Do you consider yourself a deep thinker and enjoy conversations on morality and reality? If you want to learn more about how to think, reason, and even argue effectively, then join the conversation in the philosophy department!
The word "philosophy" is Greek for "love of wisdom". Allan Hancock College's philosophy
program investigates the nature of reality (metaphysics), the way knowledge is obtained
(epistemology), the nature of art and beauty (aesthetics), the laws of reasoning (logic),
and the rules of morality (ethics).
At an introductory level, philosophy develops the student's ability to reason critically and to argue effectively. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing careers in politics, law, education, psychology, science, information technology, and more.
Graduates of the philosophy program will be prepared to transfer to a four-year university for further study.
This program will help you:
- critically analyze and evaluate arguments regarding issues of metaphysics and epistemology
- critically analyze and evaluate arguments regarding issues of ethics and political philosophy
- apply logic to problems
- understand the difference between knowledge and opinion
Suggested Course Sequence
The “Suggested Course Sequence” is an example of how to complete the requirements plus any additional general education that may be needed. If you would like to create a personalized Student Education Plan (SEP), schedule a meeting with a counselor.
Fall Semester (Year 1)
Course #
Course Title
Units
Prerequisite: Placement based upon Allan Hancock College's placement policy.
Designed to help students enhance their analytical reading and writing skills using a wide variety of texts. Emphasizes college-level expository essay construction, communication, and research methods leading to the preparation and writing of a research paper.
An overview of the central issues and movements in philosophy. Topics to be selected from such areas as ethics, political philosophy, metaphysics (the study of reality), epistemology (the study of knowledge), logic, aesthetics, phenomenology and existentialism.
Select one course from this list.
Select one course from this list.
Total Units:
13
Spring Semester (Year 1)
Course #
Course Title
Units
An introduction into the nature of ethics examining ethical issues, traditional and nontraditional ethical systems, and various contemporary ethical problems such as abortion and euthanasia.
An introduction to the methods of principles of logic exploring inductive logic, deductive logic, and critical thinking including applications to philosophy, the exact sciences, the social sciences, and to reasoning in everyday life.
Prerequisite: MATH 331 or Placement according to AHC placement policy.
A study of descriptive and inferential statistics including applications in the behavioral and natural sciences. Topics include classification and analysis of data, probability, distributions, sampling, the binomial, normal, t, F, and chi-square distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, analysis of variance and non-parametric methods. Calculators and/or computers will be used throughout.
Recommended one from this list:
- POLS 101, Introduction to Political Science
- POLS 103, American Government
Or choose a course from this list.
Note: Recommended courses also fulfill CSU US History and American Institutions Graduation Requirement
You can choose a course in any subject that has a 100-199 in its title. For example ENGL 100 or ASTR 121.
NOTE: Not all 100-level courses are UC-transferable. See the IGETC sheet for UC eligible courses.
Total Units:
16
Fall Semester (Year 2)
Course #
Course Title
Units
Surveys the origins, development, and characteristics of Western civilization from earliest times through the period of European exploration and colonization, emphasizing main currents in political, economic, social, intellectual, and scientific history. An effort is made to include some study of the "non-West." This course is not open to students who are enrolled in or have received credit for HUM 104.
An introduction to the problems of metaphysics (the study of reality and existence) and epistemology (the study of knowledge). Possible topics include the existence of God, freedom versus determinism, the mind/body problem, problems of knowledge, appearance versus reality, and existentialism.
Select one course from this list.
1 unit
Some courses in GE categories B1: Physical Science and B2: Life Science have lab components that also fulfill this requirement. If the course you chose in either of these categories has a lab component, you have completed this requirement. You can verify whether it has a lab component by checking these lists:
If not, you can fulfill this requirement with either of these courses:
- ANTH 110: Biological Anthropology Lab
- GEOG 115: Physical Geography Lab
- GEOL 115: Oceanography Geography Lab
Total Units:
15 - 17
Spring Semester (Year 2)
Course #
Course Title
Units
Surveys the development and characteristics of Western civilization from 1600 to the present, emphasizing main currents in political, economic, social, intellectual, and scientific history. Some study of the "non-West" is included. This course is not open to students who are enrolled in or have received credit for HUM 105.
