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Philosophy Pathway
This pathway assumes:
- You will be a full-time student.
- You will start in the fall.
- You are ready to take 100- and 200-level classes.
If not, you can still complete the pathway! You will just need to make adjustments. Talk with your advisor to customize your plan.
PHILOSOPHY, ASSOCIATE IN ARTS & SCIENCES (AAS/DTA) (90 CREDITS)
Follow this recommended pathway to earn the AAS/DTA degree and prepare for a university major in philosophy. Or you can customize your plan even more. Talk with your advisor about adapting it for your individual goals.
Scroll to the end for course suggestions.
Quarter 1
EDPL 100 College Success (2 credits)
| Description | Designed for students new to the college environment. Introduction to college services; study skills and time management; educational planning and career exploration; and skills necessary to become a successful student. Lectures, small group discussion, and experiential exercises. (UE) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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PHIL& 101 Introduction to Philosophy (5 credits)
| Description | This course is an introduction to the problems, history, and nature of philosophy, with a focus on traditional Western philosophical issues. Students will be exposed to the major areas of philosophy, with emphasis given to theories of knowledge and reality. Possible topics include: the nature and possibility of knowledge, free will and responsibility, the existence of God, personal identity, and the meaning of life. (Hg) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)
| Description | This course helps students become more effective writers in academic and professional settings. Students learn to enter ongoing academic conversations, analyze and use secondary sources to formulate, develop, revise, and communicate ideas in writing, and shape their message to different purposes, audiences, and media. (CC) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of ENGL 95 or placement in ENGL& 101. |
| Course Attributes |
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ELECTIVE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
or MATH 97, MATH 98 or MATH 99 (5 credits)
or MATH 97, MATH 98 or MATH 99 (5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 12-17
Course note: EDPL 100 is optional, but it can be very helpful if you don't have much college experience. Take it with two or three of the other courses.
Course note: MATH 99 is required before you can take PHIL& 117 in Quarter 3. If your math placement is higher than MATH 99, choose an elective this quarter.
Career exploration: Find your people! Attend area-of-study activities and connect with clubs that relate to your career goals.
Action item: Meet with your advisor to build your degree plan.
Action item: Have your transfer-in credits officially evaluated.
Quarter 2
PHIL 130 Introduction to Ethics (5 credits)
| Description | An ethical examination of contemporary controversial issues such as the nature of liberty, the death penalty, capitalism and communism, abortion, animal rights and environmental ethics. (H) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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CMST& 101 Introduction to Communication (5 credits)
| Description | Fundamental course in communication theory. Students will apply knowledge in variety of settings including interpersonal, public speaking, and small group communication. Recommended preparation: placement in ENGL& 101. (OC) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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or CMST& 220 Public Speaking (5 credits )
| Description | Introduction to communication theory and public speaking emphasizing organization, audience analysis, oral styles, and use of visual aids. Includes presentation of various types of public speeches and analyses of contemporary speeches. Recommended preparation: placement in ENGL& 101. (OC) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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or CMST& 230 Small Group Communication (5 credits )
| Description | Introduces students to the theory and practice of small group communication. Course covers interpersonal relationships in groups, leadership, decision-making, problem solving, and presentations speaking in a variety of settings. Recommended preparation: placement in ENGL& 101. (OC) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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ENGL 201 Advanced Composition (5 credits)
| Description | This course helps students become more effective communicators through the production of various forms and mediums of writing. Students develop effective rhetorical strategies through analysis of texts and contexts, as well as engaging in independent research as part of meaningful and ethical scholarship. (CC) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of ENGL& 101 with a minimum grade of C-. |
| Course Attributes |
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or ENGL 202 Writing About Literature (5 credits )
| Description | This course helps students develop skills in reading and writing about literature. Students analyze literature based on elements of genres, including fiction, poetry, and/or drama, and develop essays using strategies of literary analysis. (CC) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of ENGL& 101 with a minimum grade of C-. |
| Course Attributes |
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or ENGL& 230 Technical Writing (3 credits )
| Description | This course helps students develop effective methods of research, organization and presentation of findings typical of professional, technical, and scientific writing. Students develop problem-solving and researching skills, including data collection, the critical analysis of sources, documentation, and document design. (CC) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of ENGL& 101 with a minimum grade of C-. |
| Course Attributes |
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or ENGL& 235 Technical Writing (5 credits )
| Description | This course helps students develop effective methods of research, organization and presentation of findings typical of professional, technical, and scientific writing. Students develop problem-solving and researching skills, including data collection, the critical analysis of sources, documentation, and document design. (CC) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of ENGL& 101 with a minimum grade of C-. |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 12-15
Career exploration: Compare the different philosophy majors and combined majors at universities you're interested in.
Quarter 3
PHIL& 117 Traditional Logic (5 credits)
| Description | Investigation of systems of formal logic with emphasis on symbolic reasoning. (QSR) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of MATH 99 with minimum grade of C. |
| Course Attributes |
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BIOL& 100 Survey of Biology (5 credits)
| Description | Fundamental concepts of biology including biodiversity, process and application of science, intersections of science and society, ecological principles, and genetics. For non-science majors. Lab work included. (MSwl) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Placement in ENGL& 101 |
| Course Attributes |
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or another LAB SCIENCE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
SOCIAL SCIENCE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15
Career exploration: Look for a summer job or internship related to your career goals.
