2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog
Philosophy/Ethics (AA-DTA) Course Map
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Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field and for transfer to a four-year institution. It provides you a clear path to complete your degree by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career. The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets degree requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. If you want to change a course on this map you must speak with an advisor to assure you meet all degree requirements. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time. While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete an Associate in Arts - Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA) Degree Requirements Degree, you are responsible for fulfilling all degree requirements. Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!
Important note about transfer: colleges and universities may change their requirements at any time, so this map is not a guarantee of transfer. You will need to check transfer requirements with your intended four-year school.
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2. Research Essentials
- INFO 101 Research Essentials (2 credits)
Course purpose: This course will help you apply research skills and strategies needed to better access information, evaluate it for credibility, and apply it to philosophy and a variety of purposes in your life.
3. English Composition I
- ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)
Course purpose: As a philosopher, you will need to read and write and understand a variety of different texts. Clear and strategic written communication with others is a central feature of all careers. Note: Your advisor will assist you in reviewing your Guided Self Placement and selecting either the 5-credit or the 7-credit co-requisite ENGL& 101 + ENGLC 101 course.
Action Item: Meet with Advisor
Use your Success Network! In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.
4. Philosophy Course Recommendation
Choose one
- PHIL& 101 Introduction to Philosophy (5 credits)
Course purpose: This course explores the major philosophical schools and the major philosophical theories. PHIL& 101 need not be taken first as all three 100 level options listed here will give the needed groundwork for Philosophy majors. PHIL& 101 can be taken later though it will be required for most Philosophy majors to take this course in the first two years of study.
Note: PHIL& 101 is required by all transfer institutions. If transferring to the University of Washington, the course equivalent is PHIL 100. If transferring to the University of Puget Sound, the course equivalent is PHIL 101. If transferring to Washington State University, the course equivalent is PHIL 101, HUM, a WSU degree requirement. If transferring to Pacific Lutheran University, the course equivalent is PHIL121; it may be applied to 8 credits of General Education Philosophy requirement. If transferring to Western Washington University, the course equivalent is PHIL 1XX. - PHIL& 115 Critical Thinking (5 credits)
Course purpose: This course explores the underlying concepts of critical thinking. These concepts are foundational for understanding any of the philosophy that is going to follow.
Note: If transferring to the University of Washington, the course equivalent is PHIL 115, a degree requirement. If transferring to Washington State University, the course equivalent is PHIL 200, WRTG. If transferring to Pacific Lutheran University, the course equivalent is PHIL100TR. If transferring to Western Washington University, the course equivalent is PHIL 107. - PHIL 150 Introduction to Ethics (5 credits)
Course purpose: This course provides students with a broad understanding of ethical theory. This course, along with PHIL& 115 and PHIL& 101, is a groundwork course.
Note: University of Washington and Western Washington University require an ethics course PHIL 150 or equivalent. If transferring to the University of Washington, the course equivalent is PHIL 240. If transferring to the University of Puget Sound, the course equivalent is PHIL 281. If transferring to WSU, the course equivalent is PHIL 1XX, HUM. If transferring to Pacific Lutheran University, the course equivalent is PHIL125; it may be applied to 8 credits of General Education Philosophy requirement.
Note: University of Puget Sound accepts only the transfer of 10 units of Philosophy courses 199 or below.
Note: Taking one of these courses is necessary for taking any of the 200-level Philosophy courses or PHIL 160.
Action Item: GPA Check
Check with an advisor to do a GPA check.
6. English Composition II
8. Philosophy Course Recommendation
Choose one
10. Natural Science Course Recommendation
Choose one
11. Humanities Course Recommendation
Choose one
- CMST& 220 Fundamentals of Public Speaking (5 credits)
Course purpose: Philosophers will always need public speaking skills to attend conferences, to teach classes, and would have practical applications for pre-law students. - ART 101 Beginning Design (5 credits)
Course purpose: Philosophy students can take a variety of Humanities courses. This would be a good general choice for gaining an alternative perspective. Art would be of interest for a student who is interested in aesthetics. - HUM 215 World Cinema (5 credits)
Course purpose: Philosophy students can take a variety of Humanities courses. This would be a good general choice for gaining an alternative perspective. Art would be of interest for a student who is interested in the humanities.
Note: If transferring to the University of Washington, this course will not transfer. Please see other Humanities offerings.
12. Social Science Course Recommendation
Choose one
- POLS& 101 Introduction Political Science (5 credits)
Course purpose: Political Science is a good option for philosophy students who are interested in political philosophy. - POLS& 203 International Relations (5 credits)
Course purpose: Political Science is a good option for philosophy students who are interested in political philosophy. Transfer Note: POLS& 203 transfers to UWT’s Politics, Philosophy, & Ecomonics, B.A. program as TPOLS 203. Students interested in the Politics, Philosophy, & Economic, B.A. at UWT must have at least 45 transferable credits completed before enrolling in the major. - HIST& 126 World Civilizations I (5 credits)
Course purpose: Many philosophical ideas are influenced by their historical context (politics, science, art). This is a good option for philosophy students studying ancient philosophy.
