Philosophy

PhilosophyThe word "philosophy" literally means "love of wisdom." Philosophy is the rational investigation and analysis of the truths and principles of being, knowledge and conduct.

Unlike science, philosophy is comprised of investigations into the nature, causes and principles of reality based on logical reasoning, rather than by empirical methods. As a concept and a subject, philosophy encompasses all of knowledge and all that can be known, including the means by which knowledge is acquired. The ancient Greeks organized philosophy into basic categories, including: metaphysics (being in general); epistemology (knowledge); ethics (human conduct), and aesthetics (beauty). This organization of the subject matter of philosophy is still largely in use today.

Studying philosophy is excellent preparation for any field of endeavor, which requires rational and complex thinking, such as ethics or law.

Students interested in pursuing higher education in the field of philosophy should consider taking the following courses as electives while at STCC:

PHIL-110 Philosophy 1
PHIL-310Philosophy 2

Liberal Arts Transfer Program Goals

The Liberal Arts Transfer program will produce graduates who:

  1. as graduates, transfer to senior institutions having completed the general education requirements of the senior institutions.
  2. as graduates, transfer to senior institutions as full Juniors.
  3. transfer courses as equivalents of prerequisites for junior and senior level courses in their majors at the senior institution.
  4. complete the bachelor's degree at the same rate as native students.
  5. demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking, quantitative, reasoning, communication, and information and technological literacy.

(LTTR.AA) Curriculum
Semester 1
No. Course Title Credits
ENGL-100 ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1 3
STAT-142 STATISTICS (or) 3
MATH-122 APPLIED MATHEMATICS 1 (or) 3
MATH-124 MATHEMATICS FOR A TECHNICAL SOCIETY (or) 3
MATH-132 TECHNICAL MATHEMATICS 1 (or) 4
ELMAT GENERAL MATH ELECTIVE 3
HIST-110 SURVEY OF EARLY U.S. HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT (or) 3
PSCI-100 AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 3
PSYC-100 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY 3
ELLIB GENERAL LIBERAL ARTS ELECTIVE (Note 1) 3
Total: 15-16
Semester 2
No. Course Title Credits
ENGL-200 ENGLISH COMPOSITION 2: AN INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE 3
ELHIS GENERAL HISTORY ELECTIVE 3
ELSCI4 GENERAL LAB SCIENCE ELECTIVE 4
SOCL-100 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (or) 3
SOCL-110 INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY 3
ELLIB GENERAL LIBERAL ARTS ELECTIVE (Note 1) 3
Total: 16
Semester 3
No. Course Title Credits
ELLIT GENERAL LITERATURE ELECTIVE 3
ELSCI4 GENERAL LAB SCIENCE ELECTIVE 4
ENGL-203 FUNDAMENTALS OF ORAL COMMUNICATION 3
ECON-100 PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS 1 3
ELLIB GENERAL LIBERAL ARTS ELECTIVE (Note 1) 3
Total: 16
Semester 4
No. Course Title Credits
ELLIT GENERAL LITERATURE ELECTIVE 3
PHIL-210 PHILOSOPHY 2 (or) 3
PHIL-110 PHILOSOPHY 1 3
ELLIB GENERAL LIBERAL ARTS ELECTIVE (Note 1) 3
ELLIB GENERAL LIBERAL ARTS ELECTIVE (Note 3) 3
ELHUM GENERAL HUMANITIES ELECTIVE (Note 2) 3
Total: 15

Notes:

  1. Liberal Arts Electives include: Math, Science, Social Sciences (except PSYC-109), Humanities, Fine Arts, and CMPA-196(Computing in the Arts and Sciences). A foreign language is recommended. For those students interested in secondary education, EDUC-320 Foundations of Education may be taken.
  2. Humanities Electives include: Art, Music, Drama or Creative Writing. Two are needed for students planning to transfer to Westfield State College.
  3. CMPA-196 Computing in the Arts and Sciences is strongly recommended.

Upon the successful completion of requirements for this program, the degree of Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts Transfer will be awarded.