Choose one of the following courses:
- COMM 101, Public Speaking,
- COMM 102, Small Group Communication,
- COMM 106, Argumentation and Debate,
Select one course from this list.
1 unit
Some courses in GE categories B1: Physical Science and B2: Life Science have lab components that also fulfill this requirement. If the course you chose in either of these categories has a lab component, you have completed this requirement. You can verify whether it has a lab component by checking these lists:
If not, you can fulfill this requirement with either of these courses:
- ANTH 110: Biological Anthropology Lab
- GEOG 115: Physical Geography Lab
- GEOL 115: Oceanography Geography Lab
Recommended one from this list:
- ES 121, African American History
- HIST 107, US History to 1877
- HIST 108, US History from 1877 to the Present
- HIST 118, U S History American Institutions Requirement
Or choose a course from this list.
Note: Recommended courses also fulfill CSU US History and American Institutions Graduation Requirement
You can choose a course in any subject that has a 100-199 in its title. For example ENGL 100 or ASTR 121.
NOTE: Not all 100-level courses are UC-transferable. See the IGETC sheet for UC eligible courses.
Total Units:
15 - 17
Program Requirements:
"Program Requirements" specify the courses required for this program. See suggested course sequence for additional information.
A major of 18 units is required for the Associate in Arts in Philosophy for transfer degree.
Required core courses (15 units):
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 101 | Survey of Philosophy | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| PHIL 105 | Ethics | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| PHIL 112 | Logic | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| HIST 104 | Western Civilizations to 1650 | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| HIST 105 | Western Civilization Since 1650 | 3.000 - 0.000 |
List A: Select 1 course from the following (3 units):
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 114 | Critical Thinking | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| PHIL 121 | Religions of the Modern World | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| PHIL 122 | Exploring Religious Issues | 3.000 - 0.000 |
Suggested Course Sequence
The “Suggested Course Sequence” is an example of how to complete the requirements plus any additional general education that may be needed. If you would like to create a personalized Student Education Plan (SEP), schedule a meeting with a counselor.
Fall Semester (Year 1)
Course #
Course Title
Units
Prerequisite: Placement based upon Allan Hancock College's placement policy.
Designed to help students enhance their analytical reading and writing skills using a wide variety of texts. Emphasizes college-level expository essay construction, communication, and research methods leading to the preparation and writing of a research paper.
An overview of the central issues and movements in philosophy. Topics to be selected from such areas as ethics, political philosophy, metaphysics (the study of reality), epistemology (the study of knowledge), logic, aesthetics, phenomenology and existentialism.
Select one course from this list.
If you did not satisfy this requirement with high school coursework or an external exam, complete one of the courses from this list. If you are unsure if you have met this requirement, see a counselor.
- ES 120: Chicano History
- ES 121: African American History
- HIST 120: Chicano History
- HIST 121: African American History
Total Units:
13
Spring Semester (Year 1)
Course #
Course Title
Units
An introduction into the nature of ethics examining ethical issues, traditional and nontraditional ethical systems, and various contemporary ethical problems such as abortion and euthanasia.
An introduction to the methods of principles of logic exploring inductive logic, deductive logic, and critical thinking including applications to philosophy, the exact sciences, the social sciences, and to reasoning in everyday life.
Prerequisite: MATH 331 or Placement according to AHC placement policy.
A study of descriptive and inferential statistics including applications in the behavioral and natural sciences. Topics include classification and analysis of data, probability, distributions, sampling, the binomial, normal, t, F, and chi-square distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, analysis of variance and non-parametric methods. Calculators and/or computers will be used throughout.
Recommended one from this list:
- POLS 101, Introduction to Political Science
- POLS 103, American Government
Or choose a course from this list.
Note: Recommended courses also fulfill CSU US History and American Institutions Graduation Requirement
You can choose a course in any subject that has a 100-199 in its title. For example ENGL 100 or ASTR 121.
NOTE: Not all 100-level courses are UC-transferable. See the IGETC sheet for UC eligible courses.
