Philosophy

AA-T Degree A0424

Transfer Degree OptionBachelor’s Degree:Philosophy

Humanities and Social Science Division
Degree A0424
Philosophy studies basic issues in ethics, social philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, and contemporary philosophies of life. Special consideration is given to an understanding of sound thinking and constructing well thought out arguments.

The degree program requires students to develop a foundational knowledge necessary to pursue post-secondary degrees in philosophy and a variety of specializations in the field. Moreover, the program fosters critical thinking and critically analysis of philosophical arguments. The degree provides students with a core curriculum that instills the knowledge, skills, and practices of philosophical content, theory and methodology. The Associate in Arts in Philosophy for Transfer degree is designed to assist students in seamlessly transferring to a CSU major in Philosophy.
To earn an Associate in Arts in Philosophy for Transfer degree, a student must complete 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to the CSU system that consist of the IGETC pattern or CSU GE breadth and a major of at least 18 units. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework to receive an associate degree for transfer and all courses in the major must be completed with a C or better. Students earning an associate degree for transfer will not be required to complete any other local graduation requirement.

Required Courses

- What Do I Need To Know About This Major?
  
  Philosophy focuses on basic issues in ethics, social philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology and contemporary philosophies of life. Students will learn to consider sensitive issues through the lens of how to think through them – it's not about a specific opinion, but about providing students with the steps and skills they need to come to their own reasonable and logical conclusions. This degree program provides students with courses that instill the knowledge, skills and practices of philosophical content, theory and methodology.
- What Kind of Job Can I Get With This Major?
  The following websites will provide information on typical areas, type of employers that hire in this field, salary information and projected job trends
- How Do I Know This Major Is For Me?
  Philosophy is the love of wisdom and the pursuit of truth. This degree program fosters critical thinking and critical analysis of philosophical arguments – it gives students a set of tools to understand and navigate themselves through the world. In studying the great ideas and thinkers of history, the student’s mind is stretched and nourished, able to think more clearly and to see problems in a new light. Famed philosopher Aristotle has an understanding that people are born acorns but they can grow into beautiful, magnificent oak trees through philosophy – it helps build better things, better individuals, better citizens and better workers. Philosophy is valuable in its own right, but it also helps provide a foundation for careers in teaching, 8legal studies, professional writing and journalism.
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  - Talk with a Professor
  - Take a Career & Life Planning Course (COUN 5)
- What Courses Should I Take For This Major?

Student Voices

Listen to our podcast featuring fascinating conversations between students, alumni and professors on real-world applications of this major..

Having studied philosophy has been so helpful. In times like these, there’s so much polarization and so many willing to offer to us how we should think and live out certain things. Studying ethics, I knew how I felt about the topics we went over – but I had to really confront myself and say, ‘Wow, this is the way I thought I felt, but now I have all the facts from both sides in front of me.

- Tyler Cardenas, former philosophy student

What I love about philosophy is that it provides structure for all of us to make better decisions. Once students have the tools in their toolkit for how to be able to create sound arguments, they can make much better decisions for themselves and also for the greater world. That, to me, is an incredible gift – I have the opportunity to share that experience with students and help them gather those tools.

- Dr. Lori Walker, professor

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Educational Preparation Resources

On/Off-Campus Resources