Skip to main content

Philosophy

Philosophers seek meaning beyond surface facts. Rather than filling the mind with information, philosophy encourages students to think actively and critically. These skills are useful in a broad range of higher academic programs and professional fields, including leadership positions. Studying philosophy is also beneficial to an individual’s personal development, helping them to become more aware and enlightened citizens. Philosophers ask questions that all humans must ponder. Learning about their thoughts and reasoning can help us to understand ourselves better, other people, and the world we live in.

Students study several philosophers, ideas, and schools of thought. They learn to think critically and respond thoughtfully to various topics and questions. It is an excellent course of study for inquisitive individuals who often question the meaning behind their thoughts and actions and those of others. Many philosopher’s questions address what it means to be human, and what an individual’s place is in the community, the world, and the grand scheme of things.

Students can take philosophy courses in preparation to transfer to a four-year college or university, or for personal or professional enrichment. It is beneficial for those who wish to earn their two-year degree and enter the workforce upon graduation.

An education in philosophy provides students with a solid foundation of knowledge, writing, and critical thinking skills which may be applied to a broad assortment of careers.

A few professions in which philosophy students may succeed are:

  • Civil service
  • Computer Programmer
  • Health service manager
  • Journalism
  • Lawyer
  • Local government officer or representative
  • Marketing
  • Paralegal
  • Philosophy teacher
  • Software Engineer

Spokane Community College believes that you should graduate with the knowledge, skills, and abilities that further your educational goals, increasing your value in the workforce and contributing to a vibrant community.
 
Our AA-DTA degree program learning outcomes align to our five College-Wide Key Literacies.

Applied Content Literacy
Students will develop knowledge, skills, and abilities in all transfer distribution areas or program elements/areas. Students will build a foundation of information relevant to their program or focus of study while increasing knowledge and competency in their chosen field.

Communication Literacy
Students will develop the ability to create meaning and make connections between themselves and their audience, incorporating awareness of the social nature of communication, including, but not limited to, the impact of ethnicity, age, culture, gender, sexual orientation, and ability on communication styles and results. Students will learn to listen, read, speak, and write effectively using a variety of mediums and modalities.

Information Literacy
Students will develop knowledge and abilities allowing them to identify, locate, and evaluate information pertaining to the problem under consideration. Students will learn how to responsibly research, use, share, and produce accurate, relevant information gleaned through skilled research methods.

Intercultural Literacy
Students will develop an intersectional understanding of modern social realities, which will help enable effective participation and communication in cross-cultural professional, academic, and social settings. This may include, but is not limited to, biological sex, gender identity, socio-economic status, race, sexual orientation, religion, country and culture of origin, and political stance.

Quantitative Literacy
Students will develop and expand the ability to understand numeric information through the gathering, examination, modeling, manipulation, analysis, interpretation, and representation of quantitative and/or scientific data.

Breaking Ground on Your Pathway


Plan Your Courses

Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you. You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.

Prepare for College-level Math

Math placement is required for this program. If your math placement is below PHIL& 120, you’ll need to take the following sequence of courses, starting from the level you placed into:
AE 48 → MATH 87 → MATH 88 → PHIL& 120

Placement

English placement is not required for this program.

Associate in Arts (AA) is the community college degree designed to transfer to most bachelor's of arts degrees at all public and many private Washington four-year institutions. A candidate for the AA-DTA degree must complete 90 quarter credits in academic courses numbered 100 and above with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and meet specific distribution requirements.

Program Map for

Print/Download

Choose program map:

Total Program Credits: 93


Program Courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ENGL&101
English Composition I  
5
GUID 102
Strategies for Success  
3
PHIL&101
Introduction to Philosophy  
5
PHIL&120
Symbolic Logic  
5
Total Credits
 
18

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ENGL&102
Composition II  
5
PHIL 110
Introduction to Ethics  
5
POLS&101
Introduction to Political Science  
5
Total Credits
 
15

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HLTH 101
Health and Wellness  
3
MUSC&105
Music Appreciation  
5
 