Total Units:
16
Fall Semester (Year 2)
Course #
Course Title
Units
Surveys the origins, development, and characteristics of Western civilization from earliest times through the period of European exploration and colonization, emphasizing main currents in political, economic, social, intellectual, and scientific history. An effort is made to include some study of the "non-West." This course is not open to students who are enrolled in or have received credit for HUM 104.
An introduction to the problems of metaphysics (the study of reality and existence) and epistemology (the study of knowledge). Possible topics include the existence of God, freedom versus determinism, the mind/body problem, problems of knowledge, appearance versus reality, and existentialism.
Select one course from this list.
Some courses in GE categories Area 5A: Physical Science and Area 5B: Biological Science have lab components that also fulfill this requirement. If the course you chose in either of these categories has a lab component, you have completed this requirement. You can verify whether it has a lab component by checking these lists:
If not, you can fulfill this requirement with either of these courses:
- ANTH 110: Biological Anthropology Lab
- GEOG 115: Physical Geography Lab
- GEOL 115: Oceanography Geography Lab
You can choose a course in any subject that has a 100-199 in its title. For example ENGL 100 or ASTR 121.
NOTE: Not all 100-level courses are UC-transferable. See the IGETC sheet for UC eligible courses.
Total Units:
15 - 17
Spring Semester (Year 2)
Course #
Course Title
Units
Surveys the development and characteristics of Western civilization from 1600 to the present, emphasizing main currents in political, economic, social, intellectual, and scientific history. Some study of the "non-West" is included. This course is not open to students who are enrolled in or have received credit for HUM 105.
Choose one of the following courses:
- COMM 101, Public Speaking
- COMM 102, Small Group Communication
- COMM 106, Argumentation and Debate
Select one course from this list.
Some courses in GE categories Area 5A: Physical Science and Area 5B: Biological Science have lab components that also fulfill this requirement. If the course you chose in either of these categories has a lab component, you have completed this requirement. You can verify whether it has a lab component by checking these lists:
If not, you can fulfill this requirement with either of these courses:
- ANTH 110: Biological Anthropology Lab
- GEOG 115: Physical Geography Lab
- GEOL 115: Oceanography Geography Lab
If you did not satisfy this requirement with high school coursework or an external exam, complete one of the courses from this list. If you are unsure if you have met this requirement, see a counselor.
- ASL 120: American Sign Language 1
- ASL 121: American Sign Language 2
- ASL 124:
- FRCH 101: Elementary French I
- FRCH 102: Elementary French II
- SPAN 101: Elementary Spanish I
- SPAN 102: Elementary Spanish II
- SPAN 103: Intermediate Spanish I
- SPAN 104: Intermediate Spanish II
- SPAN 105: Advanced Composition and Grammar
- SPAN 112: Advanced Spanish Conversation
Total Units:
15 - 17
Program Requirements:
"Program Requirements" specify the courses required for this program. See suggested course sequence for additional information.
A major of 18 units is required for the Associate in Arts in Philosophy for transfer degree.
Required core courses (15 units):
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 101 | Survey of Philosophy | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| PHIL 105 | Ethics | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| PHIL 112 | Logic | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| HIST 104 | Western Civilizations to 1650 | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| HIST 105 | Western Civilization Since 1650 | 3.000 - 0.000 |
List A: Select 1 course from the following (3 units):
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 114 | Critical Thinking | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| PHIL 121 | Religions of the Modern World | 3.000 - 0.000 |
| PHIL 122 | Exploring Religious Issues | 3.000 - 0.000 |
Programs you may also be interested in exploring:
Contact Information
Department Chair
Roger Hall
805-922-6966 ext. 3427
rhall@hancockcollege.edu
Department Administrative Assistant II
Rose Delgado 805-922-6966 ext. 3334
rose.delgado@hancockcollege.edu
Dean, Academic Affairs
Rick Rantz
805-922-6966 ext. 5203
rrantz@hancockcollege.edu
Location
Santa Maria CampusBldg. C, Rm. 28
805-922-6966 ext. 3732
