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Nopun

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  1. Upvote
    Nopun reacted to maxhgns in Philosophy of Art/Aesthetics programs?   
    Nope. This is the subforum for it. Sacralicious is asking about a subfield of philosophy.
     
    This is a move you need to make with your eyes wide open--way more wide open than for getting a PhD in philosophy in the first place. You absolutely need to know that the job prospects in aesthetics are just about the worst of any subfield of philosophy. Most years, there's one job in the AOS; often, there are none. Occasionally you get bumper crops of 3+, but that's rare. You have to expect one job a year, max. And you have to realize that it's a subfield that's widely (and unjustly) looked down upon. Things are better among continentalists, but still not good. So you have to plan your trajectory accordingly.
    The result is that anybody working in aesthetics has to specialize in something else, too. And that's not a bad thing, since aesthetics gives you the opportunity to bring philosophical work from elsewhere into conversation with human culture, and that makes for really interesting stuff. But from the practical and research standpoints, you absolutely have to master some other aspect of the philosophical literature. Even then, that's not enough for the job market (you'll still get discounted as not the real deal).
    On the plus side, there's much less legitimate competition for that one job a year. And the main aesthetics associations--the ASA and the BSA--are great, very friendly, and do a lot of work to promote aesthetics, and to help students (e.g. student travel to the conferences is funded, they fund lots of grants, they have editorial opportunities for students, and the ASA is going to start sponsoring a postdoc). These are relatively large organizations (especially the ASA), and so there are lots of conferences every year--4 for the ASA, 1 BSA, 1 CSA, and 1 ESA, plus a few other regular events. That all means that networking and getting conference experience is a lot easier in this subfield than in others.
     
    With those warnings out of the way, I suppose it needs to be said that the state of graduate education in aesthetics in North America (if that's where you're looking) is not great. A lot of programs have people who claim aesthetics as an AOS, but most of those aren't affiliated with the ASA/BSA/CSA/ESA, and don't publish in the relevant journals (if they publish in aesthetics at all). So you have to be careful. You absolutely need a supervisor who is active in the subfield, because you can't afford not to have a vocal advocate. To my mind, the best ranked departments in North America for the study of aesthetics are (in alphabetical order) CUNY, McGill, NYU, and UBC. Among the unranked departments, I'd say it's Illinois-Chicago, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt (since they hired Taylor). I may have forgotten a department, but at any rate I'd say that these are currently the best places to do that kind of work. You'll have noticed, though, that some of these departments aren't necessarily the best places for a continental specialization. For that, I'd give much closer consideration to Columbia, Oklahoma, UIC, and Vanderbilt. (McGill is continental-friendly, but their main aesthetician is wholly analytic.)
  2. Upvote
    Nopun reacted to hector549 in How to kill the MA   
    I've been thinking lately about what it takes to be successful coming from an MA, since I'm wrapping up my own this year. I have a few thoughts:
    1. I think your choice of advisor matters significantly--way more than the rank status of your program. If you end up working with someone who doesn't really take the time to mentor you, you're not going to be able to produce as polished and nuanced a writing sample. One might also think that someone who isn't invested in your success might not take the time to write you as strong a letter. I'm lucky; my advisor is great. Not everyone fares so well, though. Take your time to evaluate the faculty before you pick someone to work with, and choose with your eyes open.
    2. It can be tricky to do this in an MA, but I think it can be useful to try to get letters from faculty with whom you've done more than taken one class. Maybe you were also a TA for the faculty member, etc. Again--can be tricky to pull off in an MA, but if you can do it, it gives you a better chance to get to know each faculty member a bit more, and (hopefully) they'll write you a more informed letter as a result.
    3. Don't be afraid to consult with your advisor (as long as you know she or he is in your corner) about your choice of letter writers. She or he may have better insight than you about who may be a good choice if you're trying to pick between several options.
    4. Start your writing sample early (summer after first year at the latest, though it's not a bad idea to be thinking about what you might want to be working on before then).
    5. Perhaps this goes without saying, but I've found that doing an MA first brings with it an extra burden; when you apply to programs the first time, many people apply to MAs as a backup. But when you're applying out of an MA, there's no MA as a backup. You may feel increased pressure on yourself. I think it's extra important as a result of that pressure to manage that stress well. So do something other than philosophy while you're doing your MA to keep yourself sane!
  3. Like
    Nopun reacted to Watashi in Weak academic record. To continue or not continue   
    Sorry I havent responded in a few days. Health scare that turned out to be nothing haha.
     
    Oh yes that's not a problem. I wont go into a pity story but im used to poverty. Being paid to teach philosophy at a community college sounds like a dream. Thanks again for saying all this.

    What I was worried about was paying into these courses at UCLA and it being for nothing since it wouldnt aid me in getting into a decent MA program to then be able to teach philosophy at all, and then of course not being able to do research after a phd. I understand that its a long shot for anyone to do paid research, but Im not in this for the money. If this doesnt work out I would be happy teaching English in Japan, or several other jobs. I just keep reading on this forum, for good reason, that if you can do something else then do it, and I am conflicted between continuing my education now while I have the ball rolling and no dependents to worry about, or doing something else, because I most certainly can do something else. However, many coworkers have told me that they wished they had gone further in their education while they were still young, even if it cost them some of that time back then. 
     
    Its difficult to see which advice to take.
    That's encouraging to hear, thanks. I suppose the main struggle will be getting into the right program. Im mainly interested in logic right now, so im thinking going for a MS in logic at some place like Carnegie. That would be the ideal, though unlikely. 
    Oh really? Thats also good to hear. Maybe this isnt so hopeless after all haha.
     
