The College of Arts and Sciences

Retention and Completion Data for PhD and MA Programs

PhD

Here we provide information concerning students who have entered our PhD program since 2001.  Keep in mind that there are many different reasons for leaving a graduate program without a degree (transferring to another PhD program, poor academic performance, non-academic personal reasons, etc.) and many reasons for delaying completion after reaching the ABD stage (need to perfect language skills for research, need to work, health problems, family growth, etc.).  So these reports group cases together that are often very different.  But they may be useful for a general overview. (Scroll down for MA program.) Please email corrections or updates to Lisa Farnsworth (lfarnswo@syr.edu). Last updated 8/24/12.

MA

Students enter our MA program for many different reasons.  Some want an additional degree as an adjunct to other studies; some want to extend their liberal arts education; some are exploring the possibility of continuing in philosophy; some have definite plans to continue in philosophy; etc..  So the data here probably do not indicate very much, since they lump together people whose reasons for entering the program are very different.

In total, 16 students (9 men, 7 women) entered our MA program between 2000-2011. Eight (six men, two women) completed the program; at least five of those have been admitted to PhD programs. Six (two men, four women) left the program without finishing.  Two (one man, one woman) remain in the program.

2000: One man entered the program.  He completed his degree.

2003: Two women entered the program.  They both left the program without finishing.

2004: One woman entered the program and subsequently left the program (transferring to another MA program at S.U.).

2005: One woman entered the program and finished her degree.  She was admitted to a philosophy Ph.D. program at the University of Cincinnati.

2006: One man entered the program.  He completed his degree, defending on 4/23/10.

2007: Two men, one woman entered the program.  One man in Philosophy/Law joint program.  One man and one woman completed their MA degrees.  One man was admitted into our Ph.D. program. One man is still in the MA program.

2008: Two men entered the program.  Both were accepted into other Ph.D. programs.  Both completed MA degrees, one defending at the end of 2010 and one defending at the end of 2011.

2009: One man entered the joint MA/Law program.  He completed his degrees, defending his MA thesis on 6/14/11.

2010: Two women and two men entered the program.  Two men and one woman left the program without finishing their degrees.  One woman is still in the program, and she has been accepted to our Ph.D. program and others.