<p>Im going to SMC (a california cc) and they dont offer the pre-req classes I need for UC Berkeley. I was planning to study Philosophy...What should I do? Should I just finish my IGETC and apply with no pre-reqs completed? Should I change my major?</p>
<p>yeah... Berkeley doesn't consider phil classes articulated at most of the CCC campuses. i just applied philosophy, have taken 7 phil classes, A's in all of them.. spoke to the Berkeley transfer advisor.. aside from the general consesus that if your CC doesn't offer articulated classes for your major, it won't be held against you, she also said that after applying to the major, i'll have the opportunity to sit down with the department heads to determine whether or not credit will be awarded for similar classes i've taken. for example, Berkeley's philosophy pre reqs are Logic, Ancient Phil and Modern Phil.. upon transfer, i'll have taken 'Symbolic Logic', 'Greek Phil' and 'Modern Phil'.. </p>
<p>your main concern should be to get the grades while showing an interest in philosophy. take as many 200 level courses as is reasonable and you'll be in good shape. </p>
<p>good luck.</p>
<p>Did you get accepted? What were your stats? What is a "200 level course" ?
Does this mean that they would weigh my overall gpa more because I havent done the pre-reqs? Because I dont think I will end up with a 4.0 when transfer time comes around...probably around 3.7ish</p>
<p>I got accepted into Berkeley from a different CC. But Berkeley doesn't have any available pre-reqs at any CC (from what I hear). It doesn't matter, just take more than 5 philosophy classes to show that you are a philosophy major and not some free-loader trying to latch onto an "easy" major.</p>
<p>I understand that my last statement was a bit callous and harsh, but you won't believe how many people do that.</p>
<p>Don't stress about it, just make sure your GPA is over 3.7.</p>
<p>"Your situation is completely common (not having pre-req courses that articulate) and we simply recommend that you take the courses most similar to Introduction to Logic, Ancient Philosophy, and Modern Philosophy that Santa Monica offers. I'm sorry that I couldn't be of more help but please let me know if you need anything else."</p>
<p>This is the email response I got from from the Phil. department. Okay cool...Should I take the Symbolic Logic class? Its the only one available thats not full at the moment. Or should I crash a class? Whyd you go to UCLA over Cal?</p>
<p>finish igetc and take similar philo classes</p>
<p>yeah, that symbolic logic class satisfies UCLA's requirement, too. it's definitely worth taking. you might also look into a 'critical thinking and writing in philosophy'. i'm not sure about santa monica, but it was offered at SBCC and worked to satisfy the second english comp. requirement. taking that, along with 'Ethics' and 'Intro to Phil', in no particular order, are ways you can rack up philosophy department classes and knock out IGETC reqs at the same time. </p>
<p>my advice to you is to focus on those three first. if you like them and perform well, try moving onto one of the more analytic classes (Modern, Contemporary, Greek/Ancient, Medieval). you might think you like philosophy, but until you take a critical look at figures like Kant, or Hume, and the like, in an academic setting, you really won't have an accurate idea of what you're getting yourself into.</p>
<p>I prefer a department that is stronger in logic, metaphysics and philosophy of language. Also, I freaking love the department here. Everyone is incredible, from the TA's to the Professors. I have class in 30 minutes, haha!!!</p>
<p>also, pinkerfloyd is right that it is harder than CC gives off.</p>
<p>make sure that you have a strong logic background. know about universal quantifiers and whatnot. get used to reading the old works, like Plato and whatnot. just make sure you can write a paper and do whatever you can to make it as perfect as possible. harsh reality about paper writing will definitely hit 99% of most people after that first assignment in your new school.</p>
<p>word to the wise: avoid taking the Kant class by Tyler Burge unless if you like your GPA the way it is or you are hoping to improve it.</p>