    Thats good to hear that they think something of your writing sample, thanks for what you said and best of luck to you
  4. Upvote
    Nopun reacted to dgswaim in Weak academic record. To continue or not continue   
    With good letters and a strong sample I'd bet you can get into a good MA program, and then springboard to a pretty good PhD program. I know a lot of people in good PhD programs (including myself) with backgrounds similar to this.
  5. Upvote
    Nopun reacted to hector549 in 2019 Graduate Entrants   
    I don't know much about SJSU, but I did notice that CSULB is now on Leiter's list of best MA programs for the first time, which is located here: http://34.239.13.205/index.php/m-a-programs-in-philosophy/
  6. Upvote
    Nopun reacted to _deat in 2019 Graduate Entrants   
    Hey all,
    I'll be reapplying to several PhD programs this coming fall.  I graduated with an MA back in 2013 and have somehow been able to keep afloat as an adjunct full time.  My interests are in continental philosophy at large with a particular focus on the philosophy of art, aesthetics, ethics, and phenomenology.  I'm not too sure what my writing sample will be, but I'll be hopefully auditing a course this coming fall and hope to produce something that will be workable for the application.  I have a fairly extensive list of programs that interest me, but some of the top schools include UC Berkley's program in rhetoric, Stony Brook, New School, Boston College amongst many others.
    While I'm not excited about the application process I am happy to be going through it with others-- here's to getting to know everyone better as we do this together!  
  7. Upvote
    Nopun reacted to a ravenclaw in 2019 Graduate Entrants   
    AOI: moral, social and political philosophy, feminist philosophy. The (current) list of programs: Brandeis, GSU, SFSU, Tufts, UW- Milwaukee, Calgary, SFU, Toronto, UBC, Western.
    Please let me know if I missed any master program that has faculty members working in my AOI.
     
     
     
     
  8. Upvote
    Nopun reacted to Cloudsofrain in 2019 Graduate Entrants   
    That looks like a solid list!
  9. Upvote
    Nopun got a reaction from Cloudsofrain in 2019 Graduate Entrants   
    Its great to already be welcomed! So my current list is: Tufts, Brandeis, NIU, UW-Milwaukee, GSU, UMSL, SFSU, Houston, Virgina Tech, and WMU. If you (or any other one) thinks I am leaving out a worthwhile MA program please let me know.
  10. Upvote
    Nopun reacted to Cloudsofrain in 2019 Graduate Entrants   
    Hello Nopun, My situation was similar to yours, but I just applied. I came from a very historical-oriented undergraduate program, but I knew that I wanted to do analytic philosophy. I applied to almost all the  MA programs listed in the PGR and got into a good amount of them with funding. I will be going to UMSL this Fall 2018, they are really strong in Moral philosophy and Mind. I think my AOS is Metaethics and Action theory, so UMSL is a really good fit.  I think they are also  pretty good in Phil of sci. If you have any questions about applying or maybe a specific MA program, feel free to ask me. I'll try my best to answer.
  11. Upvote
    Nopun reacted to quineonthevine in 2019 Graduate Entrants   
    This a thread for everybody applying this fall for admission in the fall of 2019. What are your areas of interest? Where are you planning to apply? What is your topic for your writing sample? What are your stats (if you feel comfortable sharing them)?
    Also, you should all join the Facebook group called "Philosophy Graduate Entrants 2019".
  12. Upvote
    Nopun got a reaction from Kantattheairport in 2019 Graduate Entrants   
    Finishing up undergrad at a small liberal arts department with only one analytic professor. I plan on applying to every Masters program in the US with at least one person working in mind, language, and Phil of science each. I have been lurking this board for the last three years and am excited to finally be involved!
  13. Like
    Nopun got a reaction from quineonthevine in 2019 Graduate Entrants   
    Finishing up undergrad at a small liberal arts department with only one analytic professor. I plan on applying to every Masters program in the US with at least one person working in mind, language, and Phil of science each. I have been lurking this board for the last three years and am excited to finally be involved!
  14. Upvote
    Nopun reacted to syn in Final Decisions / Accepting Offers Fall 2018!   
    Can we take the continental talk elsewhere? Perhaps to a more appropriate thread, for example?
  15. Upvote
    Nopun reacted to Spinozian in PHILOSOPHY M.A. ACCEPTANCE/REJECTION 2018   
    Nice, sounds like you'll be a good fit there. And I'll be starting my PhD in the Fall.
    Piece of advice in SF - TEACH. You'll have the opportunity to teach a few sections of critical thinking or intro applied ethics/social phil/phil art classes if you have the time. That, imo, is a main part in what makes that program great. I can't stress how important that is for your own philosophical well-being.
    Also, you'll have the opportunity to take upper-level lecture courses in lieu of grad seminars in some cases, and I'd personally recommend against that. Fill your course load (2-3 classes per semester) with the graduate seminars (unless you've got pre-recs to cover, obviously). You'll not only get a better, more hands-on approach to the subject matter, but you'll be writing papers that might a.) turn into your MA thesis b.) turn into your writing sample c.) flesh out your AOCs d.) give you excuses to go present at conferences and network with other graduate students (essential for when you jump into applying for PhD programs!). Many times all of the above is what occurs. Finally, if you find that your area you really like isn't being taught that semester, feel free to ask for personal study projects for credit. Also, TA-ing is a good way to establish a report with professors you might want on your thesis committee that you haven't had a chance to take a course with (two years goes by fast).
    Ok, stepping off the soapbox now. Again, good luck, and congratulations. Most bars in SF are cash only and the ATM fees are a kick in the dick, so heads up on that.
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