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

A minimum of 90 units is required¹ to complete the associate degree, including:

• Core and support courses for the major (34 units total)
• Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
  • Foothill College General Education
  • Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth)²
  • Summer Session 2025 only–Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)²
  • Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)³

¹

Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.

²

Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information.

³

Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.

Note: A grade of "C" (or "P") or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Refer to the Associate in Arts & Associate in Science Degree Requirements page for complete information about graduation requirements and catalog rights.

Core and Support Courses

Course List

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
PHIL 2	INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 11	INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF ART & AESTHETICS
PHIL 15	ETHICS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
or HUMN 15	ETHICS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
PHIL 20A	HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY FROM SOCRATES THROUGH ST. THOMAS
PHIL 20B	HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY FROM THE RENAISSANCE THROUGH KANT
PHIL 24	COMPARATIVE WORLD RELIGIONS: EAST
PHIL 25	COMPARATIVE WORLD RELIGIONS: WEST
And eight units from the following: 1		8
ANTH 2A	CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
or ANTH 2AH	HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ART 2A	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
ART 2B	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
ART 2C	HISTORY OF WESTERN ART FROM THE BAROQUE TO IMPRESSIONISM
ART 2F	INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN ART
BUSI 70	BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
HIST 4A	HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION TO 800 CE
HIST 4B	HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION: 700-1800
HIST 4C	HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION 1789-PRESENT
HIST 18	INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE EASTERN CIVILIZATION
HUMN 1	CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE ANCIENT WORLD
or HUMN 1H	HONORS CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE ANCIENT WORLD
HUMN 2	CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: OF EMPIRES & CONFLICT
or HUMN 2H	HONORS CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: OF EMPIRES & CONFLICT
HUMN 5	CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE MODERN WORLD
or HUMN 5H	HONORS CULTURES, CIVILIZATIONS & IDEAS: THE MODERN WORLD
HUMN 6	THE SHOCK OF THE NEW: FROM THE MODERN TO THE CONTEMPORARY
or HUMN 6H	HONORS THE SHOCK OF THE NEW: FROM THE MODERN TO THE CONTEMPORARY
POLI 3	INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY/POLITICAL THEORY
or POLI 3H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY/POLITICAL THEORY
POLI 9	INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
or POLI 9H	HONORS INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
PSYC 1	GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
or PSYC 1H	HONORS GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 4	INTRODUCTION TO BIOPSYCHOLOGY
SOC 1	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.