Guide for Prospective Majors and Minors
The School of Athens, by Raphael, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City.
"[Philosophical] questions enlarge our conception of what is possible, enrich our intellectual imagination and diminish the dogmatic assurance which closes the mind against speculation."—Bertrand Russell
Why Study Philosophy?
Philosophy is the study of what there is (metaphysics), what we can know (epistemology) and the nature of the good, the right, and the beautiful (ethics and aesthetics).
Studying philosophy will teach you to think clearly and critically, and to communicate complex ideas effectively both orally and in writing. These skills will serve you well both as a student of philosophy and as an engaged and responsible citizen.
Career Opportunities
Your philosophy courses will prepare you for a wide range of careers—in law, business, finance, management, technology, journalism, education, politics, and civil service—by cultivating your abilities to think critically and creatively about complex problems, and to express yourself with confidence and clarity. According to the data provided by the American Philosophical Association (2016–2017), students that major in philosophy have the highest starting salary in the humanities and they earn more than any other humanities major throughout their career. As a student of philosophy, you will gain valuable skills that will help as you prepare to embark on a career.
Top Attributes Employers Seek (NACE Job Outlook Report, 2018)
- Problem Solving - 82.9% of respondents
- Communication (Written)- 80.3% of respondents
- Analytical/Quantitative - 67.5% of respondents
- Communication (Verbal) - 67.5% of respondents
- Detail Oriented - 64.1% of respondents
Practical Skills Obtained by Majoring in Philosophy
- Critical reasoning
- Analytical skills
- Creative and flexible thinking
- Ability to synthesize complex information
- Ability to articulate complex concepts
- Strong writing/communication skills
- Diplomacy
Career Paths
The following are some career paths that a Philosophy B.A. will prepare you for:
- Law / Paralegal
- Financial / Business Analyst
- College Professor
- K-12 Teacher
- Entrepreneur
- Medicine / Public Health
- Library Science
- Project Management
- Biomedical Researcher
- Social Worker
Average Annual Salary for Career Paths in Philosophy (PayScale, 2022)
- Attorney / Lawyer—$76,000
- Associate Attorney—$81,000
- Software Engineer—$96,000
- Operations Manager—$67,000
- Paralegal—$51,000
- Marketing Manager—$71,000
- Project Manager—$70,000
Median Annual Income for Philosophy Majors (American Philosophical Association/PayScale, 2017)
- 0–5 years—$44,700
- 5–10 years—$60,700
- 10–20 years—$81,600
- >20 years—$95,000
Helpful Links
- Majors, Minors, and Interdisciplinary Programs
- Advisers
- General advisement—Contact any of our full-time faculty members.
- Pre-law advisement—Contact Professor Anna Gotlib.
- Contact Us
