This is an archived copy of the 2011-2012 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.miracosta.edu

Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of reality, knowledge, and values based on logical reasoning. The Philosophy and Religious Studies Department offers courses that explore the discipline as well as courses that focus on the analysis and comparison of religious traditions using methods from a variety of disciplines. Students take courses to prepare for a major or to fulfill general education requirements in humanities or the social sciences.

Contact Information

Department Chair: Isabel Luengo

Dean: Carlos Lopez

www.miracosta.edu/PHIL

Department: Philosophy and Religious Studies

Office: Building 3100, 760.795.6871

Full-Time Faculty

Isabel Luengo
Louisa Moon

Associate Degree

Associate in Arts Degree

Philosophy

The Philosophy Program offers lower-division preparation for students who plan on transferring to pursue a bachelor's degree in philosophy. Students planning to transfer and/or earn this associate degree may also need to complete additional requirements or electives required by the transfer institution, as many CSUs and UCs have unique admissions and preparation-for-the-major requirements. Students should meet with a MiraCosta College counselor to identify required courses and to develop a written plan for their targeted university.

Required courses: 
PHIL 100Informal Logic and Critical Thinking3
PHIL 101Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality3
PHIL 102Contemporary Moral Problems3
Required Electives:12
Select one English course.
Critical Thinking, Composition, and Literature
Critical Thinking, Composition, and Literature (Honors)
Critical Thinking and Composition
Critical Thinking and Composition (Honors)
Select two courses from either French or German.
Elementary French (First Semester)
Elementary French (Second Semester)
Intermediate French (Third Semester)
Intermediate French (Fourth Semester)
Elementary German (First Semester)
Elementary German (Second Semester)
Intermediate German (Third Semester)
Total Units21

 

Additional foreign language courses may be required for preparation for the major at specific universities. Graduate programs in philosophy usually require competency in either French or German.

How to Read Course Descriptions

Courses

PHIL 100: Informal Logic and Critical Thinking

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (1509.00)

Use of logic in science and practical life: fallacies, language, hypotheses, probability, experimentation. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, the deductive, and inductive processes.

PHIL 101: Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (1509.00)

Introduction to philosophical inquiry with emphasis on problems of knowledge and reality through analysis of classical and contemporary works on such issues as freedom, human nature, and God. Each student is encouraged to think independently and formulate his/her own tentative conclusions.

PHIL 102: Contemporary Moral Problems

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (1509.00)

An inquiry into the nature of morality as it applies to a variety of personal and social issues through the reading and analysis of classical and contemporary works.

PHIL 105: Asian Philosophy and Religion

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in ASIA 105.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (1509.00)

An interdisciplinary survey of the philosophical and religious thought of South and East Asia and its application in theory and practice in traditional Asian societies.

PHIL 122: World Religions

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (1509.00)

Understanding of a people through their religion. Offers an enlargement of understanding of the world's major faiths, how their many forms came to be, how they differ, what their central tenets are, and what they basically have in common.

PHIL 221: Philosophy of Religion

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (1509.00)

Investigation of religion. Reasons for and against various fundamental religious beliefs. Considers religious phenomena of many kinds in the interest of understanding and clarifying what persons intend to be and do when they act religiously. Philosophy of Religion takes nothing for granted; it takes the liberty of calling anything religious into question. It aims to bring religious beliefs and assumptions out into the open, to subject them to scrutiny and to arrive at a rational assessment for religious affirmation.

PHIL 292: Internship Studies

Units: 0.5-3
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 60 non-paid or 75 paid hours of work per unit.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
(1509.00)

This course provides students the opportunity to apply the theories and techniques of their discipline in an internship position in a professional setting under the instruction of a faculty-mentor and site supervisor. It introduces students to aspects of the roles and responsibilities of professionals employed in the field of study. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or intern at a new site upon each repetition. Students may not earn more than 16 units in any combination of cooperative work experience (general or occupational) and/or internship studies during community college attendance.

PHIL 296: Topics in Philosophy

Units: 1-3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 1 hour.
Lecture 2 hours.
Lecture 3 hours. (1509.00)

A study of relevant topics in the discipline not covered in the current selection of courses. Designed to meet special needs; content determined by participating faculty members in consultation with students and the community.

PHIL 298: Directed Study in Philosophy

Units: 1-3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Instructor and department chair approval and successful completion of 12 units of college work with at least a 3.0 grade-point average.
Repeatability Rule: May be taken for a total of 3 units.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Laboratory 3 hours.
Laboratory 6 hours.
Laboratory 9 hours. (1509.00)

This course allows students to pursue a special area of interest in order to achieve specific goals beyond the scope of existing courses within the discipline. Students work independently and interact directly with an instructor on an individual basis and as prescribed by the Directed Study Agreement.

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