Marquette University

What you'll study

The program centers on the history of philosophy across periods while allowing distinct emphases by specialization. Core features include:

• Specialization in History of Philosophy: curriculum integrating historical study with contemporary debates (ethics, social philosophy, philosophy of mind, aesthetics).
• Specialization in Social & Applied Philosophy: training in critical thinking, argumentation, analysis and writing aimed at scholarly or non-academic ethical and social-justice work; requires at least two cognate courses in other disciplines and encourages community-engaged research and internships.
• Options for an Accelerated Degree Program allowing Marquette undergraduates to complete the MA as part of a five-year BA/MA pathway (partial tuition support available for a small number of competitive applicants).

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution (or international equivalent) before starting the program and normally present a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Non-U.S. citizens must demonstrate English proficiency. Specific to the History of Philosophy specialization, applicants are expected to have 18 semester hours of undergraduate philosophy coursework, including six hours of survey courses.

Required application materials include a completed online application and fee, transcripts (with course-by-course evaluations for work completed outside the U.S.), a statement of purpose, at least three letters of recommendation, and a philosophical writing sample of 15–25 pages demonstrating citation and argumentative skill. International applicants must submit TOEFL or other acceptable proof of English proficiency.

Admission typically begins in fall; the program uses rolling admission with target deadlines: fall term—August 1 (June 1 for international applicants); spring term—December 15 (October 1 for international applicants).

Career prospects

Graduates have followed both academic and non-academic paths. The History of Philosophy track has a record of placement into funded PhD programs; the Social & Applied track prepares students for roles requiring applied ethics, research, and program work. Examples of non-academic positions held by alumni include librarian, paralegal, chief of staff, client-side developer, software developer, ethics and compliance manager, senior content marketing manager, and research or leadership roles in nonprofit or corporate settings.

Scholarships & funding angle

Marquette Graduate School offers a reduced humanities tuition rate (noted at $500 per credit hour for humanities graduate programs). U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible for need-based federal loans; private scholarships may also be available. Students interested in combined study-and-service funding can apply to the Trinity Fellows Program, a 21-month fellowship integrating graduate study with urban leadership and service; applicants with prior full-time service or significant nonprofit experience are eligible. Partial tuition support is sometimes offered to strong applicants in the Accelerated Degree Program.