Liberal Studies – Philosophy
Program Goals & Outcomes
The goal of the Philosophy Emphasis of the Liberal Studies Associate of Arts program is to prepare students to transfer to a 4-year college or university to pursue a degree in philosophy. This degree program also provides excellent preparation for students who plan to pursue further education in law, ministry, or any graduate programs requiring a strong background in critical thinking and the history of ideas. The program includes Rose State College degree requirements and those typically completed in the first two years of a four-year philosophy curriculum.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Evaluate ideas in the context of global human discourse;
- Compare and contrast cultural or philosophical perspectives;
- Apply civic and global awareness to analyze events, ideological positions, or practices from the past or present;
- Employ collegiate-level oral and written communication skills; and
- Apply multidisciplinary perspectives to produce solutions to contemporary problems.
Students in the program must complete the courses listed in the Program Requirements and Support & Related sections with a minimum grade of “C” in each course to receive the Associate of Arts degree. Students should consult the four-year institution to which they are planning to transfer and carefully select courses that will meet the requirements for the bachelor’s degree program.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (39 hours)
English Composition (6 hours)
- ENGL 1113 English Composition I+
- ENGL 1213 English Composition II+
U.S. History/U.S. Government (6 hours)
- HIST 1483 U.S. History to 1877
or HIST 1493 U.S. History Since 1877 - POLS 1113 American Federal Government
Sciences (7 hours)–one must include lab
See Science Electives below.
Humanities (6 hours)
See list in the College Catalog.
Mathematics (3 hours)
See Mathematics Electives below.
Liberal Arts (3 hours)
Students must earn a “C” or better in PHIL 1103 to be eligible for graduation.
- PHIL 1103 Introduction to Philosophy+
General Education Electives (8 hours)
See list in the College Catalog.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (12 hours)
Students must earn a “C” or better in these courses to be eligible for graduation.
- PHIL 2503 Philosophy Capstone+
- Philosophy Additional Program Requirements (9 hours)—See below.
SUPPORT & RELATED ELECTIVES (12 hours)
Students must earn a “C” or better in these courses to be eligible for graduation.
See Support & Related Electives below.
+Check course description for prerequisites that must be met.
Science Electives
HSBC 1104, HSBC 1224, HSBC 2103, HSBC 2114, GEOG 1114, or any course with the following prefixes: ASTR, BIOL, CHEM, ENSC, GEOL, METR, PHSC, or PHYS
Mathematics Electives
Any MATH course which is at least 1000 level or higher except MATH 2013, MATH 2023, & MATH 2033
Philosophy Additional Program Requirements
- PHIL 1223 Introduction to Asian Philosophy+
- PHIL 2103 Social & Political Philosophy+
or POLS 2803 Introduction to Political Theory - PHIL 2113 Introduction to Logic & Critical Thinking+
- PHIL 2203 Philosophy of Religion+
- PHIL 2303 Introduction to Ethics+
Support & Related Electives
- ECON 2843 Elements of Statistics+
- ENGL ____ Any 1000- or 2000-level ENGL course
- HUM ____ Any 1000- or 2000-level HUM course
- MATH 2103 Discrete Mathematics+
- MATH 2083 Introduction to Statistics for Engineering & Sciences+
- MUS 1203 Music in Life
- NAS 2223 Native American Philosophy+
- PHIL ____ Any 1000- or 2000-level PHIL course
- POLS 2403 Introduction to Comparative Political Systems
- PSYC/SOC 2123 Sex & Gender+
- PSYC 2503 Psychology Statistics+
- Any 1000- or 2000- level SPAN, FREN, GERM, or LANG course
Suggested Order of Enrollment
Students should enroll in a combination of General Education Requirements and Program Requirements to complete the degree. Check the College Catalog and/or class schedule for course offering specifics. The “+” symbol represents a prerequisite for the course. Any course offering is subject to change without notice.
1st Semester
| 2nd Semester
|
3rd Semester
| 4th Semester
|
A strong background in philosophy may lead you into the following fields:
- Business
- Education
- Religion
- Law
- Government
- Social Work
PHIL 1103 Introduction to Philosophy
This course investigates the nature of humanity, our understanding of the world, and the ways in which we make ethical decisions. The course will include a general introduction to major areas of philosophical studies, including, but not limited to, metaphysics, epistemology, and axiology. The major emphasis will be on Western philosophy; however, other traditions will be introduced. This course may be taken as Humanities credit for General Education requirements. Prerequisite: READ 1213 or equivalent
PHIL 1223 Introduction to Asian Philosophy
This course will introduce you to the foundational texts of the major philosophic schools from India and China, with emphasis on Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism. We will examine the primary philosophic questions addressed by each tradition, and where appropriate seek to make connections to parallels in Western thought. Overall, the goal of this course is to introduce how these different traditions offer valuable contributions to general philosophical questions. Prerequisite: READ 1213 or equivalent
PHIL 2103 Social & Political Philosophy
This course discusses major alternatives for social and political systems. Traced and discussed is the development of such topics as the rights of individuals, the responsibilities of a citizenry to the state, and the relative strengths of different forms of government and social organizations. May be taken as Humanities credit for General Education requirements. Prerequisite: READ 1213 or equivalent
PHIL 2113 Introduction to Logic & Critical Thinking
This is a training course in critical reasoning skills and formal logic. The first half of the course is devoted to a general introduction to critical reasoning, obstacles to critical reasoning studied by cognitive psychologists, and inductive argumentation, especially determining probabilities. The second half of the course is devoted to the use of formal logic in the evaluation of statements and arguments. All topics in the course are geared especially toward the practical applicability of critical reasoning skills. Prerequisite: READ 1213 or equivalent
PHIL 2203 Philosophy of Religion
The focus of this course is the application of philosophy to religious world-views. Topics covered may include the following: arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil, the rationality of religious belief, religious experience, atheism, religious exclusivism versus pluralism, paradoxical attributes of God, differing conceptions of the afterlife, the relationship between science and religion, non-traditional/non-Western conceptions of God and religion. Prerequisite: READ 1213 or equivalent
PHIL 2303 Introduction to Ethics
This course will familiarize you with the historical development of many of the major moral philosophies of the word so that those students will have a more knowledgeable foundation for their own ethical convictions. The Western tradition is examined extensively, as well as other moral systems such as the Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, African and Islamic traditions. May be taken as Humanities credit for General Education requirements. Prerequisite: READ 1213 or equivalent
PHIL 2502 Philosophy Capstone Course
The Philosophy Capstone course evaluates and strengthens the critical reasoning skills and understanding of philosophical theory in students seeking an associate’s degree in philosophy or intending to transfer to a four-year program. This is a required course for those graduating with a Liberal Studies Associate in Arts – Philosophy option degree. Prerequisite: Completion of at least nine hours of program requirements in Philosophy.
Rose State College and other Oklahoma colleges and universities have memorandums of understanding which identify course equivalencies between both institutions. These agreements aid transfer students.
Students who complete this program will have the ability to:
- Employ the philosophical principles of rational thought to construct logical, insightful, clear and effective arguments.
- Combine analytical skills and philosophical ideology to evaluate the complex discourse of others.
- Use knowledge of philosophical theories to employ contemporary problems in areas such as metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, social and political theory, and religion.
- Demonstrate understanding of the history of ideas and intellectual movements in Western culture and how those ideas fit into a larger global framework of philosophical movements.
- Use the critical thinking and logic skills integral to philosophy to more openly explore the worldviews of others in order to construct a more meaningful worldview for themselves.