Associate of Arts - Philosophy

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 the 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:

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.