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TRANSFER COURSE CRITERIA FOR

Philosophy


Along with the general selection criteria, every major has required and recommended coursework for transfer students to have completed in order to be considered competitive during the selection process.

Required Courses

Before applying to a major, you should successfully complete or be in the process of completing the required courses to maximize (but not guarantee) your chance of selection. You must complete these units by the spring of the term before your intended fall enrollment to receive consideration during the selection process.

Desired Courses

Because Cal Poly is highly impacted and selection to all majors is very competitive, desired courses should also be successfully completed or in progress when you apply for admission.

Evaluating Your Courses

All the courses listed are Cal Poly Courses. You can use www.assist.org to identify the course equivalencies between Cal Poly and the California Community Colleges. Be sure to use the corresponding academic year in which you completed the course. If you are out-of-state or a transfer student from another four-year institution, you may have to compare your catalog course descriptions with Cal Poly’s catalog to identify the equivalent courses. Cal Poly is unable to evaluate transcripts for you prior to selection.

Course Listings

Fall 2024

Required Courses

English Language Communication and Critical Thinking

  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication/English Composition
  • Critical Thinking

Mathematics

  • Any CSU GE Area B4 Mathematics or Statistics course

Desired Courses

Arts, Literature, Philosophy and Foreign Languages

  • Any CSU GE Area C course

Literature/Philosophy course strongly encouraged as preparation for the analytical reading that typifies upper-division major and GE courses in the College of Liberal Arts.

Philosophy

  • PHIL 101/Introduction to Philosophy

Major Related 

  • PHIL 241/Symbolic Logic I
  • PHIL 230/Philosophical Classics: Knowledge and Reality
  • PHIL 231/Philosophical Classics: Ethics and Political Philosophy
Fall 2025

Required Courses

English Language Communication and Critical Thinking

  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication/English Composition
  • Critical Thinking

Mathematics

  • Any CSU GE Area B4 Mathematics or Statistics course

Desired Courses

Arts, Literature, Philosophy and Foreign Languages

  • Any CSU GE Area C course

Literature/Philosophy course strongly encouraged as preparation for the analytical reading that typifies upper-division major and GE courses in the College of Liberal Arts.

Major Related 

  • PHIL 101/Introduction to Philosophy
  • PHIL 241/Symbolic Logic I
  • PHIL 230/Philosophical Classics: Knowledge and Reality
  • PHIL 231/Philosophical Classics: Ethics and Political Philosophy

All information is subject to change without prior notice.