Philosophy AA-T Degree

Philosophy, which can be called “the science of the Big Picture”, is the systematic study of concepts such as knowledge, truth, reality, logic and rationality, ethics and morality, justice, beauty, mind, and God. Philosophy is concerned with posing and answering questions as difficult and varied as, What is truth?, Could each person have her own truth?, What is the relation of formal logic to ordinary reasoning?, How should human beings live their lives?, How does our familiar human world of thoughts, sensations, and feelings fit into the larger world that is described by the natural sciences? Can there be human actions that are morally right (or wrong) independently of a society’s judgment?, Does beauty exist only in the eye of the beholder?, and finally, Does God exist?

Career paths chosen by students pursuing undergraduate studies in philosophy commonly include the foreign service, computer science, and creative writing. Careers in the discipline that generally require graduate-level degrees include college teaching, law, medicine, psychiatry, and social work.

The Associate in Arts in Philosophy for Transfer, also called the Philosophy AA-T Degree, prepares students to transfer to CSU campuses that offer bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy. Students earning the Philosophy AA-T Degree will be granted priority for admission as a Philosophy major to a local CSU, as determined by the CSU campus to which the student applies. This Philosophy AA-T degree requires students to meet both of the following requirements:

  1. Completion of 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:
    • The Intersegmental GE Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University GE-Breadth Requirements (CSU GE-B).
    • A minimum of 18 semester units in a major or area of emphasis. All courses in the major or area of emphasis must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
  2. Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

There are no additional graduation requirements. Students should consult with a counselor when planning to complete the degree for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.

Course Code Title Units
Required Core CoursesUnits
PHIL 006Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 007Ideas of the Great Philosophers3
PHIL 010General Logic3
PHIL 014Introduction to Ethics3
PHIL 017Philosophy of Religion3
List A
Select one course from the following (3 units):3
PHIL 012Religions of the World3
PHIL 013Perspectives on Death & Dying3
PHIL 018Philosophy of Science3
Required Subtotal18
Select one of the following: 137-39
Transferable Electives (as needed to reach 60 transferable units)
DEGREE TOTAL60
1

Units for the major may be double counted for CSU GE or IGETC, confer with Counselor.

2

Elective units to reach 60 unit total must be CSU transferable, confer with Counselor.

Please refer to Associate Degree for Transfer (SB 1440).