Health/PE Electives   2
2
 
Lab Science   1
5
Total Credits
 
15
Lab Science: Choose 5 credits Lab Science: Choose 5 credits  
ASTR&101
Intro to Astronomy  
5
ENVS&101
Intro to Env Science  
5
GEOL&101
Intro Physical Geology  
5
PHYS 100
Introductory Physics  
5

Fourth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
PSYC&100
General Psychology  
5
 
Foreign Language 1 Electives   3
5
 
Science 1 Electives   4
5
Total Credits
 
15
ART 112
Non-Western Art  
5
ASL& 121
Am Sign Language I  
5
CMST 227
Intercultural Communication  
5
ENGL 247
American Multicultural Literature  
5
ENGL 272
World Literature since 1650  
5
FRCH&121
French I  
5
HUM 107
Introduction to Cultural Studies  
5
MUSC 109
World Music  
5
SPAN&121
Spanish I  
5

Fifth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
PHIL 209
Eastern Philosophy  
5
 
Foreign Language 2 Electives   5
5
 
Science 2 Electives   4
5
Total Credits
 
15
Foreign Language 2 Electives: Choose 5 credits Foreign Language 2 Electives: Choose 5 credits  
ASL& 122
Am Sign Language II  
5
FRCH&122
French II  
5
SPAN&121
Spanish I  
5

Sixth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
PHIL 220
Philosophy of Religion  
5
 
Foreign Language 3 Electives   6
5
 
History Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
15
Foreign Language 3 Electives: Choose 5 credits Foreign Language 3 Electives: Choose 5 credits  
ASL& 123
Am Sign Language III  
5
FRCH&123
French III  
5
SPAN&123
Spanish III  
5
History Electives: Choose 5 credits History Electives: Choose 5 credits  
HIST 106
World History to 1500  
5
HIST 107
World History since 1500  
5

Foreign Language 1 Electives   3

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ART 112
Non-Western Art  
5
ASL& 121
Am Sign Language I  
5
CMST 227
Intercultural Communication  
5
ENGL 247
American Multicultural Literature  
5
ENGL 272
World Literature since 1650  
5
FRCH&121
French I  
5
HUM 107
Introduction to Cultural Studies  
5
MUSC 109
World Music  
5
SPAN&121
Spanish I  
5

Foreign Language 2 Electives   5

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ASL& 122
Am Sign Language II  
5
FRCH&122
French II  
5
SPAN&121
Spanish I  
5

Foreign Language 3 Electives   6

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ASL& 123
Am Sign Language III  
5
FRCH&123
French III  
5
SPAN&123
Spanish III  
5

Health/PE Electives   2

Course ID
Course Title
Credits

History Electives  

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HIST 106
World History to 1500  
5
HIST 107
World History since 1500  
5

Lab Science   1

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ASTR&101
Intro to Astronomy  
5
ENVS&101
Intro to Env Science  
5
GEOL&101
Intro Physical Geology  
5
PHYS 100
Introductory Physics  
5

Science 1 Electives   4

Course ID
Course Title
Credits

Science 2 Electives   4

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
1 Recommended: ASTR& 101, ENVS& 101, GEOL& 101, PHYS 100, or any other lab science
2 Any two-credit PE course
3 SPAN, FREN, or ASL & 121 if you haven’t completed two years of foreign language in high school OR a course from the Humanities Distribution list that meets the Diversity requirement
4 Recommended: Any ASTR, ENVS, GEOL, PHYS, NUTRI, or OCEA in a subject you haven’t already taken. Can be lab or non-lab.
5 SPAN, FREN, or ASL & 122 if you haven’t completed two years of foreign language in high school
6 SPAN, FREN, or ASL & 123 if you haven’t completed two years of foreign language in high school
7 Recommend any PHIL course not already taken or any ANTH or HIST course

Estimated costs for completing this program

 
WA Resident
Non-Resident
International
Tuition
$ 9,733
$ 11,570
$ 22,036
Books
$ 1,115
$ 1,115
$ 1,115
Course Fees
$ 5
$ 5
$ 5
Institutional Fees
$ 672
$ 672
$ 3,195
Total Costs
$ 11,525
$ 13,362
$ 26,351

Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.

Have a question? Let's hear it.

Michael Buckley

Social Sciences & Humanities Department Chair
Michael.Buckley@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8845