Space Philosophy & Theory

• A Bachelor’s Degree from a college or university accredited by the appropriate regional association with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent work experience in professional academic and/or government or private industry positions and achievements. Each applicant’s specific experience will be evaluated by the KSI Admissions Committee.
• Official transcripts from all previous universities or colleges attended or proof of work equivalent
• Three completed recommendation letters, Completion of application, and Application fee

• A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) revised General Test score or a Miller’s Analogy Test(MAT) score at or above the 50th percentile. The GRE or MAT requirement will be waived if an applicant has completed a Master’s degree or twelve or more credits of post- baccalaureate upper division or graduate coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Additionally, all international applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and submit a combined score of 550 or better (new scoring of 213 or better) or the Internet based test scoring of 80 or better. International transcripts are required to be translated if the grading and evaluation system used differs from those used by the United States education system. Official translation and a course- by-course evaluation from all prior institutions and grade-point average computation must be provided to the Office of Admissions. Please use one of the following services for evaluation.

Application Fee (one-time, nonrefundable) $150 Library Fee (each semester) $150

Applicants to Kepler have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities. View financial support opportunities.

Students enrolled in this Graduate Certificate program will study and explore such questions as: What should be the philosophical foundation for the future of humans in space? What beliefs and values will drive humans in space settlements? What are the possible futures for humankind if it remains on Cradle Earth and the implications of human settlement beyond? Students will be exposed to historical perspectives of philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology, as well as other topics central to understanding humankind’s journey to living and working in space.

To successfully complete the program and earn the Graduate Certificate, students must fulfill all credit hour requirements, maintain a minimum GPA (as specified by the program) and meet any additional criteria set by the university or department.

Choose any three of the courses listed below and one three-credit elective from any graduate program. 

This course is an introduction to space philosophy through the study of the most important and influential writings in its history.  Study of the major figures and movements in philosophy will range from the ancient to modern philosophy, including methods, positions, and themes of humanity’s fascination with space exploration and development, and traces their transition to space settlement. 

This course examines fundamental questions of moral philosophy, the nature of judgements about moral and/or non-moral values, and the justification of institutions in societies.  Questions that arise in this course include What are our basic values?, What are the ethical principles?, and How should we judge our actions, ourselves, and our lives aboard a space settlement?  The topics discussed to help answer these questions and others like them include moral and political rights, democratic theory, political obligation and liberty, virtues and vices, equality, marriage and family, responsibilities, criteria of a just society, human rights and civil disobedience, ethical obligations, and public policy.

This course examines the change that drives the scientific, technological, environmental, economic, political, and societal domains that lead to transforming every aspect of daily life. Students learn to anticipate, create, and manage change to enable new opportunities and provide a chance to influence the future to come.  Topics shall include future trends, forecasting and modelling/simulation, emerging technology analysis, learning curves, roadmaps and roadmapping methodologies, systems thinking, and scenario planning and development. 

This course offers discussions concerning the nature of human beings.  Students shall examine how humans adapt, learn and develop over a lifespan through empirical, theoretical and philosophical investigations.  Topics may include techniques of sentential and predicate logic, a formal study of systems of reasoning, set theory, modal logic, theory of knowledge, space and time, causation, death and dying, the relationship between the mind and the brain, and various philosophical and psychological approaches to language and meaning.