Fifth Year M.A. Pathway
The B.A./M.A. pathway is an option that allows students to complete the requirements for both degrees in five years, rather than the usual six.
How can this be?
The M.A. degree requires nine graduate seminars. These requirements can be completed in four quarters.
With instructor consent, students complete two to three five-credit philosophy graduate seminars during their senior year. These credits will count toward the undergraduate Philosophy major upper-division elective or senior seminar requirements (or toward overall degree credits for non-Philosophy majors) and, if admitted to the M.A. program, will also count toward the nine seminars required for the graduate degree.
Students will complete and defend a Master’s Capstone Paper during spring quarter of the fifth year.
Who is eligible?
Interested Philosophy majors with a GPA of at least 3.5 should indicate their intention to participate in the pathway program to the undergraduate staff advisor no later than the seventh week of the spring quarter of their junior year (spring quarter advising week).
Students from other majors are also welcome. Most likely these would be students from Linguistics, Legal Studies, Classics, Cognitive Science, or Literature who have some background in Philosophy. Attend faculty office hours to discuss the possibility of enrolling in a graduate seminar.
Wait, how does this work?
Admission to the M.A. program is through the standard process via the Graduate Division. Note that you would be applying in the fall quarter of your senior year to be admitted as a graduate student the following fall – after receiving your undergraduate degree in spring (or summer).
Sample Academic Plan for Freshmen Philosophy Major
| Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frosh | Logic | 11, 22, or 24 | ||
| Soph | 100A | 100B | 100C | |
| Junior | 1XX | 1XX | 1XX | |
| Senior | 1XX | 2XX | 2XX |
Sample Academic Plan for Junior Transfer Philosophy Major
| Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | Logic & 100A | 100B & 1XX | 100C & 1XX | 1XX |
| Senior | 1XX | 2XX | 2XX |
Fifth-year Graduate Coursework for both Frosh and Junior Transfer Students
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| 2XX | 2XX | 2XX |
| 2XX | 2XX | 2XX |
| 2XX (unless you took three graduate seminars as a BA student) | Defend Paper |
Why would I want a Master’s degree in Philosophy?
If you are interested in applying to a Ph.D. program then continuing your studies with the faculty here and now will allow you to develop a stronger application, writing sample and letters of recommendation.
Entering the job market with a graduate degree should translate to greater earning power with a wider array of career opportunities and a higher potential for future promotion.
Expand your intellectual growth and spend another year at UC Santa Cruz with the subject you love.
Frequently Asked Questions
I will be graduating in the Fall. Can I apply to be a graduate student starting in winter or spring?
No. Unfortunately, the pathway only allows for a fall quarter start.
As an undergrad do I have to take the graduate seminars for a grade or Pass/No Pass?
Graduate seminars are to be enrolled in as Pass/No Pass (undergraduates) or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (graduate students). Students may petition a professor for an exception to receive a grade in a graduate seminar, however it is strongly discouraged.
What is required for a graduate school application through this pathway?
- Résumé
- Writing Sample (4,000-6,000 words)
- Statement of Purpose (500-1,000 words)
- Please describe your plans for graduate study or research (including who and what) and for your future occupation or profession. Recommended length is 500 – 1,000 words.
- Personal History Statement (1-3 pages):
- Required of all applicants. This statement will be used in conjunction with your application for graduate admission and financial support. Note that the Personal History Statement should not duplicate the Statement of Purpose. Recommended length is a concise 1-3 pages.
- UC Santa Cruz is interested in a diverse and inclusive graduate student population. In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree.
- Application fee:
- In 2024, this fee is $135 for domestic applicants and $155 for international applicants.
No transcripts (from UCSC to UCSC) are required for the application.
For more information on application materials, please see the department’s Graduate Program Page.
Questions?
Where are the faculty offices?
How do I declare?
Complete a Petition for Major/Minor Declaration. The same petition is used for adding a second major. The adviser from the first/existing major will need to confirm the study plan.
Why should I declare?
You’ll become part of the department, be invited to talks and other events that the faculty and graduate students attend. You’ll get a cool pin. More importantly, senior seminars are added by permission code. If we don’t know you intend to complete the major requirements until your senior year it’ll be too late for you to indicate a preference.
I can’t get into a class I need.
Check the class search and get on the waitlist. Keep checking the schedule of classes and if a space become available, enroll in the course immediately. If you are unable to get into the class by the beginning of the quarter, go to the first lecture and ask the instructor if any additional students will be let into the course. You might receive a permission code.
I can’t make the first day of class.
Students who miss the first lecture will usually be dropped. Let the instructor know the circumstances and an exception might be made. Some professors won’t allow you to add their class after the first week.
What are faculty office hours and why is everyone talking about them?
Office hours provide a chance to discuss topics not covered in lecture or section. If you have a question about philosophy or graduate school, your professors are definitely the best people to ask.
Careers
Students with a major or minor in the Humanities Division can sign up for 1:1 career advising appointments with the Humanities Career Engagement Specialist, Meredith Pelrine. Topics can include career exploration, job and internship searches, resumes and cover letters, interview prep, job offer evaluation and negotiation, and more. Appointments are available virtually and in person. To schedule, see Humanities Career Advising.
Recent alumni from UC Santa Cruz have gone on to:
- law school
- Berkeley, UC Hastings
- graduate school
- Philosophy PhD at UC Riverside
- teaching careers
- English in Japan
- Philosophy at a High School in Southern California
Philosophy prepares you with the skills employers want most:
- think critically and objectively
- write clearly and effectively
- present your case convincingly
- organize material with attention to detail and a pleasing style
- analyze policies for fairness and accuracy
- awareness of political issues and all sides of disagreements
- develop creative solutions to unique situations
Philosophical Slug Society
The Philosophical Slug Society is a group of students that gathers to discuss and debate philosophical texts, classes and ideas. To find out more email philosophicalslugs@gmail.com or join one of the meetings.
Independent Study
The Department allows students to petition for Independent Study on topics of special interest to them. Students may engage in directed readings, research projects, or research related to internships.
Independent Studies may be petitioned for credit towards fulfilling one upper-division elective in the Philosophy major. To enroll you must complete a Petition for Independent Studies with a faculty sponsor. The completed form is submitted to the Undergraduate Advisor in Cowell 220 who will issue a call number for enrollment. This petition does require the signature of a faculty sponsor; so don’t wait until the deadline for adding classes.