Philosophy Associate of Arts
Program Description
This program is designed for students wanting to complete the first two years of a Bachelor's degree at the community college and transfer to a university to complete a BA in Philosophy. Students explore hidden meanings behind everyday life. Careers often require a Master's degree or higher. Philosophy explores human ideas and problems, such as life, reality, values, knowledge, understanding, and language. It has many areas and the content involves many places, cultures, and periods of history. This program introduces students to the field of Philosophy and it includes courses that are common to all four-year institutions in Colorado. Career paths for Philosophy degree holders include law, government, business, science, teaching, and advanced university studies. The Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Philosophy prepares students to complete the second half of a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Philosophy at a four-year university.
Learn more about this program.
My Academic Plan: Full-Time
Courses are displayed in a full-time sequence showing the fastest path to your degree. Follow the pathway below to complete your AA degree in 4 semesters (2 years). For more information, please see your Academic Advisor.
First Semester
| PHI 1011 | Introduction to Philosophy: GT-AH3 | 3 |
| GT- HI1 | Any History (GT-HI1). Prefer: The Middle Ages (HIS 2300) or 20th Century World History (HIS 2015) | 3 |
| ENG 1021 | English Composition I: GT-CO1 | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: Medieval-Modern Civilization (HUM 1022) or World Mythology (HUM 1015) | 3 |
| GT-AH1 or GT-AH2 or GT-AH4 | Any Arts & Humanities (GT-AH1, AH2, or AH4). Prefer: World Literature to 1600 (LIT 2001) or World Literature After 1600 (LIT 2002) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Semester Note: You may take PHI 1012 and PHI 1013 in either Semester 1 or Semester 2. Larimer campus strongly recommends that PHI 1013 be taken First semester and no later than Second semester. Boulder and Westminster campuses recommend that PHI 1013 be taken in the Second semester. See Philosophy Faculty or Academic Advisors for more information.
Second Semester
| PHI 1012 | Ethics: GT-AH3 | 3 |
| PHI 1013 or PHI 2013 | Logic (PHI 1013) or Symbolic Logic (PHI 2013) | 3 |
| ENG 1022 | English Composition II: GT-CO2 | 3 |
| GT-AH1 or GT-AH2 or GT-AH4 | Any Arts & Humanities (GT-AH1, AH2, or AH4). Prefer: Music History: Medieval-Classical (MUS 1021) or Romantic-Present (MUS 1022) | 3 |
| GT- MA1 | Any Mathematics (GT-MA1). Prefer: Math for Liberal Arts (MAT 1240) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Semester Note: If you take more credits in Mathematics and Science than are listed, it will reduce the elective credits needed.
You may take PHI 1012 and PHI 1013 in either Semester 1 or Semester 2. Larimer campus strongly recommends that PHI 1013 be taken First semester and no later than Second semester. Boulder and Westminster campuses recommend that PHI 1013 be taken in the Second semester. See Philosophy Faculty or Academic Advisors for more information.
Either Logic (PHI 1013) or Symbolic Logic (PHI 2013) may be completed to fulfill the Logic requirement. Symbolic Logic (PHI 2013) is preferred at Colorado State University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Colorado Boulder, and University of Colorado Denver.
Third Semester
| PHI 2005 or PHI 2014 or PHI 2018 or PHI 2020 | Business Ethics (PHI 2005), Philosophy of Religion (PHI 2014), Environmental Ethics (PHI 2018), or Philosophy Death & Dying (PHI 2020) | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: Women & Social Action (WST 2100) | 3 |
| GT- SS | Any Social & Behavioral Science (GT-SS). Prefer: Psychology-Death & Dying (PSY 2222) | 3 |
| GT-SC1 or GT-SC2 | Any Natural & Physical Lab Science (GT-SC1) or Natural & Physical Non-Lab Science (GT-SC2). Prefer: Environmental Science with Lab (ENV 1111) | 3 |
| PHI 2005 or PHI 2014 or PHI 2018 or PHI 2020 | Business Ethics (PHI 2005), Philosophy of Religion (PHI 2014), Environmental Ethics (PHI 2018), or Philosophy Death & Dying (PHI 2020) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Semester Note: If you take more credits in Mathematics and Natural & Physical Science than are listed, it will reduce the elective credits needed.
Fourth Semester
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course1. Prefer: Comparative Religions (PHI 1014), World Religions-West (PHI 1015), World Religions-East (PHI 1016), Business Ethics (PHI 2005), Philosophy of Religion (PHI 2014), Environmental Ethics (PHI 2018), or Philosophy Death & Dying (PHI 2020) | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: Cultural Anthropology (ANT 1001) | 3 |
| GT- SS | Any Social & Behavioral Science (GT-SS). Prefer: Human Geography (GEO 1006) | 3 |
| GT- SC1 | Any Natural & Physical Lab Science (GT-SC1). Prefer: Biological Anthropology (ANT 1005) | 4 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Semester Note: If you take more credits in Mathematics and Science than are listed, it will reduce the elective credits needed.
1Students planning to attend the University of Colorado Boulder MUST NOT TAKE additional PHI-prefix courses when completing their electives area.
My Academic Plan: Part-Time
Courses are displayed in a part-time sequence providing flexibility for the working professional. Follow the pathway below to complete your AA degree within 8 semesters (3 years). This pathway may be accelerated by applying transfer credit, credit for prior learning, and/or completing one or more additional courses each semester. For more information, please see your Academic Advisor.
