Coterminal Masters

The coterminal Master's in Philosophy is an internal program available only to current Stanford undergrads. It permits Stanford undergraduates to study for a bachelor's and a master's degree simultaneously, in the same or different departments. 

It is possible to earn an M.A. in Philosophy while earning a B.A. or B.S. at Stanford. This can usually be done by the end of the fifth undergraduate year, although a student whose degree is not in Philosophy may require an additional year. Standards for admission to, and completion of, this program are the same as for M.A. applicants who already have the bachelor's degree when matriculating. Applicants for the coterminal program are not, however, required to take the Graduate Record Exam.

Requirements

University requirements for the coterminal M.A. are described in the "Coterminal Bachelor's and Master's Degrees" section of the Stanford Bulletin. For the coterminal degree application forms, see the Stanford Coterm application page.

Philosophy specific requirements for the coterm are described in the Stanford Bulletin and our Masters Program page

How to apply

The coterm application form is available online through the grad admissions site.

Please turn in or email any supplementary materials or letters to the graduate administrator

Deadline

Coterm applications are accepted in Winter quarter only, for Spring quarter admission.

The application deadline is always the end of the second week of winter quarter.

The 2024 deadline is Friday, January 19, 2024.

Application Form

The coterm application form is available online.

Application Materials

  • Transcript:  Official Stanford transcript is requested and submitted through the on-line application. 
  • Statement of Purpose: Describe your reasons for applying to the Masters program.
  • Coterm Approval: The application needs to be approved by your undergrad major department.
  • Writing Sample: Recent work on a philosophical topic, or a sample of your best work if no philosophical papers available.
  • CV: optional.
  • Letters of Recommendation: 2 letters of recommendation are required, preferably from Philosophy faculty and/or your advisor.
  • GRE Scores: not required.
  • Please email any supplemental materials not able to be uploaded to the graduate administrator.

Contact

Philosophy Graduate Administrator

Jill Covington
Email: philosophy [at] stanford.edu (philosophy[at]stanford[dot]edu) or jillj [at] stanford.edu (jillj[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Philosophy Department

450 Jane Stanford Way

Stanford, CA 94305

Phone: (650) 723-2548

Decision

The decision will be communicated to you approximately a month before the end of winter quarter to allow enrollment as a coterm in Spring quarter.

If you receive an offer of coterm admission, please communicate your decision to us ASAP before the start of Spring quarter.

Coterm Course Transfer

The Philosophy Department allows courses taken during or after the first quarter of the Sophomore year to be transferred to the graduate degree. No courses taken prior to the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.

Please turn in your course transfer to the Registrar's Office before applying to graduate from the undergrad degree; courses cannot be transferred between degrees once you have graduated from the undergraduate degree.

Registrar Coterm Course Transfer form