Advising

Undergraduate Advising

As Associate Chair, Dr. Wilcox is the main approver of petitions such as major/minor declarations, waivers of college regulations, DPR revisions, and study abroad courses of study.

Please email Jennifer Waller for guidance with and review of petitions before submitting them to Dr. Wilcox. 

 

1. Jennifer Waller, Academic Office Coordinator 

Email: phlsphr@sfsu.edu

2. Shelley Wilcox, Professor, Associate Chair

Email: swilcox@sfsu.edu

Undergraduate Philosophy Advisors
Advisor Focus
Mohammad Azadpur B.A./Minor in Philosophy
Shelley Wilcox B.A./Minor in Philosophy and SF Scholars
Macy Salzberger B.A. in Philosophy: Concentration in Law
Carlos Montemayor B.A. in Philosophy: Concentration in Law
Alice Sowaal B.A./Minor in Philosophy and Religion

Graduate Advising

Graduate Philosophy Advisors
Olivia Walters Professor Reid Professor Montemayor

Graduate Program Coordinator

Email: grdphl@sfsu.edu
Office: HUM 388
Phone: (415) 338-1596

Olivia handles the administrative aspects of the graduate program and is the first point of contact for general inquiries and assistance. Please consult with her regarding your graduation paperwork and scheduling your thesis defense.

Graduate Coordinator for Incoming Students 

Email: jwreid@sfsu.edu
Office: HUM 360

Make an appointment by emailing Dr. Reid directly.

Professor Reid handles all matters regarding recruitment and admissions and serves as the advisor for students before they have completed  PHIL 715. 

Graduate Coordinator for Continuing Students

Email: cmontema@sfsu.edu
Office: HUM 322
 

Professor Montemayor handles all matters regarding continuing students. This includes petitions concerning prerequisites, Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Proposal for Culminating Experience (PCE) forms. Additionally, he handles paperwork regarding probation, declassification, and disqualification.

Students need not have completed an undergraduate major in philosophy to be considered for the M.A. program.

Applicants’ prior academic work will be evaluated to see that a number of undergraduate courses have been fulfilled with the grade of 3.0 or better (B) and that the courses reach the level of upper-division coursework in philosophy at SF State. The sole exception to the upper-division coursework criterion is for the Logic (PHIL 205), a lower-division course. Please note that the Department of Philosophy offers a Formal Logic Challenge Exam.

Required undergraduate courses:

  1. Logic (must be equivalent to PHIL 205)
  2. Ancient Philosophy (PHIL 301)
  3. Modern Philosophy (PHIL 303)
  4. Ethics (PHIL 450)
  5. One course in Metaphysics and Epistemology (broadly construed):
    • Philosophy of Science (PHIL 350)
    • Metaphysics (PHIL 605)
    • Theory of Knowledge (PHIL 610)
    • Philosophy of Perception (PHIL 611)
    • Philosophy of Mind (PHIL 620)
    • Philosophy of Language (PHIL 630)

Once a student has completed a Proposal for Culminating Experience (PCE), their thesis committee chair will serve as the student’s advisor.

Note: Special paperwork is required to allow semi-retired faculty and lecturers in Philosophy or other departments to serve as readers (no such faculty may serve as thesis chairs).

Eligible chairs are the following:

Students are strongly urged to consult with the graduate coordinator and their faculty advisors at least once each semester.

The following advising schedule should be kept by new and continuing graduate students:

New students should seek out advising with Professor Jeremy Reid prior to registering for courses.

Continuing students should meet with their thesi advisor at the beginning of each semester in order to discuss their progress in the program. 

Students should consult with Professor Carlos Montemayor about when to take PHIL 896, which is the comprehensive examination. In addition to this, continuing students should consult with Olivia Walters on graduation paperwork such as the ATC and PCE forms.