How to Join an Online Master’s in Philosophy Program in Top Universities

Philosophy is a promising field of humanities that provides multi-faceted approaches and opportunities for growth and development. This ultimate guide discusses all information regarding an Online Master’s in Philosophy. It encompasses the importance of an Online Master’s Degree in Philosophy. It also presents the best Philosophy Programs in the US, along with prospects of getting such a Degree. Besides that, this article provides a comparative analysis of various universities offering these Degrees. It will help you find the best match for your study. Finally, it covers some basic FAQs regarding online philosophy masters degree.

How to Get into Philosophy

Philosophy, an amalgamated branch of social sciences and humanities, is all about the Love of Wisdom. Philosophy is a word of Greek origin and includes the study of all fundamental concepts like the nature of actuality, certainty, and acquaintance. All the notable philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were in awe of this field. They studied everything around them critically and reflectively.

Statistics for Online Master’s Programs

Philosophy is a diverse field. Various aspects cover many dimensions of this field. The National Association of Colleges and Employers found that those completing a Master-level Degree in Philosophy in 2015 had an improved chance of over 85 percent to find employment or to continue their education (47.8 percent) within six months of graduating. Their mean starting salary was over $75,500.

Another research conducted suggested that the percentage of people opting and completing their Master-level Degree in Philosophy roughly doubled between 1987 and 2014, which shows the popularity of this Degree Program among the masses.

Benefits of an Online Master’s in Philosophy

Getting an Online Master’s Degree in Philosophy definitely has its perks, some of which are listed below:

• You are Your own Planner: You can have flexible time slots and a study pace that you manage as per your routine. You can set the speed of your study and deal with it accordingly.
• Quality Matters A lot: The excellence you get in your Online Master’s is always on the level as that of on-campus classes. You can get the best quality education right at your doorsteps. You get to study the best and most up-to-date knowledge from around the globe as well.
• Affordability at Its Best: The fee structure of an Online Master’s is also far more affordable for people who can’t afford on-campus charges. It saves you from transportation and other miscellaneous fees that cost a lot in on-campus learning.

Branches of Philosophy

Various subdivisions of philosophy are:

1) Metaphysics

Metaphysics is the branch of Philosophy that studies the relationship between abstract and concrete ideas, the reality concerning belief, time-space, and time.

2) Logic

Logic studies reasoning and inference. It deals with gauging the validity of any theory or proposition in the lights of inference and shreds of evidence.

3) Epistemology

It is the branch of Philosophy that deals with the theory of knowledge and its beliefs, scope, dimensions, and validation.

4) Axiology

Axiology is the branch of Philosophy that deals with the study of values. It includes different values, beliefs, and their classification.

5) Political Philosophy

This branch of Philosophy has everything to do with politics. It studies the role of politics in shaping a community’s life and the way that governments should work to make their people part of a sustainable community.

6) Ethics

Ethics is the study of morality. It deals with the moral values that should be part of human life, belief, and ideology. It stresses the importance of everyone’s code-of-conduct in life.

7) Aesthetics

Aesthetics is a very delicate branch of Philosophy as it deals with the study of observing and admiring beauty, good deeds, and good works. It focuses on the human inclination towards appreciating new art and admiring beauty.

Degrees Offered in an Online Master’s in Philosophy

People don’t have to specifically enrol in an Online Master’s in Philosophy Program, as there are many more fields and dimensions where one can try their luck. Some of the famous Master’s Degree Programs related to Philosophy are:

• Online Master of Philosophy
• Online Master of Humanities
• Online Master of Arts in Spirituality
• Online Master of Arts in Philosophy
• Online Master of Arts in Political Philosophy
• Online Master of Arts in Cosmology
• Online Master of Bioethics
• Online Master of Liberal Art

Skills Related to Philosophy

There are various skills that one can master after completing their Degree in Philosophy. Major ones include improving cognitive thinking, making a person more observant, monitoring things critically, and broadening vision to gauge ideas and beliefs. It instils positivity in a person’s personality and makes them more optimistic.

