哲学的研究发展和完善了对我们某些基本概念的严格分析性理解，包括知识，理性，真理和价值。由于学术界的所有其他学科都依赖于此类概念的使用，因此哲学研究对于面向完整性的教育至关重要。<br>哲学研究还产生了其他明显的学术收益。研究表明，哲学专业的学生在美国的专业和研究生学校的入学考试中得分至少比平均分数高出五个百分点。在这方面，没有其他学科与哲学相符。哲学家的学生在商学院和管理学院的考试中比数学家以外的其他任何学生都做得更好。
The study of philosophy develops and refines a rigorous, analytic understanding of certain of our fundamental concepts, e.g., knowledge, reason, truth and value. Since all other disciplines in academia rely on the use of such concepts, the study of philosophy is essential for an education directed toward completeness.<br><br>The study of philosophy also yields other tangible academic benefits. It has been shown that philosophy students scored at least five percentage points above average in admission tests for professional and graduate schools in America. No other subject matches philosophy in this respect. Philosophy students do better in examinations for business and management school than anyone except mathematicians.<br><br>With employment opportunities beyond academia apparently growing, e.g., consultants to hospitals, state legislatures, Congress, genetic engineering firms and artificial intelligence companies, there has also been a proliferation of philosophical journals focused on such topics as the allocation of scarce medical resources, abortion, euthanasia, disposal of nuclear waste, corporate responsibility and fair profit, etc.<br><br>The Philosophy Department additionally provides an Introduction to Philosophy course which surveys most of the standard fields of philosophy — logic, epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, the philosophy of religion and political philosophy.<br><br>The other courses offered (Ethics, Logic, Comparative World Religions, History of Philosophy: Ancient, Modern and Contemporary, Issues in Philosophy) are more specific and detailed accounts of these standard fields.<br><br>These philosophy courses may be transferred to four-year institutions. (Check for specifics with your counselor)<br><br>Philosophy majors at Santa Barbara City College are required to take a minimum of eighteen (18) Philosophy units. Those students considering a major in Philosophy should consult with a Philosophy Department faculty member to plan a departmental course of study that will most benefit them.