The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway. It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.
The courses have been intentionally placed and should be prioritized in
the order
in which they appear. If you are unable to take all the courses in
a semester, you
should prioritize enrolling in the courses in the order below.
Some courses have
been noted as “Appropriate for Intersession” . Should you need (or want) to take
classes
in the summer and/or winter intersessions,
the program recommends these courses as appropriate for the condensed
schedule of
the intersessions.
Some pathways combine a “Certificate of Achievement” and an “Associate
Degree”. If
you are pursuing only the Certificate of Achievement, you are only
required to take
the courses marked “Program Requirement” .
All pathways include at least one “Gateway Course” which introduces you to the program and/or field of study and helps you
decide if you want to continue with this Academic and Career Path.
Most Associate degrees (though not Associate Degrees for Transfer)
require satisfying the SMC Global Citizenship requirement. If the Program
Requirements do not include a “Global Citizenship course” , be sure to select a General Education course that also satisfies Global Citizenship.
Programs in philosophy are designed to develop the reasoning skills needed to understand and evaluate beliefs about man, society, reality, knowledge, truth, values, etc. Skills in thinking and problem solving, research, writing, criticism, and analysis are emphasized. Philosophy programs provide a background for fields such as law, theology, journalism, business, or public service. Some students earn graduate degrees to become college philosophy teachers.
This program is intended to prepare students for transfer into the study of Philosophy and incorporates the UC transfer pathway.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Lower division major preparation for transfer into Philosophy.
- Upon completion of the program, students will: Exhibit strong academic behaviors, evidenced by their timeliness, regular attendance, participation in class activities, adherence to the College Honor Code, and awareness of their opportunities and obligations as students. Demonstrate through oral and/or written work knowledge of various metaphysical and epistemological questions and problems in philosophy including the nature and limits of knowledge, the existence of God, the Mind-Body Problem, the Freedom vs. Determinism and the Absolutism vs. Relativism debates, and related topics in ethics. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and make compelling arguments about the validity, soundness, strength, and cogency of inductive and deductive arguments, and critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of positions/theories relative to a specific problem/issue in metaphysics or epistemology (and/or ethics), with particular attention to the underlying philosophical assumptions contained therein.
Icon Key
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Gateway Course
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Program Requirement
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General Education
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Appropriate for Intersession
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Available Online
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Global Citizenship
Semester 1
15 Units
This course introduces students to the analysis of various metaphysical and epistemological questions and problems in philosophy, typically including, the nature and limits of knowledge, the existence of God, the Mind-Body Problem, the Freedom vs. Determination debate, and the Absolutism vs. Relativism debate. Related topics in ethics may also be included.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 3B: Humanities
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
This is a terminal mathematics course for liberal arts and social science majors. Topics include sets and counting, probability, linear systems, linear programming, statistics, and mathematics of finance, with emphasis on applications.
- Prerequisite: MATH 18 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 20 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 49 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 50
- 2A: Mathematic
- B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Thinking
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
This course covers concepts and procedures of descriptive statistics, elementary probability theory and inferential statistics. Course content includes: summarizing data; computation and interpretation of descriptive statistics;; classical probability theory; probability distributions; binomial, normal, T, Chi-square and F distributions; making inferences; decisions and predictions. This course develops, analyzes, and interprets confidence intervals for population parameters, hypothesis testing for both one and two populations, correlation and regression, ANOVA, and test for independence. This course develops statistical thinking through the study of applications in variety of disciplines. The use of a statistical/graphing calculator and/or statistical analysis software is integrated into the course.
- Prerequisite: MATH 20 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 18 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 49 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 50
- 2A: Mathematic
- B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Thinking
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
This introductory course in rhetoric emphasizes clear, effective written communication and preparation of the research paper.
- Prerequisite: ENGL 21B or
- Prerequisite: ENGL 22
- Prerequisite: ESL 19B or
- Prerequisite: Group A on the Placement Test
- 1A: English Composition
- A2 - Written Communication
- Area IV-A: Language and Rationality (Group A)
This course provides an exploration of intellectual, psychological, social and physical factors that impact lifelong learning, well-being and success. Topics include motivation and self-efficacy; critical thinking, academic integrity and active study strategies; health issues and lifestyle choices; relating to others as a global citizen; written and oral communication; time management; career exploration; and educational planning.
- E - Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development
required for CSU; elective for UC; COM ST 21 recommended
See the full list: IGETC Area 1C Course
Semester 2
15 Units
This course provides an introduction to the nature of ethical theory (moral philosophy), an analysis of significant ethical theories, and an exploration of the problems encountered in the continuing quest for a satisfactory ethical theory for contemporary society. Some of the main topics in normative ethics and meta-ethics are covered.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 3B: Humanities
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
This course helps students to develop their critical thinking and writing skills beyond the level achieved in English 1. The course emphasizes the application of logical reasoning, analysis, and strategies of argumentation in critical thinking and writing, using literature (both fiction and non-fiction) and literary criticism as subject matter.
- Prerequisite: ENGL 1
- 1B: Critical Thinking-English Composition
- 3B: Humanities
- A3 - Critical Thinking
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
IGETC Area 4 Course 3 units

Transferable Elective Course 3 units
Semester 3
15 Units
This is a beginning course in modern logic covering symbolic notation and translations, and decision procedures for validity and invalidity of arguments in sentential logic and predicate logic.
- A3 - Critical Thinking
This course will acquaint the student with some of the ancient Greek contributions to the Western philosophical and scientific tradition and examine a broad range of central philosophical themes concerning: nature, law, justice, knowledge, virtue, happiness, and death. There will be a strong emphasis on analyses of arguments found in the primary texts.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 3B: Humanities
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
POL SC 1 recommended
See the full list: IGETC Area 4 Course
US History recommended
See the full list: IGETC Area 4 Course
IGETC Area 3A Course 3 units
Semester 4
15-16 Units
This study of the principal philosophical developments since the Renaissance emphasizes the relation of philosophy to the growth of science and social and cultural changes in the modern period.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 3B: Humanities
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities