The Master's Degree in Philosophical Sciences, designed in continuity with the Degree in Philosophy L-5, aims to offer students a broad and structured set of philosophical skills of a historical-philosophical, logical-formative, practical-ethical and critical-hermeneutic nature.
The objectives to be achieved at the end of this training path are a deeper knowledge of the history of philosophical problems, from antiquity to the present day, and a consolidated familiarity with the contexts.

The Master's Degree is divided into two curricular paths:

1. the 'CLASSIC' curriculum which - in continuity with the classic curriculum of the Three-year Degree - allows the guided obtaining of all the training credits necessary for access to the competitive classes qualifying for higher education A/19 History and Philosophy and, at the same time, A/18 Philosophy and Human Sciences. A peculiar characteristic of the Master's Degree Course is the particular attention dedicated to the History of Philosophy in its various historical phases (Ancient, Medieval, Modern and Contemporary).

2. the 'INTERDISCIPLINARY' curriculum which - in continuity with the interdisciplinary curriculum of the Bachelor's Degree - extends philosophical training to transversal and strategic disciplinary areas, looking at the world of culture and the arts, work and scientific and technological innovation.

The Master's Degree offers three international paths of excellence with a double degree:

- ITALIAN-GERMAN path, from the 2015/2016 academic year, with the Universität zu Köln (double degree) valid in both partner countries, with the possibility of accessing the world of research and the German job market.

- ITALIAN-FRENCH path, from the 2015/2016 academic year, with the Université Paris-Sorbonne; (double degree), valid in both partner countries, with the possibility of accessing the world of research and the French job market.

- PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION, starting from the academic year 2025-2026, the international path with the Pontifical Gregorian University (double degree) is activated, which allows the simultaneous obtaining of the Licentiate in Philosophy of the Pontifical Gregorian University.

In addition to offering the double master's degree, all international paths allow access to the rich book and documentary heritage of the partner university, with a view to strengthening philosophical studies and the internationalization of studies.

- Teaching also makes use of the research results brought by the collaboration of nine important research centers, engaged in topics that range across the entire history of philosophy up to the most recent scientific frontiers in the philosophical field: 1. Interuniversity Center for the History of the Aristotelian Tradition; 2. CERTA - Research Center on the Aristotelian Tradition in the 15th and 16th centuries; 3. CETEFIL-Interdepartmental Center for the Edition of Medieval and Renaissance Philosophical Texts; 4. Departmental Center for Studies on Descartes – Ettore Lojacono, 5. Interdepartmental Research Center on Arthur Schopenhauer and his School; 6. CHAP - Center of Hermeneutics and Applied Phenomenology; 7. CISU - Interuniversity Center for Utopian Studies; 8. DH Center - Interdepartmental Research Center in Digital Humanities; 9. SFI-Società Filosofia Italiana, Salento section.

- seminar, laboratory and internship activities in synergy with the steering committee and the social partners belonging to the world of work for the creation of highly qualified professional figures.

The training program includes the study of at least one European language.

Access to the Course is permitted to students in possession of a three-year degree or a master's degree or four-year degree who have obtained
at least:
- 24 credits in one or more of the following scientific-disciplinary sectors:
M-FIL/01, M-FIL/02, M-FIL/03, M-FIL/04, M-FIL/05, M-FIL/06, M-FIL/07, M-FIL/08, M-STO/05.
- 12 credits in one or more of the following scientific-disciplinary sectors:
M-STO/01, M-STO/02, M-STO/04; L-ANT/02, L-ANT/03;M-PED/01,M-PED/02,M-PSI/01,M-PSI/04,SPS/07, SPS/08.
Students who meet these requirements are admitted following an individual interview with the Teaching Commission, which will ascertain the adequacy of their preparation and their curriculum of studies, as well as their knowledge of the foreign language equivalent to level B1. These skills will be ascertained using methods that will be defined in the teaching regulations of the Course of Study.

The following requirements are required for access to the international courses:
ITALIAN-FRENCH COURSE: A maximum of 6 students per year are admitted to the joint course from both sides. The partner universities select, from among the holders of the Licence mention philosophie and the three-year Degree in Philosophy, a maximum of six candidates on the basis of a project and the results obtained. Students enrolled at the University of Salento are required to have the same knowledge of the French language as master's students at Paris-Sorbonne. Students enrolled at Paris-Sorbonne must also have a good knowledge of Italian. Verification of the possession of such linguistic knowledge is entrusted to a special commission, following an interview with the student who expresses the intention to enroll in the international program.

ITALIAN-GERMAN PROGRAM: Up to 10 students from the University of Salento and up to 10 students from the Universität zu Köln are admitted each year to the joint thesis program. Students who wish to take part in the program must meet the following conditions: 1) To access, students must have a first-level academic qualification that has as its object a significant part of the contents of the second-level study program for which they must enroll. This is a “Bachelor Examen” (BA) in Germany and a First Level Degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in Italy. 2) The final exam must have been passed in Germany with a minimum grade of “Good” (Grade 2.5), in Italy with a minimum grade of 105/110. 3) Candidates who have not obtained their degree in either Germany or Italy will be assessed individually by a special commission.
Students enrolled at the University of Salento must have a knowledge of the German language equivalent to level B1; students enrolled at the Universität zu Köln must also have a good knowledge of Italian.
Verification of the possession of such linguistic knowledge is entrusted to a special commission, following an interview with the student who expresses his/her intention to enroll in the international program.

The final exam for the Master's Degree consists of the discussion of a written dissertation, carried out under the guidance of a supervisor, which must be carried out in an original manner, in good Italian and with the aid of texts in the language, on a topic proposed by the candidate and agreed upon with the professor of the chosen discipline. The final paper must demonstrate a solid capacity for critical analysis (historical-critical, genetic, systematic) and autonomous elaboration. During the discussion, the members of the Commission may ask the candidate all questions aimed at ascertaining his philosophical preparation, even if not specifically pertaining to the proposed topics. The final exam also includes the verification of additional linguistic knowledge, necessary for the use of specific tools in the original language. In assigning the degree grade, the Commission takes into account the final paper, the progress of the discussion and the candidate's curriculum.

The thesis test of students enrolled in one of the two international courses (Italian-French or Italian-German) also includes the following: 1) study and research stay at the Université Paris-Sorbonne or the Universität zu Köln 2) writing of the thesis under the supervision of two professors, one Italian and the other French or German 3) writing of a long abstract, to be defined with foreign colleagues, in French or German depending on the course chosen.

No

Double Degree

Université Paris Sorbonne, Paris 4 (France) - Universitat Zu Koln (Germany) - Pontificia Università Gregoriana (Città del Vaticano)