PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy is an academic discipline that inquires into the nature, meaning, and value of the world and of human beings' place in the world. An undergraduate major in philosophy prepares students for (a) graduate studies and an academic career in philosophy, (b) graduate studies and an academic career in related disciplines within the humanities (e.g., religious studies, literature, political science), and (c) law school and a career in law or politics.

The Associate in Arts in Philosophy for Transfer degree (AA-T in Philosophy) at Cuesta College helps students develop skills and knowledge necessary to the successful pursuit of philosophy. With regard to skills, students who complete the program will have demonstrated the ability (a) to defend their own views by means of argumentation and to evaluate reasoning (their own and that of others), (b) to interpret primary source texts in philosophy, and (c) to express, explain, and defend philosophical ideas in writing and/or verbally. With regard to knowledge, students who complete the program will have demonstrated (a) an understanding of the basic concerns and questions at issue in the three major branches of western philosophy (metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics), (b) a basic understanding of how western philosophy has changed and developed through its four major historical periods (ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary), and (c) an academic understanding (as opposed to a devotional understanding) of the human search for meaning through religion.

NOTE: While PHIL 208 satisfies the logic requirement for the AA-T degree, some CSU philosophy programs require their majors to take a course in Symbolic Logic. Thus, students who earn the Cuesta College AA-T in Philosophy degree may be required to take a Symbolic Logic course once they have transferred to a CSU campus.

The Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) is a special degree offered at California Community Colleges. Students who earn an AA-T or AS-T degree are guaranteed admission to a campus within the California State University (CSU) system, although not necessarily to a specific campus or major. Students who complete an AA-T or AS-T are given priority consideration when applying to a particular program that is similar to the student’s community college major and will be given a special GPA advantage when applying to CSU impacted campuses or majors. Students who are planning to pursue an AA-T or AS-T are strongly advised to meet with a counselor for additional information about this transfer program.

The Cuesta College AA-T/AS-T degree requires:

(1) Completion of 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following: (A) California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC).

(B) A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.

(2) Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

(3) Earning a “C” or better grade in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis. A "P" (Pass) grade is an acceptable grade for courses in the major.

Learning Outcome(s):

1. Students will demonstrate an increased ability to defend their own views by means of argumentation.
2. Students will demonstrate an increased ability to evaluate reasoning (their own and that of others).
3. Students will demonstrate an increased ability to interpret primary source texts in philosophy.
4. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic concerns and questions at issue in the three major branches of western philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics.
5. Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of how western philosophy has changed and developed through its four major historical periods: ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary.
6. Students will demonstrate an academic understanding (as opposed to a devotional understanding) of the human search for meaning through religion.