If I did a BA in literature, can I do a Masters in Philosophy?

Question

Or do I have to do it in the exact same field?

Answer 1

Yes, you can change fields, but why?  

Literature majors usually have more opportunities that philosophy, unless you want to be a college instructor.

Libraries, for example will hire someone with a masters in literature, but not for philosophy.

Check with your school career center, and see what majors  the job head hunters are looking for most.

Answer 2

With respect, you can, if you have further time to waste.

Answer 3

You can always change fields when you move into a higher level degree program.  The catch is that you may have to take some undergraduate classes in the philosophy area which other students who majored in philosophy for their BA have already taken.  The best idea is to ask an expert, and that means a counselor, adviser, or someone in the admissions department of the school where you want to get the master's.  Take your transcript, to show what courses you have already completed, and ask what, if anything, additional you will need to complete beyond what is specified in the catalog.  If it turns out to be a lot of "make up work," then you might want to re-think a change of majors.

Answer 4

Literature to Philosophy is not a huge leap.  It won't be any problem at all.  (I went from a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography to a Master's Degree in urban planning.  That required a little more effort in the form of additional coursework and relevant work experience.)