# Philosophy (PHIL) courses Mt. San Antonio College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 21 courses Source: https://catalog.mtsac.edu/programs/coursesaz/phil/ "Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026, Winter 2027. ### PHIL 3 — Introduction to Logic - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **C-ID:** PHIL 110 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 7 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Winter 2027, 2 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/winter-2027/phil.md) - Degree Applicable The use of arguments in ordinary discourse and in academic disciplines within the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences with particular focus on deductive logic. Deductive and inductive reasoning techniques will be critically examined to establish their logical correctness or identify their fallaciousness. ### PHIL 3H — Introduction to Logic - Honors - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Acceptance into the Honors Program - **C-ID:** PHIL 110 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027 schedules - Degree Applicable The use of arguments in ordinary discourse and in academic disciplines within the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences with particular focus on deductive logic. Deductive and inductive reasoning techniques will be critically examined to establish their logical correctness or identify their fallaciousness. An honors course is designed to provide an enriched experience. Students may not receive credit for both PHIL 3 and PHIL 3H. ### PHIL 4 — Introduction to Symbolic Logic - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **C-ID:** PHIL 210 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027 schedules - Degree Applicable Introduction to the basic elements of modern logic: the nature of arguments, sentence symbolization, truth functions, truth tables, natural deduction, and predicate logic. ### PHIL 5 — Introduction to Philosophy - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Eligibility for ENGL 68 - **C-ID:** PHIL 100 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 20 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Winter 2027, 3 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/winter-2027/phil.md) - Degree Applicable Philosophical ideas concerning knowledge, reality, and values. Topics will include the sources and limits of knowledge and the nature of reality. Other topics may include the nature of self, truth, ethics, religion, science, language, beauty and art, political theory, and mind. ### PHIL 5H — Introduction to Philosophy - Honors - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Acceptance into the Honors Program - **C-ID:** PHIL 100 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 3 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Winter 2027, 2 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/winter-2027/phil.md) - Degree Applicable Philosophical ideas concerning knowledge, reality, and values. Topics will include the sources and limits of knowledge and the nature of reality. Other topics may include the nature of self, truth, ethics, religion, science, language, beauty and art, political theory, and mind. An honors course is designed to provide an enriched experience. Students may not receive credit for both PHIL 5 and PHIL 5H. ### PHIL 8 — Critical Thinking - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 3 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Winter 2027, 1 section (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/winter-2027/phil.md) - Degree Applicable Effective use of critical thinking in contemporary living, including recognizing faulty arguments, the usefulness of validity and truth, and identifying and avoiding common fallacies in thinking. ### PHIL 9 — Critical Thinking and Writing - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 10 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Winter 2027, 3 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/winter-2027/phil.md) - Degree Applicable This course aims to help students from diverse backgrounds develop good writing skills through learning and applying critical thinking tools in their everyday lives. The critical thinking tools that will be learned in this course include rules from both formal and informal logic, rules for identifying impartial sources to conduct informed research, and rules for writing argumentative essays on topics of interest to students. Among other topics of interest, students are invited to research and write on topics that identify explicit and implicit biases in everyday thinking and speaking, to explore images and discursive forms of representation that help overcome these biases, and to employ research that guides them into forming clear, coherent, and equitable arguments. This course is equivalent to English 1C for transfer and there is a requirement that students write a minimum of 6000 words throughout the semester. This requirement is easily achievable based on a variety of writing assignments included in the course. ### PHIL 9H — Critical Thinking and Writing - Honors - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A and Acceptance into the Honors Program - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Winter 2027, 1 section (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/winter-2027/phil.md) - Degree Applicable This course aims to help students from diverse backgrounds develop good writing skills through learning and applying critical thinking tools in their everyday lives. The critical thinking tools that will be learned in this course include rules from both formal and informal logic, rules for identifying impartial sources to conduct informed research, and rules for writing argumentative essays on topics of interest to students. Among other topics of interest, students are invited to research and write on topics that identify explicit and implicit biases in everyday thinking and speaking, to explore images and discursive forms of representation that help overcome these biases, and to employ research that guides them into forming clear, coherent, and equitable arguments. This course is equivalent to English 1C for transfer and there is a requirement that students write a minimum of 6000 words throughout the semester. This requirement is easily achievable based on a variety of writing assignments included in the course. An honors course is designed to provide an enriched experience. Students may not receive credit for both PHIL 9 and PHIL 9H. ### PHIL 12 — Introduction to Ethics - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A - **C-ID:** PHIL 120 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 6 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Winter 2027, 2 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/winter-2027/phil.md) - Degree Applicable Concepts of morality and values, representative ethical theories, and applications to moral problems. ### PHIL 12H — Introduction to Ethics - Honors - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Acceptance into the Honors Program - **C-ID:** PHIL 120 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 3 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Winter 2027, 1 section (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/winter-2027/phil.md) - Degree Applicable Concepts of morality and values, representative ethical theories, and applications to moral problems. An honors course is designed to provide an enriched experience. Students may not receive credit for both PHIL 12 and PHIL 12H. ### PHIL 15 — Major World Religions - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 3 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Winter 2027, 1 section (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/winter-2027/phil.md) - Degree Applicable This course offers an introductory survey of religious traditions from around the world. By learning to identify and analyze the practices, beliefs, and history of a variety of religions, students will understand the role of religion in shaping people's lives, from an individual to a global scale. Religions presented and examined both appreciatively and critically include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Indigenous traditions. Off-campus assignments are required. ### PHIL 15H — Major World Religions - Honors - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Acceptance into the Honors Program - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Winter 2027, 1 section (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/winter-2027/phil.md) - Degree Applicable This course offers an introductory survey of religious traditions from around the world. By learning to identify and analyze the practices, beliefs, and history of a variety of religions, students will understand the role of religion in shaping people's lives, from an individual to a global scale. Religions presented and examined both appreciatively and critically include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Indigenous traditions. Off-campus assignments are required. An honors course is designed to provide an enriched experience. Students may not receive credit for both PHIL 15 and PHIL 15H. ### PHIL 16 — Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md) - Degree Applicable Examines enduring questions in the philosophy of religion, such as the concepts of God, arguments for and against the existence of God, the nature of religious experience, whether there is an afterlife, the relation between faith and reason, the relationship between religion and science, the relationship between religion and morality, the problem of evil, whether belief in miracles is rationally justified, and implications of the diversity of religious belief. ### PHIL 16H — Introduction to Philosophy of Religion - Honors - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Acceptance into the Honors Program - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md) - Degree Applicable Examines enduring questions in the philosophy of religion, such as the concepts of God, arguments for and against the existence of God, the nature of religious experience, whether there is an afterlife, the relation between faith and reason, the relationship between religion and science, the relationship between religion and morality, the problem of evil, whether belief in miracles is rationally justified, and implications of the diversity of religious belief. An honors course is designed to provide an enriched experience. Students may not receive credit for both PHIL16 and PHIL 16H. ### PHIL 20A — Introduction to Ancient Philosophy - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A - **C-ID:** PHIL 130 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md); Winter 2027, 1 section (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/winter-2027/phil.md) - Degree Applicable Major philosophers and philosophical ideas from pre-Socratic to Medieval Period. Emphasis on the development of Greek philosophy from the pre-Socratics through Aristotle and may also include Hellenistic, Roman, Medieval, and non-Western thinkers. ### PHIL 20AH — Introduction to Ancient Philosophy - Honors - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Acceptance into the Honors Program - **C-ID:** PHIL 130 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md) - Degree Applicable Major philosophers and philosophical ideas from pre-Socratic to Medieval Period. Emphasis on the development of Greek philosophy from the pre-Socratics through Aristotle and may also include Hellenistic, Roman, Medieval, and non-Western thinkers. An honors course is designed to provide an enriched experience. Students may not receive credit for both PHIL 20A and PHIL 20AH.Major philosophers and philosophical ideas from pre-Socratic to Medieval Period. Emphasis on the development of Greek philosophy from the pre-Socratics through Aristotle and may also include Hellenistic, Roman, Medieval, and non-Western thinkers. An honors course is designed to provide an enriched experience. Students may not receive credit for both PHIL 20A and PHIL 20AH. ### PHIL 20B — Introduction to Modern Philosophy - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A. - **C-ID:** PHIL 140 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027 schedules - Degree Applicable Major philosophers and philosophical ideas from the Renaissance to the present, with an emphasis on Western philosophy. ### PHIL 20BH — Introduction to Modern Philosophy - Honors - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Acceptance into the Honors Program - **C-ID:** PHIL 140 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027 schedules - Degree Applicable Major philosophers and philosophical ideas from the Renaissance to the present, with an emphasis on Western philosophy. An honors course designed to provide an enriched experience. Students may not receive credit for both PHIL 20B and PHIL 20BH. ### PHIL 24 — Introduction to Philosophy of Film - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Winter 2027 schedules - Degree Applicable Philosophical investigation of film as an art form, including representation, aesthetic experience, form, and critical evaluation. Focus on themes of truth, mind body problem, identity, freedom, ethics, and other philosophical topics explored in film form. ### PHIL 99 — Special Projects Philosophy - **Units:** 1-3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 18-54 - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md) - Degree Applicable Offers students recognition for their academic interests in philosophy and the opportunity to explore the discipline of philosophy to greater depth. The content of the course and the methods of study vary from semester to semester and depend on the particular project under consideration. ### PHIL 312 — Introduction to Biomedical Ethics - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** Lecture: 54 - **Prerequisite:** Admission to the BS in Histotechnology - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/mt-san-antonio-college/schedule/fall-2026/phil.md) - Degree Applicable Key issues within the closely related fields of medical ethics, bioethics, and biomedical ethics. The course will be structured around some of the major "problem areas" that are widely debated in these fields, including the ethics of medical research; human enhancement; reproduction and reproductive technologies; euthanasia. It will also introduce students to a range of ethical theories and modes of ethical theorizing.