Associate in Arts (A.A.) in Philosophy

 

MISSION

1.         Statement of Program Goals and Objectives:

 

The Associate in Arts Degree in Philosophy is designed to develop the reasoning skills needed to understand and evaluate theories about society, persons, reality, knowledge, truth, values, etc. Upon successful completion, students will understand the major concepts and issues that have shaped philosophical traditions and be able to make decisions based on rigorous, logical standards. The degree curriculum and major provide a sound foundation for transfer students intending further upper-division study as preparation for the baccalaureate degree in Philosophy. This major provides a background for fields such as education, law, journalism, health, business, theology, public service, and other disciplines where analytical skills are required.

 

 

 

2.         Catalog Description

 

The Associate in Arts Degree in Philosophy is designed to develop the reasoning skills needed to understand and evaluate theories about society, persons, reality, knowledge, truth, values, etc. The purpose of which is to uncover the assumptions underlying our understanding of the world and to subject those assumptions to careful scrutiny using the tools of logic. Upon successful completion, students will understand the major concepts and issues that have shaped philosophical traditions and be able to make decisions based on rigorous, logical standards. Skills in thinking and problem solving, research, writing, criticism, and analysis are emphasized. This will include the ability to critically analyze the logical structure of arguments in contemporary social and moral issues and to assess the influential positions on theories of truth and the nature of reality. The precision of thought and expression that philosophy requires makes excellent preparation for a variety of careers. Those who do well in philosophy can expect to think more clearly and logically and to approach problems and issues more systematically. Graduate study is important in Philosophy. Those holding a Master’s or Doctoral Degree may find employment in education, law, journalism, health, business, theology, public service, and other disciplines where analytical skills are required. A limited number of students who earn graduate degrees in philosophy go on to become college philosophy professors. Those without a graduate degree will find limited career opportunities in direct areas of Philosophy. Courses that fulfill major requirements for an associate degree at Cypress College might not be the same as those required for completing the major at a transfer institution offering a baccalaureate degree. For information on specific university requirements, please consult with your counselor or visit the transfer center.

 

 

3.         Program Requirements

 

The Philosophy Major curriculum leads to the Associate in Arts Degree and provides a substantive general education program for students interested in pursuing careers in education, law, journalism, health, business, theology, public service, and other disciplines where analytical skills are required. This degree requires eighteen (18) units of which twelve (12) are required. Additionally, 6 units must be chosen from a list of Philosophy and related electives. The complete list of courses is as follows:

 

Required courses are listed in suggested sequence:

Course Prefix                         Number                  Title                                                                                        Units

Six (6) to Nine (9) units from the following Philosophy Required Content Courses

PHIL                                       100 C                      Introduction to Philosophy                                                                3

or

PHIL                                       100HC                    Honors Intro to Philosophy                                            (3)

PHIL                                       160 C                      Introduction to Ethics                                                         3

PHIL                                       201 C                      Early Philosophers                                                               3

PHIL                                       202 C                      Modern Philosophers                                                         3

Three (3) to Six (6) units from the following Philosophy Required Method Courses

PHIL                                       170 C                      Logic and Critical Thinking                                                3

PHIL                                       172 C                      Critical Thinking and Writing                                            3

PHIL                                       175 C                      Symbolic Logic                                                                     3

Three (3) units from the following Philosophy Elective Courses

PHIL                                       101 C                      Intro to Religious Studies                                                   3

PHIL                                       110 C                      Religions of the East                                                           3

PHIL                                       120 C                      Religions of the West                                                         3

PHIL                                       130 C                      Philosophy of Immortality                                                  3

PHIL                                       165 C                      Business & Professional Ethics                                        3

PHIL                                       176 C                      Philosophy of Science and Critical Thinking 3

PHIL                                       225 C                      Jesus and His Interpreters                                                  3

PHIL                                       230 C                      Philosophy of Religion                                                       3

PHIL                                       269 C                      Philosophy, Human Sexuality, and Religion                    3

Three (3) units from the following Elective Courses

ANTH                                    102 C                      Cultural Anthropology                                                       3

ART                                       100 C                      Introduction to Art                                                              3

ENGL                                      110 C                      Humanities and the Arts                                                     3

ENGL                                      111 C                      Humanities and the Arts                                                     3

MATH                                   30 C                        Plane Geometry                                                                    3

MATH                                   100 C                      Math for Liberal Arts                                                          3

MUS                                       116 C                      Music Appreciation                                                            3

PHYS                                      130 C                      Principles of Physics                                                           3

POSC                                      120 C                      Political Theory                                                                    3

POSC                                      215 C                      Comparative Politics                                                            3

PSY                                         101 C                      General Psychology                                                            3

PSY                                         101HC                    Honors General Psychology                                           (3)

PSY/SOC                               120 C                      Human Sexuality                                                                  3

PSY/SOC                               161 C                      Probability and Stats-Social Sci                                         4

PSY                                         221 C                      The Brain and Behavior                                                      3

SOC                                        101 C                      Introduction to Sociology                                                  3

SOC                                        101HC                    Honors Intro to Sociology                                              (3)

THEA                                     100 C                      Introduction to the Theater                                                                3

                                                                                                                                                                Total    18

Special Note: Students must take a minimum of twelve (12) units from the "Methods" and "Content" sections altogether. Elective courses cannot substitute for these core courses.

 

4.         Background and Rationale

 

The Philosophy program and curriculum have been foundational elements of the general education transfer programs at Cypress College as well as at other comparable public institutions. We do not expect the role of our program to change as a result of the creation of the Associate in Arts Philosophy Degree. The Philosophy and Religious Studies Department has long provided quality lower division education for students transferring to surrounding 4-year Colleges and Universities in various fields, majoring in Philosophy at the Upper Division level at the baccalaureate level, or fulfilling requirements for degrees and certificates in other various two-year programs. By means of the Philosophy major, it is argued that students wishing to major in the field will have an academic cohort with which to identify. In addition, prospective baccalaureate majors in other departments such as Political Science or History may desire to fulfill the requirements of this lower division Philosophy degree program in order to not only receive a record of the achievement on their transcript, but also to obtain a solid lower division background in Philosophy that will serve them well in more specific upper division disciplines. The degree will provide more specific and efficient identification of students as philosophy majors. Statistically this will help provide the college and department with useful data which should help serve the needs of future philosophy students.