Action Item: Check in with Advisor
Check with advisor to confirm area of interest and to do a GPA check.
13. Humanities Course Recommendation
Choose one
14. Natural Science Course Recommendation
Choose one
- ENVS& 100 Survey of Environmental Science (5 credits)
Course purpose: Environmental sciences are important to learn about if you are going to go into Bioethics; but these courses are good for any philosophy major, because issues about the environment influence anything philosophical. This course is for students interested in the more “science” side of environment. - ENVS 150 Environmental Issues (5 credits)
Course purpose: Environmental sciences are important to learn about if you are going to go into Bioethics; but these courses are good for any philosophy major, because issues about the environment influence anything philosophical. This course covers the environment within a more ethics-based framework. - ANTH& 205 Biological Anthropology (5 credits)
Course purpose: Biological Anthropology is good for any philosophy major. It is particularly pertinent for students concentrating in Bioethics. - ASTR& 100 Survey of Astronomy (5 credits)
Course purpose: A great non-lab option for philosophy majors interested in philosophy of science, and metaphysics. - MATH& 146 Introduction to Stats (5 credits)
Course purpose: A great non-lab option for philosophy majors interested in philosophy of science, and metaphysics.
Note: This would be a good option for Philosophy majors who want to go into Bioethics. If planning to transfer to Washington State University for Philosophy, we recommend this as the second Quantitative requirement in addition to the PHIL&120, Introduction to Logic. Statistics will be of great use to Philosophers going into any branch of Philosophy.
15. Philosophy Course Recommendation
Choose one
- PHIL 210 Philosophy of Western Religion (5 credits)
Course purpose: Students studying Philosophy should have a familiarity with either Eastern or Western religion (or both).
Note: If transferring to Washington State University, this course meets the comparative religion major requirement; the course equivalent is PHIL 210, HUM. If transferring to University of Washington, the course equivalent is PHIL 2XX, and it meets the I&S requirement. If transferring to the University of Puget Sound, the course equivalent is REL 204. If transferring to Pacific Lutheran University, the course equivalent is PHIL350. If transferring to Western Washington University, the course equivalent is PHIL 113. - PHIL 220 Introduction to Eastern Philosophy (5 credits)
Course purpose: Students studying Philosophy should have a familiarity with either Eastern or Western religion (or both).
Note: If transferring to the University of Washington, the course equivalent is PHIL 2XX, and it meets the I&S requirement. If transferring to the University of Puget Sound, it is an equivalent elective. If transferring to Washington State University, the course equivalent is PHIL 1XX, HUM. If transferring to Pacific Lutheran University, the course equivalent is PHIL200TR.
16. Natural Science Recommendation
Choose one course from 14, that you have not completed.
18. Philosophy Course Recommendation
Choose one
- PHIL 230 Contemporary Moral Problems (5 credits)
Course purpose: Either or both of these upper-level philosophy classes offer breadth of ethical knowledge and training in advanced philosophical skills.
Note: Courses are required at Western Washington University and University of Washington. If transferring to Pacific Lutheran University, take either this course or PHIL 150, Introduction to Ethics, but not both, as PLU counts these as the same course. If transferring to the University of Washington, the course equivalent is PHIL 2XX, VLPA and I&S requirements. If transferring to the University of Puget Sound, the course equivalent is REL 265. If transferring to WSU, the course equivalent is a 2XX elective. If transferring to Pacific Lutheran University, the course equivalent is PHIL125, and it may be applied to 8 credits of General Education Philosophy requirement. If transferring to Western Washington University, the course equivalent is PHIL 112, a degree requirement. - PHIL 238 Philosophy of Human Rights (5 credits)
Course purpose: Either or both of these upper-level philosophy classes offer breadth of ethical knowledge and training in advanced philosophical skills.
Note: If transferring to the University of Washington, the course equivalent is PHIL 338. If transferring to the University of Puget Sound, it is an equivalent elective. If transferring to Washington State University, the course equivalent is PHIL 1XX, HUM. If transferring to Pacific Lutheran University, the course equivalent is PHIL200TR, and is required. If transferring to WWU, the course equivalent is PHIL 2XX. - PHIL& 120 Symbolic Logic (5 credits)
Course purpose: This is a great course for philosophical majors, since they will encounter logical structure and argumentation throughout their career.
Note: This course is required at most universities for Philosophy majors. If transferring to the University of Washington, the course equivalent is PHIL 120. If transferring to the University of Puget Sound, the course equivalent is PHIL 224. If transferring to Washington State University, the course equivalent is PHIL 201, QUAN, a WSU logic requirement for the degree. If transferring to Pacific Lutheran University, the course equivalent is PHIL100TR. If transferring to Western Washington University, the course equivalent is PHIL 102, a degree requirement.
19. Ethic Thought and Culture
- HUM 106 Ethnic Thought and Culture (5 credits)
Course purpose: This is a great course as it provides comparative perspectives of the world both in terms of the expression (art, literature, music) and the voice (ethnic identities). This will also be nice in conjunction with the PHIL 238 and/or PHIL& 230 course.
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