Degree Requirements and Courses
Learn more about certificate and degree requirements, course content, recommended sequence, and schedule.
Philosophy AA-T Degree
Provides students with a common core of lower division courses required to transfer and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in the CSU System.
Associate in Arts for Transfer | SC Program: AA-T.1009
A philosophy major is a humanities degree path that will challenge students to examine questions with no right answers. Students will develop valuable career skills, such as understanding complex materials, making logical arguments, explaining ideas clearly, and being able to think about things from multiple perspectives.
This program introduces students to Philosophy. Philosophy is the study or logical analysis of the principles underlying conduct, reasoning, value, knowledge and the nature of the universe. Students will engage in the critical analysis of a number of theories defended by philosophers, who have attempted to answer a number of fundamental and puzzling questions about ourselves and the nature of the universe.
The Associate in Arts in Philosophy for Transfer degree is designed to provide students with a common core of lower division courses required to transfer and pursue a baccalaureate (4- year) degree in Philosophy in the CSU system
Choose your path
Map your education by viewing the program map for the degree or certificate you’re interested in earning below. Meet with a counselor to create your official comprehensive education plan.
A program map shows all the required and recommended courses you need to graduate and a suggested order in which you should take them. The suggested sequence of courses is based on enrollment and includes all major and general education courses required for the degree.
Fall Semester, First Year
14 Units TotalENGL 1A
GE
4
Reading & Composition
ENGL 1A
This course is the transferable course in composition currently offered to qualified freshmen at practically all American colleges and universities. It presupposes that the students already have a substantial grasp of grammar, syntax, and organization, and that their writing is reasonably free from errors. The course concentrates on developing effective writing and reading. A library research paper is required for successful completion of the course.
This composition class is also taught by Distance Learning. In these sections of ENGL 1A, students will be required to attend class lecture/discussion in a virtual on-line classroom instead of physically attending in a classroom. This will require participation through a text-only Internet connection utilizing a WebCT classroom. Minimum requirement: ability to access World Wide Web addresses. Students may access WebCT through any Internet ramp, including Personal Computer or Web T.V. connection or any Internet connection accessible through the local library, work, school, etc.
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PHIL 6
GE
M
3
Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 6
Advisory: ENGL 1A with a grade of C or higher or English Placement Level 7.
This is a transfer-level humanities course introducing students to some of the major philosophical issues in the history of philosophy through the critical examination of primary texts. It will both explore what is special about the questions philosophers ask and consider the most famous answers philosophers have given to those questions. Areas covered include philosophy of mind, epistemology, metaphysics, moral philosophy, political philosophy, philosophy of science, aesthetics, and philosophy of religion. The course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This is a transfer-level humanities course introducing students to some of the major philosophical issues in the history of philosophy through the critical examination of primary texts. It will both explore what is special about the questions philosophers ask and consider the most famous answers philosophers have given to those questions. Areas covered include philosophy of mind, epistemology, metaphysics, moral philosophy, political philosophy, philosophy of science, aesthetics, and philosophy of religion. The course may be offered in a distance education format.
STU 1
GE
3
College Success
STU 1
This intensive course is designed to assist students in obtaining the skills and knowledge necessary to reach their educational objectives. Students will have an opportunity to examine controversial issues of value and conflict, employ effective methods of stress management, and most importantly, apply strategies for achieving academic success. Topics covered include: motivation and discipline, memory development, time management, communication skills, career and transfer planning and a wide variety of student skills and techniques for college success.
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SOC 3
GE
3
Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
SOC 3
This course is an introduction to the basic statistical methods and analyses commonly used in the behavioral sciences. Topics include descriptive and inferential statistics; levels and types of measurement; measures of central tendency and dispersion; normal, t, and chi-square distributions; probability and hypothesis testing; and correlation and regression. Applications of statistical software to the behavioral sciences and/or other social science data is required. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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STU 90
1
Career Choice
STU 90
A course designed for students who are undecided about their educational and/or career goals. Through a series of group exercises, and career development testing, students learn to identify personal values, interests, skills, aversions, and personality patterns and understand how they relate to choices in the world of work. Students learn to access occupational information, develop decision-making skills and set career goals. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Spring Semester, First Year
15 Units TotalENGL 1B
GE
3
Literature & Composition
ENGL 1B
Course is an introduction to the study of literature, some of its major themes and types, including poetry, short story, novel and drama. Critical and analytical thinking, reading, and writing skills are stressed, with emphasis on close textual analysis and use of textual evidence to support ideas about literary works. Students will learn to argue and refute interpretations of literature and to recognize a wide variety of strategies employed to achieve literary effects. Students taking the Internet format of this course must have access to the Internet.
