Philosophy

Admission Requirements

• The General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants should consult the GRE website for information on recent and upcoming changes in the test format.

• Demonstration of undergraduate competence in Philosophy, as evidenced by the completion of an undergraduate major or minor in Philosophy, or strong undergraduate preparation in a closely related field. The Department recognizes that students sometimes discover their interest in Philosophy late in their undergraduate programs and may not have acquired a major or minor in Philosophy by the time they graduate. The competency of students with non-traditional backgrounds will be determined in interviews with the Program Director.

• An undergraduate GPA of 3.0. The average GPA of students entering our program is 3.5 or higher. The average number of Philosophy courses taken prior to entry is 13.

• Two letters of recommendation testifying to the student\'s aptitude for graduate studies in Philosophy, from professors familiar with the student\'s undergraduate work. Letters from professors of Philosophy are preferred.

• A personal statement of intent, of no more than four typed pages. Applicants are expected to indicate why they wish to pursue philosophical studies at the graduate level and what their career plans are.

• A writing sample of approximately 10 typed pages, preferably of philosophical writing.

International Students:

• Application for Admission: including the application fee ($50.00)

• Two copies of Official Transcripts: From all schools attended since high school.

• Transcript Evaluation: International applicants who have completed their postsecondary education from an institution outside the U.S. must hold a degree from a university recognized by the Ministry of Education as a degree granting institution. Transcripts from an international institution must be translated and evaluated by a U.S. transcript evaluation service before the application is considered for admission.

• Additional Materials: Most programs require additional materials, including standardized test scores, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Please see our programs page for admissions requirements for your program of interest.

• TOEFL/IELTS: Please check individual program pages in the University Bulletin for IELTS requirements. All applicants must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) unless they received a high school diploma or a bachelor\'s degree in the United States. Exceptions to this rule may be made for students from countries where English is one of several official languages, as well as at the discretion of the program director.

• SEVIS I-20 Request Form: Along with your application, you need to complete the SEVIS I-20 Request Form and include official documents verifying funds to cover tuition and living expenses for your entire enrollment period at LMU. This verification document should be from either a United States bank or agency or an international bank. The Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility will not be issued by the University until such documentation is on file in the Graduate Admission Office.

• Visa Requirements: Applicants must obtain an international student visa (F-1) from the U.S. Embassy in order to enter the United States. The I-20 Certificate of Eligibility cannot be issued until the SEVIS I-20 Request Form (please see above) is received by the Graduate Admissions Office. Upon the applicant\'s acceptance into the University, an I-20 Certificate will be issued to the student as soon as all the required documents have been received by the LMU Office for International Students & Scholars (OISS, see more information below). OISS will provide detailed information and facilitate in obtaining your student visa from the U.S. Embassy.