What do you do with a philosophy degree?

Question

What profession does a person get themselves into with a degree in philosophy and a heavy bent for helping people.

Answer 1

All undergraduate degrees prepare you for a variety of careers. You're proving you can show up, that you can work, that you can learn, and more ... all things that matter to a potential employer, and reasons college graduates are more likely to get jobs and to reach their earning potential over the course of their careers. If you are at a liberal arts institution, you will be studying a variety of things as a part of your general education program, something that can help you develop in many areas. [If you're at a vocational school, it's more likely you will be getting a two year degree meant to specifically prepare you for a particular job.]

Your specific choice of academic major may help you better get a foot in the door to compete for the job you want.

You may not be applying for a job specific to your major.

A degree in philosophy may help you prepare to think critically and consider problems from all sides, something many jobs require. If you like helping people, something I applaud, then that narrows it down a little further. If you feel you are able to handle intense workloads, I might encourage you to consider law school. If that doesn't sound like you, I think you could do many other things, becoming a teacher (additional training would be required) or finding a place working for the government, a non-profit, or a for profit that matches your interests.

According to the Illinois State University Philosophy department, philosophy majors might work in any of these fields:

"administration/management - in such diverse areas as personnel, financial aid, or public relations. Employment settings might include college or university, prisons, hospitals, government agencies (county, state or federal),and private companies

business - management, sales, consulting public relations, fund raising, systems analysis, advertising, and banking

government - congressional staff member, federal agencies and bureaus, state and local governments, United Nations, foreign service, and cultural affairs

insurance- agent and broker

journalism - reporter and critic (books, dance, film)

publishing/writing - sales, editing, management, freelance,

technical writing for a company or government, and script writer

pre-professional training - A philosophy major also provides excellent undergraduate preparation for law school, MBA programs, medical school, and seminary."

And note this statistic:

"On the standardized tests for law school (LSAT), philosophy majors rank the third highest in performance (mathematics majors are first and economics majors are second). On the GMAT (standardized test for graduate level business programs) philosophy majors rank the second highest (with mathematics majors first). Philosophy majors rank first on the standardized verbal tests for graduate school (GRE/verbal)."

I'm citing ISU here because they have a well written page. You'll find many other colleges and universities have similar pages.

I further recommend this book: College Majors Handbook with Real Career Paths and Payoffs: The Actual Jobs, Earnings, and Trends for Graduates of 60 College Majors, by Neeta P. Fogg, Paul E. Harrington, and Thomas F. Harrington. Ask for it at your college library. Philosophy is Ch. 47, pp. 473-482, in the 2nd edition. There's more in the chapter than I can efficiently relay here. One interesting fact is that men and women graduating with degrees in philosophy tend to end up in very different careers. And the book will also tell you about earning expectations, etc.

Answer 2

Philosophy does not specifically prepare you for any profession, other than teaching philosophy. However, the imbalances between student numbers and jobs is such that in a number of applied areas related to philosophy, notably law and psychology, only a small proportion (in the case of Psychology in the UK, where I am, about 10%) of students actually enter the profession. Given that some Universities are better than others, one may surmise that there are Psychology degrees very few of whose graduates become psychologists.

Many graduates enter jobs that require any degree. Employers of such graduates often value a philosophy degree because it emphasises clear thinking, getting to the fundamentals of the issue. Philosophy lecturers I know tell me this is particular true for jobs related to IT -where study of formal logic is relevant - and, paradoxically, law. In the UK, anyway, many lawyers enter the profession through a graduate conversion course. In many ways it is preferable to do a Philosophy degree at a good university and convert rather than do an undergraduate Law degree where historically you tended to be stuffed full of facts instead of thinking. If you have a bent for helping people, you would presumably then look to work in a Legal Aid Centre or something of that sort.

If you have a bent for helping people, you might find your interest in philosophy leading into work for a campaigning charity, for instance on animal issues or human rights. You would want to show relevant interests on your cv., and philosophy would be unlikely to be a specific requirement for the job.

Thre are a small number of jobs for Philosophers in the Health Service to advise on Medical Ethics. I wouldn't count on getting one!

I chose. after a period of joint study, to do Psychology at University rather then Philosophy on career grounds. I am not sure I was right. My advice is that if a subject really interests you, go for it.

Answer 3

There is so much one can do with a degree in philosophy since the degree emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, logic, and communication. In other words, the degree provides a firm foundation for most any career of your choice (save mathematics and the physical sciences). Many people go on to get advanced degrees in philosophy or other fields of interest.

Here's a site from Illinois State University that should help: http://www.philosophy.ilstu.edu/students/careers.html

All the best to you!

Answer 4

What does one do with a philosophy degree? Live a thoughtful life.
How does one serve one's fellow man and make a living at it? I'd think your study of philosophy would lead you to an answer. In the U.S., much of the population are Christian, at least in some degree of background, and have been exposed to the stories of Jesus washing peoples' feet; that is, serving others in ways that are quite the opposite of prestigious. So the housepainting answer is not entirely tongue-in-cheek.

Answer 5

I think someone above already answered, but basically, because philosophy stresses clear-thinking and getting to the fundamental roots of a problem [and all that other jazz], you shouldn't have TOO difficult a time getting a job.

Also, think about it this way: not every psychology major is going to end up as a shrink/counselor/whatever, not every pre-med major will go on to medical school, not every legal studies major will go to law school, and not every chemistry major will get a job that is related to whatever he/she studied in college. In other words, don't worry about it; at least you didn't pigeon-hole yourself into a niche like all those other "practical" majors did.

Answer 6

Work at starbucks or juice it up. Don't parents and counselors tell philosophy majors how difficult it will be to find a job where a philosophy major is required?

Answer 7

Definitely one can teach, that is what I do; but there are businesses that hire philosophers for ethical issues. Because philosophers are trained to think clearly and logically. I also write articles and hope to write a book, further I also like to debate on issues concerning Christianity.

Answer 8

Most young people with philosophy degrees are working at McDonalds, Burger King, etc. Unfortunately, our society does not financially reward most philosophers, artists, muscians, etc.

Answer 9

Teach

Answer 10

With a philosophy degree you can philosophize what you would do with such a degree.