Philosophy

Why Study Philosophy?

Philosophy, for the love of wisdom

• What is the meaning of life?
• Does God exist?
• What is knowledge?
• What is the nature of the self?
• What is right and wrong?
• What is truth?
• Do we have free will?
• What is the nature and significance of death?

Philosophy, to help develop strong cognitive skills and important intellectual values

• Thinking critically.
• Analyzing arguments.
• Assessing value questions.
• Understanding theoretical issues.
• Constructing and articulating arguments with clarity, confidence and efficacy.
• Exhibiting an openness and intellectual generosity towards the ideas and arguments of others and other traditions.
• Presenting one’s own ideas and arguments with conviction and humility.

Philosophy, useful for many majors and careers

• Law
• Education
• Publishing & Journalism
• Advertising
• Psychology
• Business & Finance
• Computers & Technology
• Religious Ministry
• Government & Foreign Service
• Philanthropy

Philosophy Degrees

Brookdale offers the following degrees and certificates in Philosophy; click on the degree to read more in our online catalog.

Philosophy Option, Social Sciences, A.A.

This option prepares students for transfer to a four-year college Philosophy Program in preparation for academic professions such as teaching or scholarly research/writing. Skills developed in this program are highly valued in many types of employment such as Law, Business, Bioethics, Nursing, Education, Religious Ministry, Employee Relations, Government, Technical Writing and Publishing.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Assess critically arguments found in public discourse, using deductive and inductive logic and other critical thinking techniques
• Develop a metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, and/or religious synthesis in the formulation of their own opinions
• Present ideas clearly in written form about difficult issues, such as life and death, truth and reality

Prerequisites and requirements