Apart from these, it also helps a person to become more goal-oriented and a strategic thinker. It is a field that provides you with the opportunity to be a reflective and contented thinker. It will help to shape a person’s personality and in making them more skillful than before.

Also Read: Top 10 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Anthropology 2021

Future Prospects of Philosophy

Philosophy is a vast field and having an Online Master’s Degree in Philosophy opens the gates to an endless amount of opportunities. The biggest prospect of having such a Degree is getting a job as a lecturer or teacher. From high school to specialized studies, philosophers are shaping the community and providing them with multi-faceted approaches to life.

The media industry is a vast field for which you could opt for a Master’s in Philosophy, and to be more specific; a Master’s in Liberal Arts. It provides you with a wide array of job options like journalist, researcher, column writer, analyst, and reporter.

When Philosophy combines with social sciences, it paves its way to policy making and human resource management. It caters to diverse fields like social consultants, recruitment officers, etc. There are many private, public and non-profit sectors that offer jobs to candidates having a Degree in Philosophy.

Universities Offering an Online Master’s in Philosophy

Some of the most notable universities offering an Online Master’s in Philosophy are:

California State University at Northridge

California State University at Northridge is a public university situated in California, Los Angeles. This prestigious university was founded in 1958. Its graduation rate is 50%. Its accreditation is by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. (WSCUC)

The university provides a 20 months-long Online Master’s in Philosophy Program. The major disciplines covered in the Program are ethics, philosophy, law, and religion.

For more information visit the Online Master of Humanities at California State University

Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University is a private research-oriented university situated in Baltimore, Maryland. The university was founded in 1876 and as the name suggests, it was named after its first benefactor. Its graduation rate is 94%, which makes it rank amongst the top universities in the world. This university is accredited by The Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

This university provides a bi-furcated, fast-paced Degree Program. It is a ten-course Program that can either be completed in either one or two calendar years. The main Online Master’s Degree Program offered by them is the Online Master’s in Liberal Arts. Major disciplines are humanities research, myth and literature, self-questioning, and liberal arts.

For more information visit the Master of Liberal Arts Online at Johns Hopkins University

Arizona State University

Arizona State University is a public research university located in Tempe, Arizona. This university came into existence in 1885. The graduation rate of Arizona University is 67%. Its accreditation is at the institutional level by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

It is an extremely flexible university, as its priority is catering to students’ degree feasibility. It offers 10 courses in its Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts Program. Three courses are compulsory, while the other seven courses are elective. One can also choose the starting date of their courses. There is no need to make yourself bound to a certain date or time. Major disciplines are science, ethics, media studies (liberal arts).

For more information visit the Online MA in Philosophy at Arizona State University

Loyola University

Loyola University is a private research-oriented university located in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1870 and is considered one of the largest Catholic universities in the United States. Its graduation rate is 75%. Its accreditation is by the Higher Learning Commission. (HLC)

Loyola University offers an Online Master’s in Philosophy in the discipline of Bioethics. It is a 30 credit hours Program that can be completed in 2-3 years based on the learner’s pace. It is a blended-learning Online Degree Program, and the major disciplines offered are ethics and law and bioethics.

For more information visit the Online Master’s Degree in Philosophy at Loyola University

Ohio State University

Ohio State University is a public university located in Columbus, Ohio. This university was founded in 1870 and its graduation rate is 83%. Its accreditation is by the Higher Learning Commission. (HLC)

It is a two-year Master’s Program in Philosophy that is specially designed for professional health workers. Major disciplines offered are bioethics, public law and policy, and the history of bio-ethics. It is a completely Online Program with no on-campus aspects.

For more information, visit the Online Master of Arts in Bioethics at Ohio State University

Biola University

Biola University is in La Mirada, California. It was founded in 1908 in Los Angeles. Its graduation rate is 72%. Its accreditation is by The WASC Senior College and University Commission.

It is a blended-learning Online Master’s in Philosophy Program. It comprises many fruitful disciplines like the philosophy of mind, history of ethics, etc.

