So you want to become a philosophy major. Many questions are probably going through your mind, such as: what kind of education will I receive? How well do philosophy majors perform on standardized tests? What types of skills will I learn to set myself up for a career, and most importantly, what careers will even be available to me?
Careers and jobs that philosophy majors can do!
Teaching. Philosophy majors develop oral and written communication skills as well as a solid understanding of learning itself, an awareness characteristic of highly effective teachers. Philosophy majors are not destined to teach solely on subjects of philosophy, but acquire the skills necessary to teach an array of topics including, but not limited to: high school education, English, Social Science, Political Science, and Law.
Executive-level administration and management. Many Fortune 500 CEOs have degrees in liberal arts majors like philosophy because these majors develop your interpersonal communication and organization.
Law. Many lawyers got their undergraduate training in philosophy because the skills involved in reading and thinking clearly and arguing effectively apply to brief-writing as well as litigation techniques. Courses such as Language and Logic, Introduction to Ethics, Business Ethics and Biomedical Ethics will be especially helpful for you. Philosophy and Law are closely intertwined fields.
Ethics and social & political philosophy. Nonprofit organizations and governmental organizations hire philosophy majors for their experience developing policies to protect and represent the environment, the arts, education, health, the sciences and culture.
Computer programming. Software creation, ontological engineering, axiomatizing, language development, and systems engineering are among the computer-related careers enjoyed by philosophy majors.
Technical writing. This is one of the biggest growth areas for majors in philosophy, philosophy of science, and ethics.
Creative writing. Philosophy and logic/argumentation can prepare you for a career as a novelist nonfiction writer or a poet.
Public relations and journalism. PR and journalism both require careful use of language, something philosophy majors learn quickly.
Editing and publishing. These fields require a strong facility with language, combined with the communication skills philosophy majors develop.
Mediation. Philosophy majors' skills at communicating and analyzing all sides of issues make them ideal mediators (for example, mediators are used in divorce cases, or to settle disputes between unions and corporations).
Philosophical counseling/philosophical practice. Did you know that not all counselors and therapists study psychology? The American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA) trains and certifies philosophy majors to do work similar to psychiatry and psychoanalysis, and is now beginning to build and accredit graduate programs in philosophical practice.
Aesthetics. Philosophy prepares you to be an archivist, curator, or museum manager. The philosophy major's appreciation for aesthetic taste, as well as organizational skills, means you have the right balance for a career in these art management fields!