Mission Statement

Butte College Philosophy introduces students to the intellectual and religious traditions that shape global cultures while fostering skills in logical thinking, clear writing, sound argumentation and the thoughtful consideration of diverse world views. 

Program Description

Butte Philosophy supports student success in meeting General Education transfer and diversity education requirements, strengthens student ability to think logically and write well while studying the rich intellectual traditions of global cultures. 
PHIL-006, Introduction to Logic and PHIL-008, Methods of Argument meet the CSU and IGETC Critical thinking requirements. Philosophy courses also meet requirements for the Sustainability and Peace and Conflict Resolution Certificates.  

Student Learning/Administrative Unit Outcomes

The first SLO for PHIL-006 (Introduction to Logic), "Evaluate, analyze and criticize arguments," embodies much of the focus of the Philosophy Discipline as a whole (and accords with GELO area E, second outcome).As Philosophy faculty participants in our SLO discussion noted, "we live in a world of fake 'facts' which are often used in argument"; "students need to focus on identifying hidden assumptions" and "learn to think about their own thinking (in terms of identifying biases and even prejudices)."Faculty use a variety of methods to accomplish this SLO (not only for this particular course but across all Philosophy courses), including refining writing assignments so students can imagine responses of the original writer to questions about assumptions; encouraging more thoughtful consideration of evidence needed for extraordinary claims; using journals to reflect on one's own thinking; and, for PHIL-006, using practice exercises with extensive feedback so students come to understand the shape of philosophical argumentation; and the introduction of rules, truth tables, and Venn diagrams for the evaluation of deductive arguments.Faculty report some progress, with innovative approaches (such as the use of Flipgrid video discussions and the gamification of the Aristotelian Square of Opposition), in students meeting this outcome, though its fundamental nature calls for continual efforts at imroving mastery.

Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (Instruction Departments)

The success rate has improved over the years charted while retention has remained relatively stable. Philosophy courses are difficult, but the discipline is moving toward the 70% "standard" for success, albeit slowly. PHIL-018 (Eastern Religions) for Fall 2018 had a success rate of 73% (face-to-face) with 69.64% (online).
PHIL-006 (Introduction to Logic) online for Fall 2018 actually outperformed face-to-face sections in student success, 54% (face-to-face) compared with 59% (online).
Headcount and Enrollment Trend


The enrollment decline is accounted for in part by the loss to retirement of two of the three full-time philosophy faculty.
A Philosophy AA-T is in active development.

Standards/Goals for Student Achievement (All Other Departments)

Strategic Direction

The Philosophy Discipline
IMPLEMENT GUIDED PATHWAYS
Strategic scheduling, including winter and summer offerings, late start classes, and online courses. There is as of this reporting period no transfer degree in Philosophy, and with the retirement of two full-time Philosophy faculty during the last five years the ability to be full participants in Guided Pathways is constrained. A transfer degree in Philosophy is in active development.
CLOSING EQUITY GAPS
Most sections offer open-source, no-cost textbook options to students.
Development of campus-service videos to share with Philosophy students (2019FA: counseling services; 2020SP: Roadrunner Hub)
A new Peer Online Course Review (POCR) process will ensure online Philosophy courses are aligned with the

CVC-OEI rubric (http://onlinenetworkofeducators.org/course-design-academy/online-course-rubric/) and the
Peralta Online Equity rubric (http://web.peralta.edu/de/equity-initiative/equity/)

MEETING ENROLLMENT TARGETS

The discipline is actively developing a Philosophy AA-T degree.
In addition to scheduling sections at both Main Campus and Chico Center, late start (fast-track) and online modalities have been implemented.
Because of reduced enrollment need philosophy artefacts (including busts of Socrates and orhers) for outreach and promotion (Spirit Days, Transfer Day, and so on).
Partner wirh Chico State Philosophy Deparrment to encourage the deveopmenrt of mutual activities.

MEETING ACHIEVEMENT GOALS
Key focus is PHIL-006.

Establishing video chat office hours, open discusison area (with frequent instruction intervention) for online PHIL-006 (Introduction to Logic sections) to encourage students to continue to practice logic exercises. (2019-2020 Strategic Direction C.6.)
Introduction of practice exercises in face-to-face logic classes.

FOSTERING INCLUSIVENESS
Use of varied teaching strategies.
Emphases on understanding diverse cultures, especially those in trhe Islamic world, China and India.
IMPROVING PROCESSES
Data and reporting - SLO meeting for deep dive discussion about data; currently in process of gathering data for future program review.
Communication - The one fulltime member of the department meets regularly with other SBS department fulltime facultry.
STRENGTHING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The full-time Philosophy faculty is participating in the FAIR Classroom program, which will encompass 5 online PHIL-006 sections.
Providing department travel funds for an associate faculty member to present a conference paper.
Emphasis in SBS department meetings on building G.R.I.T. (Gratitude, Resilience, Ingenuity, Tangibility), sharing some practical tools you can use for faculty and students as we continue rebounding from crisis in our community. (Acronym courtesy of SBS Chair Heather Valle.)

Program Review

The Philosophy Department is scheduled for Curriculum Review in 2020-21 and to complete its self study in 2021-22.
We have completed all of the recommendations from last Program Review.

Department Goals

Develop an AA-T in Philosophy
Reduce any succes rate gap between face-to-face and online Philosophy courses
Increase success rate of PHIL-006 (Introduction to Logic)
Create innovative schedule

Future Development Strategies

Requested Non-Financial Resources

Current Financial Resources

Augmentation Requests