I、Brief Introduction

Tongji University’s philosophy department was originally established in 1946, the first of the kind in Shanghai. It was incorporated into another university in 1949 and was re-established at Tongji University in the beginning of this century, when two master programs, in foreign philosophy and aesthetics, were set up in 2003 and the undergraduate program was resumed in 2004. It was permitted to set up the doctoral program in foreign philosophy (level 2 discipline) and the master program in philosophy (level 1 discipline) in 2005, its program in foreign philosophy (level 2 discipline) was established as a key discipline in Shanghai in 2007. Permission was granted for it to set up the doctoral program in philosophy (level 1 discipline) in 2011, and in the same year its program in philosophy was included in the plan for building up top disciplines in Shanghai.

With comprehensive and distinctive programs, Tongji University is an leading institute in China in the studies of ancient Chinese thought, classics, German philosophy, French philosophy, Christian philosophy, philosophy of psychology, philosophy of fine arts, cultural theory and cultural criticism, etc. Its body of staff is reasonably composed, consisting mainly of relatively young and middle-aged scholars with outstanding academic records. Of the four modules of its programs,Ke Xiaogang,Zeng Yi,Chen Hui,Chen Chang etc. are representative scholars of the module of Chinese philosophy (Chinese philosophy, classics); Sun Zhouxing,Liu Riming,Chen Lixin,Xu Weixiang,Han Chao,Xie Zhibin etc. those of the module of foreign philosophy (foreign philosophy, Western Marxism, religion studies); Wang Jing, Xu Xianjun,Hu Gengdan,Ju Fei etc. those of the module of contemporary philosophy (philosophy of science and technology, ethics, philosophy of psychology); and Zhao Qianfan,Yang Guan,Volker Heubel etc. those of the module of aesthetics (aesthetics, philosophy of culture), all of them recognized scholars in their field of research. There is also a stock of promising young and budding scholars, an indication of the vivid potentiality of the department.

The degree of master of philosophy is awarded upon the completion of the master program in philosophy.

II、Objectives

To cultivate high-level and innovative talents with all-round development in morality, intelligence, physique, art and labor to become social pillars and professional elites leading the future.

1.To have a firm and correct political orientation loving our socialist motherland and supporting the leadership of the Communist Party of China; to study Marxism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of “Three Represents,” the scientific outlook on development and Xi Jinping's socialist ideological system with Chinese characteristics in the new era; to dedicate oneself to serving the people and striving hard for the prosperity and strength of the motherland; to abide by the law and regulations; and to obtain good moral characters.

2.To lay a solid foundation in the basic theory and grasp a systematic professional knowledge; to obtain the ability to engage in scientific research or specialized technical work independently; to possess the basic ability to conduct academic research and academic communication in foreign languages; to develop a strong ability in cooperation, organization and leadership.

3. Students of this program should build up a solid foundation for philosophical study, form a systematic understanding of main areas of philosophy and a comprehensive understanding of their field of study, cultivate the capacity of carrying out independent and innovative research for a specific problem. In regard to language capacity, students should master at least one foreign language, be capable of academic research and international exchange. They should also learn to be a responsible citizen, and upon the completion of the program, be competent in teaching undergraduate students in relevant subjects, and be ready to use their knowledge and training to serve the party, the government, and the country, in areas of the public media, publication industry, cultural exchange or corporate management etc.

4.To be physically and mentally healthy.

III、Research Orientations

01 Chinese Philosophy (studies of ancient thoughts, modern Chinese philosophy)

02 Classics (studies of classical texts, studies of ancient poetics)

03 Foreign Philosophy (German philosophy, French philosophy, Renaissance studies)

04 Marxist Philosophy (Reflections on Modernity and New Forms of Civilization)

05 Political Philosophy (European Marxism)

06 Religious Studies (European Christian philosophy, studies of Christian culture in Chinese-speaking world)

07 Philosophy of Science and Technology (analytic philosophy, artificial intelligence and future society, philosophy of technology and science of mind)

08 Ethics (Theoretical Ethics, Applied Ethics)

09 Aesthetics (Modern Western Aesthetics, Philosophy of Art)

IV、Program Duration

The duration of schooling is 2.5 years with a maximum of no more than 4 years.