Fall Semester 1
| PHI 1011 | Introduction to Philosophy: GT-AH3 | 3 |
| ENG 1021 | English Composition I: GT-CO1 | 3 |
| GT- HI1 | Any History (GT-HI1). Prefer: The Middle Ages (HIS 2300) or 20th Century World History (HIS 2015) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Spring Semester 2
| PHI 1012 | Ethics: GT-AH3 | 3 |
| ENG 1022 | English Composition II: GT-CO2 | 3 |
| GT- MA1 | Any Mathematics (GT-MA1). Prefer: Math for Liberal Arts (MAT 1240) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Semester Note: If you take more credits in Mathematics and Science than are listed, it will reduce the elective credits needed.
You may take PHI 1012 and PHI 1013 in either Semester 2 or Semester 4. Larimer campus strongly recommends that PHI 1013 be taken Second semester and no later than Fourth semester. Boulder and Westminster campuses recommend that PHI 1013 be taken in the Fourth semester. See Philosophy Faculty or Academic Advisors for more information.
Summer Semester 3
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: Medieval-Modern Civilization (HUM 1022) or World Mythology (HUM 1015) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Fall Semester 4
| PHI 1013 or PHI 2013 | Logic (PHI 1013) or Symbolic Logic (PHI 2013) | 3 |
| GT-SC1 or GT-SC2 | Any Natural & Physical Lab Science (GT-SC1) or Natural & Physical Non-Lab Science (GT-SC2). Prefer: Environmental Science with Lab (ENV 1111) | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Semester Note: If you take more credits in Mathematics and Science than are listed, it will reduce the elective credits needed.
Either Logic (PHI 1013) or Symbolic Logic (PHI 2013) may be completed to fulfill the logic requirement. Symbolic Logic (PHI 2013) is preferred at Colorado State University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Colorado Boulder, and University of Colorado Denver.
Spring Semester 5
| PHI 2005 or PHI 2014 or PHI 2018 or PHI 2020 | Business Ethics (PHI 2005), Philosophy of Religion (PHI 2014), Environmental Ethics (PHI 2018), or Philosophy Death & Dying (PHI 2020) | 3 |
| GT- SC1 | Any Natural & Physical Lab Science (GT-SC1). Prefer: Biological Anthropology (ANT 1005) | 4 |
| GT-AH1 or GT-AH2 or GT-AH4 | Any Arts & Humanities (GT-AH1, AH2, or AH4). Prefer: World Literature to 1600 (LIT 2001) or World Literature After 1600 (LIT 2002) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
Semester Note: If you take more credits in Mathematics and Science than are listed, it will reduce the elective credits needed.
Summer Semester 6
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course1. Prefer: Comparative Religions (PHI 1014), World Religions-West (PHI 1015), World Religions-East (PHI 1016), Business Ethics (PHI 2005), Philosophy of Religion (PHI 2014), Environmental Ethics (PHI 2018), or Philosophy Death & Dying (PHI 2020) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Semester Note: 1Students planning to attend the University of Colorado Boulder MUST NOT TAKE additional PHI-prefix courses when completing their electives area.
Fall Semester 7
| GT-AH1 or GT-AH2 or GT-AH4 | Any Arts & Humanities (GT-AH1, AH2, or AH4). Prefer: Music History: Medieval-Classical (MUS 1021) or Romantic-Present (MUS 1022) | 3 |
| GT- SS | Any Social & Behavioral Science (GT-SS). Prefer: Psychology-Death & Dying (PSY 2222) | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: Women & Social Action (WST 2100) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Spring Semester 8
| PHI 2005 or PHI 2014 or PHI 2018 or PHI 2020 | Business Ethics (PHI 2005), Philosophy of Religion (PHI 2014), Environmental Ethics (PHI 2018), or Philosophy Death & Dying (PHI 2020) | 3 |
| GT- SS | Any Social & Behavioral Science (GT-SS). Prefer: Human Geography (GEO 1006) | 3 |
| Approved Elective List | Any Approved Elective List Course. Prefer: Cultural Anthropology (ANT 1001) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Total Credit Hours: 60
Prior Learning eligible course
• Learn more about Credit for Prior Learning
• View all eligible courses
Important Program Notes:
It is recommended that you meet with Philosophy Faculty to discuss your destination college and guidance regarding philosophy and religious study courses.
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), you may complete ENG 1021 (GT-CO1) and ENG 1022 (GT-CO2) OR ENG 1022 (GT-CO2) and a gtPathways-approved CO3 course (GT-CO3).
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), if you are planning to attend the University of Colorado Boulder, you MUST NOT TAKE additional PHI-prefix courses when completing their electives area.
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), you are required to take 15 credits of Philosophy courses. PHI 1011, PHI 1012, and PHI 1013/PHI 2013 are required. You may choose two courses from PHI 2005, PHI 2014, PHI 2018, or PHI 2020. Any Philosophy courses taken in addition to the 15 credits may transfer as degree elective credits to your 4-year institution, which are necessary to complete a Bachelor's degree. Please see your advisor and check with your transfer institution for details on how credits will transfer and be applied.
Per the Statewide Articulation Agreement (STAA), you must take two gtPathways Natural & Physical Science courses (GT-SC1, GT-SC2). One of these courses must have the required laboratory (GT-SC1).
If you take more credits in Mathematics and Science than are listed, it will reduce the 14 credits of electives needed.
You must complete a minimum of 60 credits to complete this degree. If receiving financial aid, you should only take courses and credits as required for this degree. Check with your advisor to monitor your completion progress.