Philosophy, B.A. to Philosophy, M.A. Accelerated Program (Beginning Fall 2026)
Saint Louis University’s accelerated Philosophy B.A. to M.A. program offers qualified philosophy majors the opportunity of beginning work toward the M.A. degree in philosophy while completing requirements for the B.A., thereby reducing the time needed to earn the M.A. degree.
SLU's philosophy graduate program is ranked by the Philosophical Gourmet Report near the top 50 (of the 200 such programs in the USA) and is ranked among the best in the world for Medieval Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion.
For additional information, see the catalog entries for the following SLU programs:
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the accelerated program, students should have a minimum of 75 earned undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of 3.80 in their philosophy. They must also have completed the following courses:
- PHIL 1700 The Examined Life: Ultimate Questions (3 cr) or a course that meets the Ultimate Questions: Philosophy core attribute
- PHIL 2050 Ethics (3 cr)
- PHIL 4040 Symbolic Logic (3 cr)
- Two other PHIL courses at the 4000-level
Program Requirements
During the accelerated program, students will be required to take PHIL 5980 Graduate Independent Study in Philosophy (1-3 cr) in lieu of the undergraduate senior inquiry course, PHIL 4880 Senior Inquiry: Project (0,3 cr). Students can then take up to an additional 12 credits PHIL courses at the 5000 level and above that will count towards the master's degree and as Philosophy Electives in the bachelor's in philosophy.
Once students progress into the M.A. program, they will be required to finish whatever remaining M.A. requirements.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| HIST 1000 | History Matters | 3 |
| CORE 1000 | Ignite First Year Seminar | 2-3 |
| CORE 1500 | Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community | 1 |
| PHIL 1700 | The Examined Life: Ultimate Questions | 3 |
| HIST 1200 | Communicating About History | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIST 2800 | Historian's Craft: Methods Proseminar | 3 |
| CORE 1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
| ENGL 1900 | Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research | 3 |
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 3800 | Ways of Thinking: Natural and Applied Sciences | 3 |
| PHIL 4040 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| Undergraduate University Core and/or Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 4XXX course | 3 | |
| PHIL 3XXX course | 3 | |
| CORE 2800 | Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression | 2-3 |
| Undergraduate University Core and/or Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 3500 | Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World | 1 |
| PHIL 4XXX course | 3 | |
| Undergraduate University Core and/or Electives | 12 | |
| Apply to accelerated program | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 5450 | Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| CORE 3600 | Ways of Thinking: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| Undergraduate University Core and/or Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHIL 5500 | Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 5980 | Graduate Independent Study in Philosophy | 3 |
| Undergraduate University Core and/or Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 5600 | Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 5/6XXX Elective | 3 | |
| Undergraduate University Core and/or Electives | 9 | |
| B.A. degree conferred | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| PHIL 5980 | Graduate Independent Study in Philosophy | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Year Five | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHIL 5/6XXX Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 5/6XXX Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 141-143 | |
For additional information about this program, please contact sluphilosophy@slu.edu or call 314-977-3149.