V、Credit

Academic graduate students should complete at least 31 credits, including 6 credits for public degree courses, 12 credits for professional degree courses, 8 credits for non-degree courses (including at least 1 inter-college or interdisciplinary course with 2 credits), and 5 credits for compulsory courses.

VI、Dissertation

Graduate students should complete their theses independently under the supervision of their tutors. The thesis should demonstrate that the graduate students have fully met the requirements stipulated in the "training objective". In principle, theses should be written in Chinese, but overseas students may write theses in English or other languages approved in advance by the Degree Evaluation Subcommittee and Graduate School, but they must attach to their theses detailed Chinese abstracts.

1. Thesis Topic Selection: The discussion of the master theses topic selection should be organized by each discipline according to the time required by the university, usually no later than the third semester. Students who fail to pass the first report may re-select the topic after 3 months. If the student fails to pass gain, this will be regarded as an automatic termination of study and the student will be dropped out. In the course of the research, if there are significant changes in the thesis topic , the topic selection meeting shall be reorganized.

2. Mid-term assessment: The mid-term assessment of the master graduate students should be organized by each discipline according to the time required by the university. The mid-term assessment of master graduate students with a 2.5-year schooling system should be completed no later than the third semester after admission; the mid-term assessment of master graduate students with a 3-year schooling system should be completed no later than the fourth semester. Students who fail to pass the mid-term assessment for the first time may be reexamined six months later. Students who fail to pass the re-examination again shall be dismissed from school.

3. Blind trial: it should be conducted in accordance with the relevant provisions of the university and its colleges.

4. Review and oral defense: For the review, organization, approval and process of the thesis, as well as the provision of advanced and deferred oral defense, please refer to the Regulations on the Training of Academic Master Graduate Students of Tongji University

5. Confidential theses: Confidential management of secret-related thesis and applications for the academic degrees shall be carried out in accordance with the Regulations on the Management of Confidential Graduate Students and Confidential Thesis of Tongji University (No. 65, Tongji Graduate School, 2018).

VII、Research Papers

The Master's Degree students of the School of Humanities are not required to publish academic achievements, but are encouraged to contribute to regular journals, graduate academic journals and forums established by universities.

VIII、Dismissal Policy

1.If students fail to pass more than three (including three) courses during the period of study, they shall be dismissed from school.

2.Students who fail to pass the topic selection or the mid-term assessment twice shall be regarded as automatically terminating their studies and shall be dismissed from school.

3.Students who fail to pass the mid-term assessment within schooling shall be dismissed from school.

IX、Remark

1. Course study is normally undertaken in the first 1-1.5 academic years of the program. All compulsory courses, including Tongji University Advanced Lectures for Graduate Students, must be completed before the mid-term review.

2. There should be at least a 2-month interval between the topic selection and the mid-term assessment and a 6-month interval between the mid-term assessment and the thesis defense.

3. Tongji Advanced Lectures is high-level academic lectures organized by the Graduate School and colleges. Graduate students should attend no less than 16 academic lectures listed in the management of Tongji Advanced Lectures before the mid-term assessment, and put their reflection into the management information system for graduate students.

4.The credites requirements for the degree courses as follows.

This discipline includes four training and teaching modules:

(1) Chinese Philosophy Module (01 Chinese Philosophy, 02 Chinese Classics);

(2) Foreign Philosophy Modules (03 Foreign Philosophy, 04 Marxist Philosophy, 05 Political Philosophy, 06 Religious Studies);

(3) Contemporary philosophy module (07 Philosophy of Science and Technology, 08 Ethics);

(4) Aesthetics module (09 Ethics)

Chinese philosophy module students must take as an elective at least one degree course of other modules; foreign philosophy module, contemporary philosophy module, and aesthetics module students must take as an elective at least one Chinese philosophy module degree course.

X、Curriculum