Philosophy

www.laguardia.edu/philosophy/

The Philosophy Program, administered by the Humanities Department, leads to an Associate in Arts (AA) degree. Philosophy majors study the core areas of philosophy and acquire the critical thinking abilities that are essential for success in all careers and areas of life. Philosophy, which means in the Greek “love of wisdom,” expands horizons, develops the mind and acquaints students with the great literature and intellectual heritage fundamental to our culture and society. It is a discipline that seeks to answer life’s most important questions: Who am I? Am I free? What is real? What is true? What is my moral compass? Does God exist? How can I create a meaningful life? In addition to helping students excel in all areas of academic study, philosophy has also been called “the ultimate transferable work skill” because it helps students develop the abilities that employers in all fields value: how to think critically, reason effectively, communicate clearly, solve problems intelligently, make enlightened decisions and construct thoughtful, well-grounded beliefs. The Times of London writes of philosophy in America: “The great virtue of philosophy is that it teaches not only what to think, but more importantly how to think…The employability rate for philosophers is 98.9%, impressive by any standard.”

LaGuardia’s nationally recognized and respected program in Philosophy and Critical Thinking offers a wide variety of courses that will prepare students for successful transfer to 4-year institutions and provides a firm foundation from which graduates may launch accomplished careers in law, business, medicine, journalism, publishing, computer science, education, history psychology, and many other areas. This is especially the case for students who go on for graduate or professional degrees, whether in philosophy or another field. In addition to taking courses, philosophy students at LaGuardia are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular opportunities such as the very energetic Philosophy Club that meets every week to discuss provocative issues, view and discuss films and take field trips. Students are also invited to submit articles to the LaGuardia philosophy journal, “The Gadfly.” The Philosophy Program is also actively involved in the Honors Program, which provides additional academic opportunities for qualifying students.

The Philosophy area provides a supportive and stimulating environment for its students, creating a community of thinkers dedicated to the pursuit of reflective understanding. The faculty work closely with philosophy majors as mentors to help them plan their curriculum, guide their career explorations, apply for scholarships, and transfer successfully to the right 4-year college. Many students take double majors when they transfer — one in philosophy and another in, say, psychology or English — with a view to careers as psychologists or creative writers. Philosophy easily combines in this way with work in many professional fields. The Philosophy Program’s curriculum has been developed in close consultation with Brooklyn College, and students may transfer there as juniors to the Philosophy Major. In addition, articulations with other branches of CUNY including Queens, Lehman, and Baruch ensure that all philosophy courses are fully transferable.