For more information visit the Online Master’s in Philosophy at Biola University

Rutgers University

Rutgers University is a research-focused public university located in Brunswick, New Jersey. It was founded in 1766. Its graduation rate is 80%. Its accreditation is by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. (MSCHE)

It is an Online Master’s Program of 30 credit hours. It’s a Program in Liberal Arts with the main being focus on Philosophy and religion. It is a fully online program with not a single bit of blended-learning in it.

For more information visit the Online Master’s in Liberal Studies: Philosophy and Religion at Rutgers University

Holy Apostles College and Seminary

Holy Apostles College and Seminary is a seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. This college started operating in 1956. Its graduation rate is 40%. Its accreditation is by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education and by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

This university offers a two-year Online Master’s Program in Philosophy. Its major disciplines are philosophy and ethics. It is a flexible program with a flexible timeline for students to complete the degree.

For more information visit the Online MA in Philosophy at Holy Apostles College and Seminary

Harvard University

Harvard is a public research-oriented university in Massachusetts, United States. This top-notch university started operating in 1636. Its graduation rate is 97%. Its accreditation is by the New England Commission of Higher Education (previously known as the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.)

It is a 1.5 year Degree Program, and the main disciplines offered are philosophy and ethics. The university’s prestige provides a wonderful opportunity for students to get world-class education online.

For more information visit the Department of Philosophy Harvard University

American Public University

American Public University is a private online learning institution located in West Virginia. It was founded in 1991. Its graduation rate is 12%.  Its accreditation is by the Higher Learning Commission. (HLC)

It is a 36 credit hour Program over a period of two years. This program is related to the Master’s in Humanities Degree with a focus on Philosophy.  Major disciplines offered are History of Religion, Society, Welfare, and Evolution of Life.

For more information visit the Online degrees programs at American Public University

Comparison of Online Master’s in Philosophy Offered by US Universities

Conclusion

An Online Master’s in Philosophy not only gives you a field of study but gives meaning to your life. The spiritual skills that one learns after completing their Degree in Philosophy are unmatched. It depends on a person’s priorities and preferences which field or discipline is optimal for them. Many factors contribute to the selection of a suitable institute for an Online Master’s in Anthropology. The foremost deciding factor seems to be the number of opportunities provided to a candidate during their study period. All in all, it is a great and educational domain for potential candidates.  

Frequently Asked Questions

1) Who can study this course? 

Candidates who want to pursue their Degree in Philosophy need to first complete their Bachelor’s Degree in the said field. Anyone who wants to have a job in this field should have at least a Master’s Degree in Philosophy. For much higher job levels, one must have a Ph.D. Degree in Philosophy.

2) Can a person with a Philosophy Degree get a job in any other field?

There are many integrated fields related to Philosophy. One can go for social sciences, law studies, media studies, and liberal studies,  proving how diverse this mesmerizing field is.

3) Is getting an Online Master’s Degree in Philosophy as effective as having an on-campus Degree?

When it comes to quality, there is no difference between the quality of on-campus and online studies. When the deciding factor is affordability and flexibility, completing a Degree Online is the better choice.

4) What is the duration of an Online Master’s in a Philosophy Program?

The duration of the Degree Program varies from university to university and can range from 11 months to 2 years depending on the number of credit hours and disciplines offered.

5) Is obtaining an Online Master’s in Philosophy Degree a difficult task?

The facilitation and ease that one gets while completing an Online Master’s in Philosophy online are unmatchable. One can attend webinars and live sessions to clarify any confusion they might have.

6) When will admissions start for the Online Master’s Program of Philosophy?

Every university has its academic cycle. Some universities go with the semester system and are divided into spring and fall semesters, while other universities have the advantage of credit hours, allowing for a flexible and inclusive Degree Program. Some universities go with an annual academic cycle. Ultimately it all depends upon your preferences to select a time slot.

7) Is blended learning a part of an Online Master’s Program?

Blended learning has two components; online and face-to-face learning. Many universities go with a blended learning model, while others focus solely on the Online Program. One can choose both options while looking for an Online Master’s in Philosophy.

8) How much can you earn after completing an Online Master’s Degree in Philosophy?

The earning prospects vary from field to field. It is usually a high-paying field where one can earn a handsome salary, depending on the work provided.