Department of Philosophy
Comal Building Room 102
Telephone: 512-245-2285 Fax: 512-245-8335
www.txstate.edu/philosophy
The graduate program, including the M.A. in Applied Philosophy and Ethics (MAAPE) and the Graduate Certificate in Professional Ethics, in Environmental Leadership, Engagement, and Ethics; and in Ethics and Digital Technologies, is central to the mission of the Philosophy Department and to our vision of its future. The MAAPE is a flourishing program, with over 110 students receiving their MA during its first ten years, The MAAPE has become nationally and internationally competitive, attracting students from Arizona, Maine, Maryland, Georgia, Arkansas, California, Columbia, Mexico, and Bangladesh, as well as from Texas.
We conceived of Applied Philosophy as philosophy engaged with other disciplines and the affairs and concerns of contemporary life. In research and in teaching the department emphasizes the relevance of philosophy to technology and engineering; mathematics, computer science, and disciplines in the natural sciences; medicines; the social sciences; public policy; the humanities and arts; law; and everyday life. The Department has interdisciplinary ties through the participation of faculty members in the Honors College, the Center for Diversity and Gender Studies, the program in International Studies, the Certified Public Manager program, the PhD in Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization, Physics, Women's Studies, Political Science, and the graduate program in Sustainability Studies. Additionally, the Department houses a growing program for research in, and teaching of, Responsible Conduct of Research Program, and has particular strengths in Philosophy of Technology and Science, Latin-American/Latino/a/x Philosophy, Environmental Philosophy and Ethics, and Dialogue.
The M.A. in Applied Philosophy and Ethics is designed to help students examine and discuss both contemporary and perennial problems. It includes courses in theoretical and methodological issues as well as public dialogue. The program can be completed in 14 months - over two summers and the academic year in between - and includes the opportunity to take courses outside of philosophy for those with interests in adjacent disciplines. The faculty is active, diverse, and pluralistic, representing a wide range of specialties and approaches to philosophy.
The faculty welcomes students with different goals. The program can serve as preparation for doctoral work in philosophy, but many students have other objectives. These include graduate study in adjacent fields, law, non-profit work, enhancing an existing career and personal enrichment. Hence, the faculty welcomes outstanding and dedicated students without a background in the discipline.
The Graduate Certificate in Professional Ethics will help you engage more fully with ethical issues in your professional life. This certificate program, is a response to a wide and growing interest in the ethical dimensions of professional and public life. Participants strengthen their dimensions of professional and public life. Participants strengthen their understanding of ethics and enhance their ability to recognize and respond to ethical issues in a wide variety of settings. The program emphasizes advanced critical thinking and writing skills, in-depth knowledge of the history, theory, principles and concepts of ethics, the ability to recognize and resolve ethical dilemmas, and the knowledge and skills necessary for ethical leadership.
The Graduate Certificate in Environmental Leadership, Engagement, and Ethics provides professional development and educational opportunities through innovative courses in environmental leadership, engagement, and ethics. The program is intended for environmental professionals, students pursuing a graduate degree in another discipline for which a coherent set of courses on environmental issues will be a benefit, and anyone interested in learning more about engagement and ethics as they pertain to environmental topics.
The Graduate Certificate in Ethics and Digital Technologies offers educational and professional development through courses exploring the ethical implications of digital technologies. It is designed for professionals working within digital fields, graduate students from various disciplines seeking to complement their studies with ethical insights into digital technology, and anyone eager to understand the ethical and philosophical dimensions of these emerging technologies.
