Jul 04, 2025

2025-2026 College Catalog

Liberal Arts - Philosophy Concentration, A.A.

HEGIS: 5649.00
PROGRAM CODE: 01044
PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Dr. Jacob Segal
CONCENTRATION COORDINATOR: Dr. Richard Legum

The Liberal Arts AA degree provides a foundation in general studies through exploration of an array of subject areas under liberal arts and sciences. Concentrations provide students opportunity to focus in a specific area. Courses promote development and application of effective communication skills, quantitative and scientific reasoning, critical thinking and analysis, and applying knowledge of human cultures, language and the natural world to issues experienced across diverse communities. The degree provides opportunity for transfer to baccalaureate programs.

The Philosophy Concentration examines fundamental questions about knowledge, reality, and values, such as: How can I know what is true? When am I justified in believing anything? Do morals really matter, or are they just tools of social control? How should I live? Does life have meaning, or do we just make it up as we go along? The Concentration provides foundational courses designed to cultivate deep, critical, and logical engagement with complex philosophical problems.

The curriculum presented here applies to students who started the major in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. If you enrolled as a matriculant prior to that, please see the College Catalog for the year you started the major as a matriculant for the curriculum requirements that apply to you.

Consultation with the Program Advisor is required.

Degree Map:

Degree Map for Liberal Arts, A.A. - Philosophy Concentration

Your Degree Map contains the suggested term-by-term course sequence for your academic path towards graduation.

To ensure successful and timely completion of your degree, it is recommended that you meet with your academic advisor to discuss your unique map.

Please note some courses may only be offered once an academic year.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Liberal Arts degree program requirements, graduates will:

demonstrate and apply ethical judgment to real-world problems and issues while recognizing multiple perspectives.
apply knowledge of human cultures, language, or the natural world to problems and issues experienced across diverse communities.
produce or analyze creative works according to a field or discipline’s vocabulary and theory, using relevant techniques and processes, and in response to best practices.

College Requirements:

English and Math proficient as determined by the CUNY Proficiency Index, unless otherwise exempt, or successful completion of any required developmental course(s).

Civic Engagement Experiences:

One (1) Civic Engagement experience satisfied by Civic Engagement Certified or Civic Engagement Component course or approved outside activity.

Writing Intensive Requirement:

One (1) Writing Intensive Course in any discipline is required.

Required Core (4 Courses, 12 Credits):

When Required Core Courses are specified for a category they are strongly suggested and/or required for the major

*Note: You may elect to take a math or science course that is 4 credits or more. TAP counts 3 credits towards the requirements and the 4^th credit as an elective

ENG 1200 - Composition I 3 Credit(s)
ENG 2400 - Composition II 3 Credit(s)
Mathematical & Quantitative Reasoning Course 3 Credit(s) *
Life & Physical Sciences Course 3 Credit(s) *

Flexible Core (6 Courses, 18 Credits):

One course from each Group A to E. and one (1) additional course from any Group.

No more than two courses can be selected from the same discipline

A. World Cultures and Global Issues Designated Course

B. U.S. Experience in its Diversity Designated Course

C. Creative Expression Designated Course

D. Individual and Society Designated Course

E. Scientific World Designated Course

Note: You may elect to take a math or science course that is 4 credits or more. TAP counts 3 credits towards the requirements and the 4^th credit as an elective.

Major Requirements (6 Courses, 18 Credits):

Courses used to satisfy the Major requirements cannot be used to also satisfy the Concentration requirements. Students enrolled in a Concentration cannot use the following required courses to also satisfy the CUNY Required or Flexible core.

Arts 3 Credit(s) or
Media and Film Studies 3 Credit(s) or
Music 3 Credit(s) or
Theatre 3 Credit(s)

AND

Speech 3 Credit(s)

AND

Literature or Philosophy 3 Credit(s)

AND

U.S. Politics or U.S. History 3 Credit(s)

AND

Psychology or Sociology 3 Credit(s)

AND

World History 3 Credit(s) or
Anthropology 3 Credit(s) or
World Language 3 Credit(s)

Philosophy Concentration (3 Courses, 9 Credits):

Courses used to satisfy the Concentration requirements cannot be used to also satisfy the Major requirements. Students enrolled in a Concentration cannot use the following required courses to also satisfy the CUNY Required or Flexible Core.

Select any three (3) Philosophy courses for a total of nine (9) credits.

Electives:

0 credits sufficient to meet required total of 60 credits.

Total Credits: 60

Notes:

World Languages proficiency through the 200-level is recommended for students who do not have native fluency, or have not successfully completed three years of one foreign language in high school and passed the Regents Level 3 language exam. These students may take a 100-level World Language as a Flexible Core: World Cultures and Global Issues (Group A) Pathways requirement and a 200-level World Language as a major requirement. Other concentrations may be able to do as listed above.
For concentrations other than General, it is recommended that you speak with your academic advisor.