Philosophy

Associate of Arts

The Associate of Arts degree with a field of study in philosophy offers students the opportunity to combine the core curriculum with an emphasis in philosophy. The two-year program is fully transferrable and provides a strong foundation to continue your bachelor’s degree studies at a four-year university.

What is philosophy? Philosophy is the intellectual tradition that has guided the attempt to address fundamental questions of life: Is there a God? What is the nature of the soul? How can I live my best life? What are my obligations and relationships to other people, my community, and the environment?

Why study philosophy? You’ll learn about the historical attempts to answer these questions and begin to formulate the answers for your own life. While engaged in this endeavor, you’ll acquire important, useful, and marketable skills such as problem-solving, writing, distinguishing fact from opinion, thinking rationally and critically, and analyzing and organizing complex information.

What can I do with a Philosophy degree? A lot more than you think! Philosophy majors have built successful careers in computer science, education, business, government and non-profits. If you’re considering an advanced degree, philosophy is the perfect background for law school or seminary studies as well as for graduate study in philosophy.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Graduates will correctly evaluate the validity of deductive arguments.
2. Graduates will correctly identify and describe selected concepts, arguments, and theories in ethics.
3.  Graduates will correctly describe, compare, and contrast different social/political philosophies.
4. Graduates will correctly compare and contrast different religious systems.
5. Graduates will read and correctly respond to selections from key primary texts in philosophical discourse.

TSI Liable

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Students pursuing the Religious Studies track must take SOCI 1301 Introductory Sociology for the Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective - Core Curriculum. 

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Students pursuing the General track must take PSYC 2301 General Psychology for the Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective - Core Curriculum.

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Students who select a 3 credit hour Mathematics course to fulfill the Mathematics component of the Core Curriculum must take 4 credit hours to complete the Component Area Option for the Core Curriculum.

TSI Liable

100% Online

Recommended Course Sequence - General Track

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To complete the Philosophy Field of Study, students must take two 3-credit hour courses listed in any Associate of Arts Field of Study from the following list: Anthropology, Business Administration (transfer plan only), Communication, Criminal Justice, Drama, Education, English, Arts, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Humanities, Language and Cultural Studies, Mexican-American Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, or Sociology.

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Students pursuing the General track must take PSYC 2301 General Psychology for the Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective - Core Curriculum.

TSI Liable

Recommended Course Sequence - Religious Studies Track

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Students pursuing the Religious Studies track must take SOCI 1301 Introductory Sociology for the Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective

TSI Liable

Recommended Course Sequence - Pre-Law Track