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PHIL 7
GE
M
3
Ethics and Personal Values
PHIL 7
Advisory: A grade of C or higher in ENGL 1A or English Placement Level 7.
Introduces students to a range of moral and social problems which are important in themselves and which philosophers have found especially interesting. Emphasis will be given to exploring all the positions which can be taken on these issues, and to evaluating the arguments which can be given for those positions. Topics covered include general moral theories, abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, warfare, gender and sexuality issues, political and economic issues, and the moral status of the natural world.
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HIST 1A
GE
M
3
History of Western Civilization
HIST 1A
Advisory: ENGL 196 with a grade of C or higher, or English Placement Level 6 or higher
A survey of the origins and development of civilization in the western world from pre-history to 1600, with special emphasis on institutions, thought, and culture. The course is designed to show the continuity of western civilization and to overview the heritage of the present generation. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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A survey of the origins and development of civilization in the western world from pre-history to 1600, with special emphasis on institutions, thought, and culture. The course is designed to show the continuity of western civilization and to overview the heritage of the present generation. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
CMST 60
GE
M
3
Public Speaking
CMST 60
Advisory: A grade of C or higher in ENGL 190 or English Placement Level 6 or higher.
This course is an introduction to the process of human communication with emphasis on public speaking. Subjects covered are audience analysis, choosing speech topics, finding and using supporting materials, arranging and outlining related points, essentials of speech delivery and evaluation. College level writing skills will be expected on all papers, outlines and short essays.
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This course is an introduction to the process of human communication with emphasis on public speaking. Subjects covered are audience analysis, choosing speech topics, finding and using supporting materials, arranging and outlining related points, essentials of speech delivery and evaluation. College level writing skills will be expected on all papers, outlines and short essays.
PHIL 14
GE
M
3
Modern Western Philosophy
PHIL 14
This course focuses on Western Philosophy from the 16th to the 18th century, with emphasis on broad epistemological and metaphysical developments of empiricism and rationalism in philosophical thought from Descartes to Kant. It may include proximate precursors and successors. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Fall Semester, Second Year
15 Units TotalPHIL 8
GE
M
3
Logic
PHIL 8
Advisory: A grade of C or better in ENGL 1A or English Placement Level 7.
Logic is the science that evaluates arguments. PHIL 8 provides students with extensive experience in identifying a range of correct and incorrect argument forms. Examples will come from everyday life. Students will also learn to use both the traditional categorical syllogism and modern statement logic. The equivalent of this course in content and objectives may also be offered on the Internet.
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Logic is the science that evaluates arguments. PHIL 8 provides students with extensive experience in identifying a range of correct and incorrect argument forms. Examples will come from everyday life. Students will also learn to use both the traditional categorical syllogism and modern statement logic. The equivalent of this course in content and objectives may also be offered on the Internet.
ASTR 2
GE
3
Stellar Astronomy
ASTR 2
A survey course designed to introduce the science of astronomy concentrating on celestial bodies and phenomena beyond the solar system. This course covers aspects of the history of astronomy, light, telescopes, prominent scientists, the sun, stars, stellar evolution, galaxies, cosmology, and the possibility of other life forms in the Universe. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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POLS 2
GE
3
Introduction to American Government
POLS 2
Advisory: A grade of C or higher in ENGL 190 or ESL 138, or English Placement Level 6 or higher.
An introduction to United States and California government and politics, including their constitutions, political institutions and processes, and political actors. Examination of political behavior, political issues, and public policy. This course satisfies the CSU requirement in U.S. Constitution and California State and local government (US-2 and US-3). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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An introduction to United States and California government and politics, including their constitutions, political institutions and processes, and political actors. Examination of political behavior, political issues, and public policy. This course satisfies the CSU requirement in U.S. Constitution and California State and local government (US-2 and US-3). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
ADJU 15
M
3
Concepts of Criminal Law
ADJU 15
This course offers an analysis of the doctrines of criminal liability in the United States and the classification of crimes against persons, property, morals, and public welfare. Special emphasis is placed on the classification of crime, the general elements of crime, the definitions of common and statutory law, and the nature of acceptable evidence. This course utilizes case law and case studies to introduce students to criminal law. The completion of this course offers a foundation upon which upper-division criminal justice courses will build. The course will also include some limited discussion of prosecution and defense decision making, criminal culpability, and defenses to crimes. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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SOC 1
GE
3
Introduction to Sociology
SOC 1
Advisory: A grade of C or higher in ENGL 190, or English Placement Level 6 or higher.
