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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Philosophy
Major: 8135
Effective Term: 2020 Fall   
Award Type: AA

CIP Code: 38.0101
Program Availability: CG   EM   GC   GW   MC   PC   PV   RS   SC   SM  
Instructional Council: Philosophy (80)

Total Credits: 60-64
GPA: 2.0
SOC Code: Upon completion of a bachelor`s degree, students may pursue a career as:
23-2011.00 Paralegals and Legal Assistants
11-1031.00 Legislators
11-1011.03 Chief Sustainability Officers
13-1041.01 Environmental Compliance Inspectors
11-9199.02 Compliance Managers
27-3022.00 Reporters and Correspondents
27-3043.00 Writers and Authors
15-1211.00 Computer Systems Analysts
11?-1021.00 General and Operations Managers

Upon completion of a graduate degree, students may pursue a career as:
23-1021.00 Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
25-1126.00 Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
23-1011.00 Lawyers
23-1022.00 Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
23-1023.00 Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates


Description: The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Philosophy provides focused training in critical thinking, critical reading, writing, reasoning, communication, and civic dialogue, all while developing an understanding of diverse world views. Students gain proficiency in foundational skills for future studies and work in Law, Social Sciences, the Humanities, and Public Policy. This degree prepares students for their bachelor degree transfer pathway and equips them with analytical skills highly valued by employers.

Program Learning Outcomes
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the major questions, central methods, issues, figures, and arguments in the core areas of philosophy and its history. (PHI101, HIS100, HIS101, HIS102, HIS103, HIS104, HIS110, HIS111, PHI103, PHI105, PHI113, PHI201, PSY101, REL100, [HU], [SB])
2. Critically examine the major questions, central methods, issues, figures, and
arguments in the core areas of philosophy and its history. (PHI101, HIS100, HIS101, HIS102, HIS103, HIS104, HIS110, HIS111, PHI103, PHI105, PHI113, PHI201, PSY101, REL100, [HU], [SB])
3. Employ the tools of formal (deductive) and informal (inductive) logic to identify, construct, analyze, evaluate, and respond to arguments. (PHI101, ECN211, ECN212, MAT206, PHI103, PHI105, PHI113, PHI201, PSY101, [MA], [SG], [SQ])
4. Critically evaluate questions of value (e.g., ethics, morality, aesthetics, religion, rationality) with clarity, balance, open-mindedness, and rational rigor. (PHI101, COM263, ECN211, ECN212, HIS100, HIS101, HIS102, HIS103, HIS104, HIS110, HIS111, PHI103, PHI105, PHI201, POS285, PSY101, REL100, [HU], [SB])
5. Compare and contrast texts and philosophical traditions. (PHI101, HIS101, HIS102, HIS103, HIS104, HIS110, HIS111, PHI105, PHI113, PHI201, REL100, REL211, REL271, (CRE), [FYC], [HU])
6. Apply philosophical concepts and theories to everyday life problems and other disciplines. (PHI101, HIS100, HIS101, HIS102, HIS103, HIS104, HIS110, HIS111, PHI103, PHI105, PHI113, PHI201, PSY101, REL100, (COM), (CRE), [CS], [FYC], [HU], [MA], [SB], [SG], [SQ])
7. Interpret texts incisively using philosophical methods. (PHI101, HIS102, HIS103, HIS104, HIS110, HIS111, PHI105, PHI113, PHI201, REL100, REL211, REL271, (CRE), [FYC], [HU])
8. Clearly articulate ideas and arguments in writing and speech. (PHI101, COM263, HIS103, HIS104, HIS110, HIS111, PHI105, PHI113, PHI201, REL100, REL211, REL271, (COM), (CRE), [FYC], [HU])
9. Engage in self-reflection to examine deeply-held assumptions and to achieve greater self-understanding. (PHI101, COM263, ECN211, ECN212, HIS101, HIS102, HIS103, HIS104, HIS110, HIS111, PHI103, PHI105, PHI113, PHI201, REL100, REL211, REL271, [HU], [SB])
10. Exhibit openness to alternative conceptual frameworks. (PHI101, ECN211, ECN212, HIS110, HIS111, MAT206, PHI103, PHI105, PHI113, PHI201, PSY101, REL100, REL211, REL271)
Required Courses
PHI101 Introduction to Philosophy 3
Credits: 3

+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: November 26, 2019

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.