Philosophy
ApplyExplore great thinkers and ideas
Enroll in a Philosophy course at Skyline College for an enriching and challenging academic experience that focuses on exploring the great breadth of the human experience through the lens of philosophical problems or theories. The study of philosophy will give you the intellectual resources you need to better understand yourself, your world, and your society in addition to preparing you for a variety of careers.
Philosophy studies the fundamental issues of justice, morality, knowledge, and reality through the exploration of great thinkers and ideas from a variety of movements and traditions.
To succeed in Philosophy, students will develop strong reading, writing, critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as demonstrate a passion for understanding broad humanity-spanning ideas from a variety of perspectives.
Career Outlook
A degree in Philosophy provides a broad base of knowledge that can be applied to a wide range of careers including teaching, government service, law, communications, journalism and more. The demand for jobs and the pay for these careers varies widely across the nation and the State of California.
The State of California Employment Development Department provides an online Occupational Guide that provides helpful job descriptions, job outlooks and wages, and qualification requirements for a wide variety of careers. Use this guide to find more information about a career that may interest you.
Looking for a list of classes offered this semester?
Check out the current class schedule.All Courses
PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy (3 units)
A survey of philosophical ideas from a variety of traditions, ancient and modern, Western and non-Western, on fundamental questions regarding humanity and our relation to nature, knowledge and reality, moral values and political ideals, religion, consciousness, free will, and other topics. Incorporates the methods and practice of critical thinking.
PHIL 103 Critical Thinking (3 units)
Methods and standards for evaluating various types of beliefs, propositions, and arguments. Includes a study of the connections between language and logic, sources of bias, psychological and philosophical impediments to critical thinking, fallacies and errors of reasoning, explanatory arguments, and moral reasoning.
PHIL 160 History of Western Philosophy: Ancient and Medieval (3 units)
History of Western philosophy from ancient Greeks to late Medieval period, with emphasis on Pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, Epicureans, Stoics, Skeptics, and philosophers of Medieval Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Topics include origins and development of philosophy; methods of thought; and classical theories of reality, knowledge, justice, and ethics.
PHIL 200 Introduction to Logic (3 units)
An introduction to symbolic logic with an emphasis on proof systems (especially natural deduction) for truth-functional, propositional, and quantificational predicate logic. Includes techniques for the translation of English statements and arguments into a formal language, methods for determining the validity of arguments, and basic probability theory.
PHIL 240 Introduction to Ethics (3 units)
An introduction to moral theories and contemporary moral problems that explores philosophical views on topics including: human nature and human potential; virtues and duties; and criteria for evaluating persons and institutions. Moral theory will be applied to such problems as war, global poverty, distributive justice, euthanasia, abortion, and sustainability.
PHIL 280 Introduction to Political Philosophy (3 units)
A critical examination of political philosophies such as Liberalism, Conservatism, Communitarianism, Libertarianism, Socialism, Feminism, Marxism, etc. through readings by influential thinkers such as Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Marx, Rawls, and contemporary writers. Topics include theories of human nature, conceptions of justice, the rights of individuals, the distribution of wealth and power, the significance of ideology, and the role of markets. Also listed as PLSC 280.
PHIL 300 Introduction to World Religions (3 units)
Comparative study of the origins, beliefs, practices, art, and rituals of the world’s major religious traditions: Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, and others. Includes examination of the role of religion in social life as well as the enduring philosophical issues (metaphysical and moral) that religious traditions grapple with.
PHIL 312 Introduction to Philosophy of Religion (3 units)
Philosophical thought about religion with an emphasis on issues central to traditional monotheism. Includes critical examination of ideas about the origin of religion, the existence of God, the problem of evil, the occurrence of miracles, the veridicality of mystical experience, the possibility of an afterlife, religious pluralism, and other topics.
PHIL 320 Asian Philosophy (3 units)
A survey of philosophical traditions of Asia with focus on the most influential thinkers and classical texts of Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Topics include human nature and social relations, moral values (such as humaneness, duty, and non-injury), theories of knowledge, and metaphysical notions (such as karma, nirvana, chi, and yin/yang).
PHIL B10 Medical Ethics (3 units)
Application of moral theory to a variety of problems in medicine and health care delivery, such as: uses of medical technology, allocation of resources, responsibilities and obligations of health care providers, medically assisted dying, genetic screening, abortion and reproductive rights, and experiments on human or animal subjects.
| Program | Type | Total Units |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy for Transfer | AA-T | 60 Units |
Open to anyone interested in Philosophy! Contact skylinephilosophyclub@gmail.com for information.
Club Meetings: Fridays at 12:00pm
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate familiarity with the history of philosophical thought and contemporary currents in the discipline.
- Assess influential claims and theories in the philosophical tradition using rigorous methods of critical thinking and logic.
- Compose a reasoned essay that responds to a philosophical problem or that applies a philosophical theory to a contemporary issue.
Location: Building 1
Email: socialsci-creativearts@smccd.edu
| Type | Status | Title | Days | Time | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
OPEN | PHIL 100 - 56031 - Introduction to Philosophy | TBA | Zoughbie, A | |
| |
OPEN | PHIL 240 - 56303 - Introduction to Ethics | TBA | Zoughbie, A | |
| |
OPEN | PHIL 300 - 56232 - Intro to World Religions | TBA | Zoughbie, A |
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For beginning Philosophy Students:
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Primary Contact
Philosophy Faculty
