Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts

Program Information
Credential: 
Bachelor's Degree
Duration: 

2 years at RDC - 2 years at most universities

Delivery: 
Main Campus
Program Cost Estimates: 

Contact Information

Contact Name: 
Dr. Jane MacNeil
Contact Title: 
Associate Dean
Contact Phone: 
403.342.3400 OR 1.888.732.4630
Contact Email: 
inquire@rdc.ab.ca

Department Information

For more information about the Philosophy program, visit the Philosophy Department.

University Transfer Program

Two-Year University Transfer Program:

RDC offers the first two years of the Bachelor of Arts program.

For the most current university program and transfer information, see the Planning Guides in Academic Advising.

Related Careers
  • Administration
  • Government and Civil Service
  • Research
  • Management
  • Journalism
  • Publishing
  • Computing and Information Technology
  • Ethics Practitioner (Hospital, Business)

Graduates may also go on to professional studies (for example in fields such as law, business, education, etc.) or may continue to graduate studies (for a Master's or Doctoral program) in Philosophy.

B.A. graduates generally have superior skills in conceptual analysis, evaluation and critical reasoning, leadership motivation, and interpersonal and communication skills.

The Program

For a general discussion of the B.A. program, click here.

Philosophy is the study of thought and reasoning, with special application to abstract and conceptual areas of enquiry typically outside of the fields of the sciences, such as the Nature of Reality or Moral Values.

Transfer Features

Visit the Bachelor of Arts page for transfer features.

Requirements
Admission Requirements: 

Visit the Bachelor of Arts page for full admission requirements.

Program Content
University of Alberta

For the Compulsory Core Requirements that must be completed in the courses of a four-year degree, see general information for the B.A. program.

Credits below = U of A credits. RDC credits may differ from U of A credits. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide for transfer credit information.

Refer to the University of Alberta Program Requirements on the Bachelor of Arts page for detailed information.

Suggested Pattern Year 1

  • ENGL 219/ENGL 220 (6 credits)
  • PHIL 201 (3 credits)
  • PHIL 202 (3 credits)
  • Basic Requirements (18 credits)
Year 1 Course Descriptions

ENGL 219

The focus is on formal preparation for university level essay writing and the skills related to critical reading; interpretation; and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or English 095 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 219 and ENGL 210.

ENGL 220

The course explores a range of literary genres while continuing to focus on deepening the required structural and critical skills related to thinking and writing about literature. Pre-requisite: Engl 219 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 220 and 210.

PHIL 201

The classical problems of Western philosophy. Studying and discussing selected philosophical classics and contemporary works. Emphasis is on questions of moral and other values; and on the nature of society and justice. Note: Do not take if you have credit in PHIL 239 or 240.

PHIL 202

The classical problems of Western philosophy. Studying and discussing selected philosophical classics and contemporary works. Emphasis is on questions of the nature and extent of human knowledge; and classic problems about the nature of reality and our place in it. Note: Do not take if you have credit in PHIL 230 or 240.

Suggested Pattern Year 2

  • Sr PHIL (12 credits)
  • Basic Requirement (6 credits)
  • Open Option (12 credits)
University of Calgary

For the Compulsory Core Requirements that must be completed in the courses of a four-year degree, see general information for the B.A. program.

Credits below = U of C credits. RDC credits may differ from U of C credits. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide for transfer credit information.

Refer to the University of Calgary Program requirements on the Bachelor of Arts page for detailed information.

Suggested Year 1 Pattern

  • ENGL 219/ENGL 220 (6 credits)
  • PHIL 201 (3 credits)
  • PHIL 202 (3 credits)
  • Science requirement (3 credits)
  • Open options (15 credits)
Year 1 Course Descriptions

ENGL 219

The focus is on formal preparation for university level essay writing and the skills related to critical reading; interpretation; and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or English 095 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 219 and ENGL 210.

ENGL 220

The course explores a range of literary genres while continuing to focus on deepening the required structural and critical skills related to thinking and writing about literature. Pre-requisite: Engl 219 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 220 and 210.

PHIL 201

The classical problems of Western philosophy. Studying and discussing selected philosophical classics and contemporary works. Emphasis is on questions of moral and other values; and on the nature of society and justice. Note: Do not take if you have credit in PHIL 239 or 240.

PHIL 202

The classical problems of Western philosophy. Studying and discussing selected philosophical classics and contemporary works. Emphasis is on questions of the nature and extent of human knowledge; and classic problems about the nature of reality and our place in it. Note: Do not take if you have credit in PHIL 230 or 240.

Suggested Year 2 Pattern

  • Sr PHIL (18 credits)
  • Open Options (12 credits)
University of Lethbridge

For the General Liberal Education Requirements that must be completed in the courses of a four-year degree, see general information for the B.A. program.

Credits below = U of L credits. RDC credits may differ from U of L credits. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide for transfer credit information.

Refer to the University of Lethbridge Program requirements on the Bachelor of Arts page for detailed information.

Suggested Year 1 Pattern

  • PHIL 201/PHIL 202 (6 credits)
  • PHIL 221 (3 credits)
  • ENGL 219/ENGL 220 (6 credits)
  • General Liberal Education Requirements (15 credits)
Year 1 Course Descriptions

PHIL 201

The classical problems of Western philosophy. Studying and discussing selected philosophical classics and contemporary works. Emphasis is on questions of moral and other values; and on the nature of society and justice. Note: Do not take if you have credit in PHIL 239 or 240.

PHIL 202

The classical problems of Western philosophy. Studying and discussing selected philosophical classics and contemporary works. Emphasis is on questions of the nature and extent of human knowledge; and classic problems about the nature of reality and our place in it. Note: Do not take if you have credit in PHIL 230 or 240.

PHIL 221

Informal and elementary formal methods and principles used to distinguish correct and incorrect reasoning. Informal fallacies; definitions; and elementary principles of scientific method.

ENGL 219

The focus is on formal preparation for university level essay writing and the skills related to critical reading; interpretation; and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or English 095 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 219 and ENGL 210.

ENGL 220

The course explores a range of literary genres while continuing to focus on deepening the required structural and critical skills related to thinking and writing about literature. Pre-requisite: Engl 219 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 220 and 210.

Suggested Year 2 Pattern

  • Sr PHIL (6 credits)
  • Open Options (18 credits)
  • General Liberal Education Requirements (6 credits)