This course is designed to introduce the beginning student through discussion and lectures, to the basic terminology, concepts and methods necessary for a sociological analysis of social behavior in a group or social context. The course is an introductory course, thus, it deals with breadth, not depth. The major elements of sociological analysis surveyed are culture, society, social groups, socialization, social stratification, social change, collective behavior, deviance, symbolic communication and alienation. This course is also offered as a distance education course in video/CD ROM format, video format and internet format. In the Internet format, students will attend lectures and discussions in a virtual online classroom instead of meeting with the instructor on campus. Students will participate through an Internet connection. Minimum requirements: ability to access World Wide Web addresses.
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Spring Semester, Second Year
17 Units TotalHIST 17A
GE
3
United States History
HIST 17A
Advisory: ENGL 190 with a grade of C or higher, or English Placement Level 6 or higher.
This course is a survey of the history of the United States from Pre-Columbian Peoples to the end of Reconstruction. Topics include contact and settlement of America, the movement toward independence, the formation of a new nation and Constitution, westward expansion and manifest destiny, the causes and consequences of the Civil War, and Reconstruction. This course satisfies the CSU requirement for US History (US-1). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course is a survey of the history of the United States from Pre-Columbian Peoples to the end of Reconstruction. Topics include contact and settlement of America, the movement toward independence, the formation of a new nation and Constitution, westward expansion and manifest destiny, the causes and consequences of the Civil War, and Reconstruction. This course satisfies the CSU requirement for US History (US-1). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
BIOL 10
GE
4
General Biology
BIOL 10
This course is an introduction to the major concepts of modern biology. Topics covered include cell biology, heredity and nature of genes, evolution, diversity of life, and principles of ecology. Emphasis will be placed on those aspects of biology that are rapidly reshaping our culture. This is an approved general education course for non-life science majors who desire an introductory biology course with laboratory.
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BIOL 10L
GE
Lab
1
General Biology Laboratory
BIOL 10L
Note: BIOL 10 will meet the general education requirement for a lab science if taken with BIOL 10L.
This is a laboratory course that offers experiments and demonstrations covering the basic concepts of the lecture course BIOL 10. The laboratory is designed to expose student to biological techniques including microscopy, biochemistry, genetics, evolution, diversity of life, and principles of ecology. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This is a laboratory course that offers experiments and demonstrations covering the basic concepts of the lecture course BIOL 10. The laboratory is designed to expose student to biological techniques including microscopy, biochemistry, genetics, evolution, diversity of life, and principles of ecology. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
ETHS 1
GE
3
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
ETHS 1
Advisory: ENGL 196 with a grade of C or higher
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of race and ethnicity in the United States. It examines social justice movements in relation to ethnic and racial groups in the United States to provide a basis for a better understanding of the socioeconomic, cultural, and political conditions among key social groups including, but not limited to, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latina/o Americans. This course examines the systemic nature of racial/ethnic oppression through an examination of key concepts including racialization and ethnocentrism, with a specific focus on the persistence of white supremacy. Using an anti-racist framework, the course will examine historical and contemporary social movements dedicated to the decolonization of social institutions, resistance, and social justice. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of race and ethnicity in the United States. It examines social justice movements in relation to ethnic and racial groups in the United States to provide a basis for a better understanding of the socioeconomic, cultural, and political conditions among key social groups including, but not limited to, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latina/o Americans. This course examines the systemic nature of racial/ethnic oppression through an examination of key concepts including racialization and ethnocentrism, with a specific focus on the persistence of white supremacy. Using an anti-racist framework, the course will examine historical and contemporary social movements dedicated to the decolonization of social institutions, resistance, and social justice. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
ART 4
GE
3
Ethnic Art of the World
ART 4
A survey course of the visual arts of Ethnic and Indian Cultures. Explored are the Eskimo, North West Coast, Pueblo, Apache, Navaho, Iroquois, Plains, Southeastern, California, Mexico, Peru, Africa, Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, India, Japan, China, and Barbarians. Stress is given to the styles, motifs, symbols and meaning of the cultures by examining crafts, drawings, sculpture, woodcuts and paintings. This course designed for Humanities elective, recommended for Art Core Programs, and required for Art History Concentration.
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ANTH 2
GE
3
Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 2
Advisory: A grade of C or higher in ENGL 280 or English Placement Level 5 or higher.
An introductory course exploring the nature of culture as the human adaptation to the natural world. It includes such topics as making a living, family structure, social organization and institutions, language, religion, art, and cultural change. The Distance Education version of Cultural Anthropology may be offered over the Internet, but it is the same in content as that offered on campus.
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Please see a counselor to discuss options for meeting general education requirements for transfer to California State Universities (CSU) and/or University of California (UC) campuses, as well as any specific additional courses that may be required by your chosen institution of transfer.
*Alternative Courses: Please see a Shasta College counselor for alternative course options. You can also view the following to find other courses to meet degree/certificate requirements:
- California State Universities – General Education
- IGETC – Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum
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