1. College Success

• COLLG 110 College Success (3 credits)

• Course purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

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.

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& 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. 

• PHIL 150 Introduction to Ethics (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course provides students with a broad understanding of ethical theory. 

Action Item: GPA Check

Check with an advisor to do a GPA check.

5. Math Course Recommendation

The math course you select will depend on the transfer institution you plan to attend and your math placement.  Your advisor will assist you in selecting the appropriate course(s).

Mathematics Course Distribution List   

6. English Composition II

• ENGL& 102 Composition II: Argumentation and Research (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Philosophy is a writing-intensive discipline, and the cornerstone of philosophical writing is argumentation.

7. Cultural Anthropology

• ANTH& 206 Cultural Anthropology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Cultural anthropology gives you a different lens through which to view cultures and cultural practices. It’s more descriptive than evaluative. 

8. Philosophy Course Recommendation

Choose one

• 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. 

• PHIL& 101 Introduction to Philosophy (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course  explores the major philosophical schools and the major philosophical theories. 

• PHIL 150 Introduction to Ethics (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course provides students with a broad understanding of ethical theory. 

9. Philosophy of Science

• PHIL 160 Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course would count as an epistemology introduction, and it would be useful for upcoming natural science courses. 

10. Natural Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

• BIOL& 100 Survey of Biology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: An introduction to biology for non-majors is good for someone who wants to focus on bioethics.

• PHYS& 110 Physics for Non-Science Majors (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Physics and astronomy courses supplement PHIL 160 as well as philosophical problems in metaphysics. 

• ASTR& 101 Introduction to Astronomy (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Physics and astronomy courses supplement PHIL 160 as well as philosophical problems in metaphysics. 

Action Item: Apply for Graduation

Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details. https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/graduation

11. Humanities Course Recommendation

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• CMST& 220 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 Design, Beginning (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.

12. Social Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

• POLS& 101 Introduction to 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.

• HIST 266 History of Europe Since 1870 (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 modern and contemporary philosophy.

• 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

• HUM 240 World Religions (5 credits)

• Course purpose: You should take this course before you take either PHIL 210 or PHIL 220. You should take this course if you are interested in theology or metaphysics.

• HUM 209 The American Civil Rights Movement (5 credits)

• Course purpose: You should take this course if you are interested in taking PHIL& 230 or PHIL 238. 

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 Statistics (5 credits)

• Course purpose: A great non-lab option for philosophy majors interested in philosophy of science, and metaphysics.

15. Philosophy Course Recommendation

Choose one

• PHIL 210 Philosophy of Western Religion (5 credits)
• 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).

16. Natural Science Recommendation

Choose one course from 14, that you have not completed.

17. General Psychology

• PSYC& 100 General Psychology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Learning about how the human mind works in terms of decision-making and motivation will help philosophy students in ethics courses and metaphysical topics like the philosophy of mind and free will.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

Total Credits: 90