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Courses | Master of Arts (Philosophy)

Below are the course requirements for this academic program. For more program details, including graduation requirements and learning outcomes, visit Biola's academic catalog.

Specialization Requirements

Program Structure

The academic programs leading to the degree Master of Arts with a specialization in Philosophy is comprised of 49 credits, including:

  1. Biblical and theological foundations.
  2. Spiritual Formation Focus (SFF).
  3. Academic specialization in one of four disciplines requiring biblical language studies, or general studies in which biblical languages are not required.
  4. Additional elective courses determined by the student in consultation with the advisor.

Students may complete this specialization online, on-campus, or by a combination of those two modalities.

Advanced Standing

Applicants who have taken undergraduate courses in biblical or theological studies may request advanced standing based on collegiate work. See Talbot Admissions Requirements for details. Note: if master's level courses are given advanced standing based on undergraduate coursework, some Ph.D. programs may require additional graduate courses in order to meet doctoral program requirements.

Advanced Standing and Transfer Guidelines for Philosophy Specialization

Students with satisfactory undergraduate parallel content in philosophy will be considered for advanced standing. All requests for advanced standing are subject to departmental approval on a case by case basis. Students seeking course reduction must have earned at least a B grade.

Students may only transfer courses that are parallel in content and taken from accredited graduate schools and seminaries. Request for transfer of courses should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar with prior approval from the department. Students must complete in residence a minimum of 24 credits in the Philosophy specialization.

Curriculum Requirements

Prerequisite Courses
Old Testament Survey
New Testament Survey
Program Courses
TTBE 517Hermeneutics and Bible Study Methods3
TTSF 501Introduction to Spiritual Theology and Formation3
TTSF 503Personal Foundations for Spiritual Formation3
TTSF 504Spiritual Formation, Vocation, and the Disciplines1
TTSF 505Talbot Spiritual Direction I0
TTSF 506Talbot Spiritual Direction II0
TTTH 521Theology I: God, Scripture, Creation3
TTTH 522Theology II: Christ, Humanity, Sin, Salvation3
TTTH 623Theology III: Spirit, Church, Last Things3
Philosophy Specialization Courses
TTPH 523Metaphysics I3
TTPH 544Epistemology I3
TTPH 566History and Normative Systems of Ethics3
TTPH 667Philosophy of the Mind3
TTPH 684Philosophy of Religion3
TTPH 685Philosophical Theology3
Elective Courses
Philosophy elective courses12
Total Credits49