Philosophy
Associate in Arts
Program Details
What is philosophy? Philosophy is an activity rather than a set of beliefs. It is thinking critically, systematically, and creatively about fundamental and important questions about knowledge, values, and reality that include the following and more: What do I know, and how do I know it? What is justice? Does God exist? Do I have free will? What is the nature of the mind and self? Students are required to complete 60 units for the degree, including 18 units for the major and 25 general education units. In addition to preparing one for advanced study in the discipline, the Chabot Philosophy Program enriches its students with the ultimate transferable and portable job skills that ready them for careers in the fields of law, medicine, business, education, public service, film-making, writing, and technology.
Philosophy Pathways
Pathways listed below are for the catalog year 2025-2026. Maps for previous years are available on each pathway page. What is a catalog year?
Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes help you work towards your educational goals.
- convey understanding of major philosophical questions, theories, and concepts in the areas of metaphysics (nature of reality), epistemology (knowledge), and axiology (value theory);
- explicate and analyze globally significant texts from the history of philosophy; 4. employ the methods of philosophical inquiry, especially the principles of logic (formal & informal) and critical thinking; 5. demonstrate proficiency in portable language skills, including listening and reading carefully and critically, speaking articulately, and -- most importantly -- proficiency in philosophical writing, which includes presenting & supporting a philosophical thesis, articulating & responding to objections, and in general, writing in a way that is clear, precise, coherent, concise, well-organized, effective, and valuable; 6. demonstrate philosophical virtues, including being open-minded, imaginative, appropriately skeptical, intellectually humble, charitable, incisive, and truth & justice-seeking.
- reconstruct, analyze, and evaluate arguments for and against major philosophical positions;