SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Design the project of your dreams in Penn’s Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts
The Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts (MPhil) at the University of Pennsylvania is an advanced interdisciplinary graduate degree that invites you to explore your intellectual interests across disciplines—and to combine methods and concepts across fields to develop a distinct, original approach toward the intellectual questions that motivate you. Ideal for students and professionals who have already completed a master’s degree, the MPhil degree requires five courses and an independent study that forms the basis of your final research paper or creative project.
Meet four students who took distinct approaches to select courses from dozens of academic subjects across the University—and learn how they brought their intellectual passion projects to life.
Rebekah Martindale, MPhil ‘22
The specialist
Nothing piqued Rebekah’s intellectual curiosity like medieval literature—but as a parent and a working professional, she wanted to test the waters before committing to a PhD. “This was a great opportunity for me to dip my toe back in the water, work at my own pace, and figure out where I wanted to go without any pressure,” she explains. “I’m in the same courses I would be taking if I were in a PhD program, with the same professors, getting the same education.” Rebekah chose courses in literary theory, women’s literature, and illuminated manuscripts (using material texts in Penn Libraries and other local collections) that rounded out her previous studies. Her MPhil thesis focuses on the work of Marie de France, a poet and translator in 12th-century England who wrote secular plays exploring issues like marriage, culture, and gender.
Daniel E. Murray, MPhil ‘19
The advocate
Daniel’s research topic is as sensitive as it is compelling: physician-assisted suicide (PAS), considered by some to be a vital policy to preserve patient autonomy, is still only legal in ten states. Prior to tackling doctoral studies or hands-on advocacy in this field, Daniel took courses in philosophy and public policy to deepen his understanding of the ethical and legal ramifications of pro-PAS legislation, as well as an essential course in research writing. “The level of writing in a PhD program is so much more advanced and so much more creative than what most students are prepared to do,” he notes. “Now I know that I can produce publication-ready work.” His paper, “Physician-Assisted Suicide as an End-of-Life Care Option for Terminally Ill Patients Nationally,” contains the level of evidentiary support that would be needed to effect legislative change.
Faris Zwirahn, MPhil ‘22
The global citizen
As a scholar of Near and Middle Eastern Studies, a professor of Arabic classes, and a world traveler, Faris tends to take a global perspective on pressing global issues—such as the worldwide disparities in access to COVID-19 vaccines. To take a closer look at the issue, he took courses in moral philosophy and global justice as well as political science and law, which not only deepened his understanding of international relations but exposed him to the many approaches different disciplines might take to the same research query. “Philosophy is the mother of all sciences. It’s the oldest method of thinking about everything around us,” says Faris, “but I got to see how someone who was trained technically in law would look at the Constitution.” His thesis applies moral and political frameworks to assess global vaccine distribution.
Denise Dahlhoff, MPhil ‘10
The explorer
Post-PhD, Denise wanted to pursue academic subjects that weren’t necessarily related to her doctorate in marketing and consumer research. As an MPhil student, she studied ethnography, urban culture, digital media’s social impact, and social psychology. “I took a variety of courses that initially didn’t seem to have a connection—but they actually did, in the end,” she reflects. Denise’s self-guided curriculum ultimately led to a complex, intimate portrait of a city: her thesis project combined ethnographies of Philadelphia parks, coffee shops, and historic attractions to observe how these urban spaces do or do not foster a sense of community—and how digital media can impact social relationships in both positive and negative ways.
What can you do with a Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts?
The real question is: what do you want to do? In the MPhil, you set the curriculum and choose your courses on a full- or part-time basis; you design the project of your dreams and draw from world-class resources to ensure that you are bringing the best of available skills and knowledge to your work. Contact our program director, Dr. Christopher Pastore, to schedule an appointment to review your current research and explore your options for pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts at Penn.
(215) 898-7326
lps@sas.upenn.edu
www.upenn.edu/mla-mphil