Action item: Check the GPA and other entry requirements for your future major. Are you on track?
Summer
If you chose 12 credits in Quarter 1, or 13 credits in Quarter 2, this might be a good time to catch up.
Quarter 4
PHIL 132 Environmental Ethics (5 credits)
| Description | How humanity conceives of its environment is central to an understanding of how humans should act and think of themselves as part of planet Earth. Topics to be covered include: the fundamentals of ethical reasoning, the moral status of non-human animals, land use dilemmas, and anthropocentrism and ecocentrism in the context of current environmental problems. (Hdgs) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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or PHIL 200 Philosophy of Religion (5 credits )
| Description | Philosophy of religion is the branch of philosophy concerned with thenature and existence of God. This course will provide a critical examination of traditional and contemporary arguments for theism (especially classical Western theism), atheism, and agnosticism, as well as questions related to religious belief and inclusivity, the afterlife, and prayer. (H) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Placement in ENGL& 101 |
| Course Attributes |
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or PHIL& 115 Critical Thinking (5 credits )
| Description | Critical thinking ability is highly valued among employers. This course introduces you to sound reasoning principles used in daily life. Covers informal, non-symbolic introduction to logic with emphasis on real-life examples. Students learn how to critically evaluate their own reasoning and how to construct arguments. (H) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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SCIENCE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
SOCIAL SCIENCE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15
Action item: Meet with the Learning Contracts coordinator about independent study with a faculty mentor. You can take a WCC course that's not in the schedule or design a course around your own topic.
Action item: Meet with your advisor about applying to universities. Start your transfer applications.
Action item: Apply for next year's financial aid.
Quarter 5
PHIL 132 Environmental Ethics (5 credits)
| Description | How humanity conceives of its environment is central to an understanding of how humans should act and think of themselves as part of planet Earth. Topics to be covered include: the fundamentals of ethical reasoning, the moral status of non-human animals, land use dilemmas, and anthropocentrism and ecocentrism in the context of current environmental problems. (Hdgs) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
|
or PHIL 200 Philosophy of Religion (5 credits )
| Description | Philosophy of religion is the branch of philosophy concerned with thenature and existence of God. This course will provide a critical examination of traditional and contemporary arguments for theism (especially classical Western theism), atheism, and agnosticism, as well as questions related to religious belief and inclusivity, the afterlife, and prayer. (H) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Placement in ENGL& 101 |
| Course Attributes |
|
or PHIL& 115 Critical Thinking (5 credits )
| Description | Critical thinking ability is highly valued among employers. This course introduces you to sound reasoning principles used in daily life. Covers informal, non-symbolic introduction to logic with emphasis on real-life examples. Students learn how to critically evaluate their own reasoning and how to construct arguments. (H) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
|
or a LEARNING CONTRACT (5 credits)
HUMANITIES click for list (5 credits)
SOCIAL SCIENCE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15
Course note: Choose this quarter's humanities course from a subject other than PHIL.
Action item: Apply to graduate by week 3 of this quarter.
Quarter 6
PHIL 132 Environmental Ethics (5 credits)
| Description | How humanity conceives of its environment is central to an understanding of how humans should act and think of themselves as part of planet Earth. Topics to be covered include: the fundamentals of ethical reasoning, the moral status of non-human animals, land use dilemmas, and anthropocentrism and ecocentrism in the context of current environmental problems. (Hdgs) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
|
or PHIL 200 Philosophy of Religion (5 credits )
| Description | Philosophy of religion is the branch of philosophy concerned with thenature and existence of God. This course will provide a critical examination of traditional and contemporary arguments for theism (especially classical Western theism), atheism, and agnosticism, as well as questions related to religious belief and inclusivity, the afterlife, and prayer. (H) |
| Enrollment Requirements | Placement in ENGL& 101 |
| Course Attributes |
|
or PHIL& 115 Critical Thinking (5 credits )
| Description | Critical thinking ability is highly valued among employers. This course introduces you to sound reasoning principles used in daily life. Covers informal, non-symbolic introduction to logic with emphasis on real-life examples. Students learn how to critically evaluate their own reasoning and how to construct arguments. (H) |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
|
or a LEARNING CONTRACT (5 credits)
MATH/SCIENCE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
ELECTIVE from suggested list below or click for complete list (5 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 15
Action item: Attend the spring job fair.
Course Suggestions
Social sciences or electives
- ANTH& 100 Survey of anthropology
- CJ& 101 Intro to criminal justice
- HIST& 126 World civilizations I
- IDS 161 Literature, science and gender (spring)
- IDS 170 Intro to sustainability
- IDS 210 Science, economics and politics of sustainable resources (winter)
- POLS& 201 Intro to political theory
- POLS& 202 American government
- PSYC& 100 General psychology
- SOC& 101 Intro to sociology
Science/math or electives
- ANTH& 205 Biological anthropology
or ANTH& 215 Bioanthropology with lab - ASTR& 100 Survey of astronomy
- ENVS& 100 Survey of environmental science
- ENVS& 101 Intro to environmental science (with lab)
- IDS 161 Literature, science and gender (spring)
- IDS 210 Science, economics and politics of sustainable resources (winter)
- PHYS& 110 Physics for non-science majors (with lab)
- PHYS& 114 General physics (requires MATH& 142)