Philosophy
Program Description
Philosophy is the oldest academic subject in the world and its concerns have given rise to nearly all other specialized academic disciplines. The primary motivation of philosophy is the same as the underlying motivation of all academic thought: the desire for knowledge and understanding. Philosophy is an attempt to understand our reality, our attempts at knowledge, our quest for good and meaningful lives, and, most ambitiously, our construction of a society that might make these good lives possible.
Course work in philosophy will explore the major areas of the discipline. Logic and critical thinking courses will explore the methodology of philosophic discourse and academic discourse in general. The other core courses will explore the epistemological, metaphysical, ethical, and political dimensions of philosophy. The philosophy program also offers courses exploring the history of philosophy from its beginnings in the ancient world through contemporary philosophy. The program also offers a collection of courses which explore the philosophic concerns manifested in the world's religions. If you have a curious mind and seek understanding, then philosophy may be the major for you.
Learn more about the program on the Philosophy website.
Associate Degree for Transfer
This program also offers an Associate Degree for Transfer. Learn more and review the degree requirements on the Philosophy AA-T listing.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to critically analyze and evaluate arguments regarding issues of metaphysics and epistemology.
- Students will be able to critically analyze and evaluate arguments regarding issues of ethics and political philosophy.
Career Opportunities
Philosophy graduates find careers in law, business, government, counseling, teaching, writing, computer systems analysis, and other areas involving analytic skills.
Award Type(s)
- AA = Associate in Arts Degree
Units Required
- Major: 34
Additional Information
Note: Students having difficulty attaining an associate degree because of timing or availability of classes should consult with a counselor to submit a petition for course substitution.
Associate Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| English Proficiency | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| ENGL 1A | COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ENGL 1AH | HONORS COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ESLL 26 | ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| or equivalent | ||
| Ethnic Studies | ||
| Any course in the ETHN (Ethnic Studies) subject code, currently approved for Area F of CSU GE and Area 7 of IGETC | ||
| Mathematics Proficiency | ||
| College-level math course at or above the level of Intermediate Algebra | ||
A minimum of 90 units is required1 to include:
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns: Foothill General Education, CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
- Core courses (14 units)
- Support courses (20 units)
- 1
Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree.
Core and Support Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| PHIL 4 | INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY | 4 |
| PHIL 8 | ETHICS | 5 |
| PHIL 1 | CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING | 5 |
| or PHIL 7 | INTRODUCTION TO SYMBOLIC LOGIC | |
| Support Courses | ||
| Select 12 units from the following: | 12 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF ART & AESTHETICS | ||
| HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY FROM SOCRATES THROUGH ST. THOMAS | ||
| HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY FROM THE RENAISSANCE THROUGH KANT | ||
| COMPARATIVE WORLD RELIGIONS: EAST | ||
| COMPARATIVE WORLD RELIGIONS: WEST | ||
| And eight units from the following: 1 | 8 | |
| CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
or ANTH 2AH | HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | |
| HISTORY OF ART: HISTORY OF WESTERN ART FROM PREHISTORY THROUGH EARLY CHRISTIANITY | ||
or ART 2AH | HONORS HISTORY OF ART: HISTORY OF WESTERN ART FROM PREHISTORY THROUGH EARLY CHRISTIANITY | |
| HISTORY OF WESTERN ART FROM THE MIDDLE AGES TO THE RENAISSANCE | ||
or ART 2BH | HONORS HISTORY OF WESTERN ART FROM THE MIDDLE AGES TO THE RENAISSANCE | |
| HISTORY OF WESTERN ART FROM THE BAROQUE TO CONTEMPORARY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN ART | ||
| BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL ETHICS | ||
| HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION TO 800 CE | ||
| HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION: 700-1800 | ||
| HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION 1789-PRESENT | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE EASTERN CIVILIZATION | ||
| CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE ANCIENT WORLD | ||
or HUMN 1H | HONORS CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE ANCIENT WORLD | |
| CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: OF EMPIRES & CONFLICT | ||
| CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE MODERN WORLD | ||
or HUMN 5H | HONORS CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE MODERN WORLD | |
| THE SHOCK OF THE NEW: FROM THE MODERN TO THE CONTEMPORARY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY/POLITICAL THEORY | ||
or POLI 3H | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY/POLITICAL THEORY | |
| INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | ||
or POLI 9H | HONORS INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | |
| GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
or PSYC 1H | HONORS GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | |
| INTRODUCTION TO BIOPSYCHOLOGY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | ||
or SOC 1H | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | |
| Total Units | 34 | |
- 1
Students may also use additional philosophy courses from the first section of support courses to fulfill the requirement for the second section of support courses.