Louisiana State University M.A. enables students to discover whether they should pursue the Ph.D. and prepares them for admission to high quality doctoral programs as well as for a wide variety of careers. As the only graduate philosophy program in a public university in Louisiana, one of its chief aims is to assist students who have not had the opportunity to complete an undergraduate philosophy degree. The M.A. in philosophy should help such students to develop the necessary background as well as to determine whether to pursue doctoral level studies. The faculty, therefore, welcomes qualified and motivated students who lack extensive undergraduate work in philosophy.