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CAREERS FOR  PHILOSOPHY MAJORS

 

     "What can I do with a degree in Philosophy?"  The answer to this question would be, “Anything that any Liberal Arts major can do, and maybe more!”  Because Philosophy tends to attract better-than-average students, B.A. graduates are found in government, business and service professions, and in graduate and professional studies such as law, medicine, and the ministry, as well as academic disciplines such as Philosophy, English, Anthropology, Psychology.  The choice of career course is limited only by the individual’s personal design. 

     Philosophy majors are trained to think hard, to think both creatively and critically about their understanding of things, as well as about the perceptions of others.  They are trained to listen carefully, to ingest information, to analyze information, to assess information for pertinent solutions, and to communicate their responses clearly, concisely, and honestly.  This specific training, coupled with the broader academics of a solid Liberal Arts curriculum, contributes to great academic success according to results from such tests as the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), LSAT (Law School Admissions Test), and GMAT (General Management Admissions Test).

Transferrable skills such as the ability to objectively analyze, efficiently organize, competently communicate (both orally and in writing), and thoroughly research contribute positively to a Philosophy major’s marketability in law, teaching, diplomacy, public service, publishing, journalism, the ministry, the social or natural sciences, mathematics, business, or the arts.
 
 

SAMPLE JOB TITLES:
• Lobbyist / Diplomat
• Consultant / Ethics Advisor
• Editor / Publisher / Journalist / Critic 
• Archivist / Librarian
• Professor / Clergy Person
• Social Worker / Forensic Scientist
• Survey Interviewer / Historian / Anthropologist
• Human Resources Specialist
• Public Administrator / Service Official
• Paralegal / Lawyer / Judge 
• Foreign Service Worker
• Research Assistant / Market Research Analyst
• Personnel Manager/Business Administrator
SAMPLE EMPLOYERS:
• Research Firms
• Consulting Firms
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Religious Associations
• Law Offices
• State / Federal Government
• Municipal / Local Government
• Publishing Houses/Magazines/Newspapers
• Student Affairs Offices
• Colleges / Universities /Adult Education Programs
• Social Service Organizations
• Museums / Libraries
• Insurance Companies

 
 

ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENT OFFERINGS

DIVISION MAJOR: SOCIAL SCIENCES — PPE TRACK: This interdisciplinary degree, which requires a minimum of 54 credits, consists of courses from the departments of Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics.  It can open the door to graduate study in any of the participating disciplines as well as to law school.  Career options for graduates can be found in such areas as public policy, journalism (reporting on political/economic issues), public service and international affairs (with an emphasis on economic/political theory), and finance.

MINORS  for students majoring in:

Arts
Humanities
Natural Sciences
CompSci/Mathematics
Engineering
Business
Social Work
Law
Teaching
Technical Writing
Political Science
Communication
Journalism 
Theology
Health Professions
BioMedical

TWO NEW MINORS WITH INTERNSHIP PARTICIPATION INCLUDED:

[The Department of Philosophy is working to provide practical real-world experience that will complement the academic studies in two new exciting minors.]
MINOR IN BIOETHICS:   Check out the requirements for this minor and inquire from Dr. Howard Ducharme where you can intern for on-site experience.

MINOR IN PHILOSOPHY OF WORLD RELIGIONS:  Contact Dr. Eric Sotnak for complete information regarding this informative minor.


 



 
 
 

 PROOF OF THE PRACTICAL VALUE OF A PHILOSOPHY DEGREE

Religion:
• Joseph Bernardin; Cardinal, Chicago
• Mircea Eliade;  Religious Studies
• Madelyn Murray O’Hair; Famous Atheist

Performers:
• Harrison Ford;  Actor
• Chris Hardwick;  MTV Host
• Amy Madigan;  Actress
• Dennis Miller;  Comedian
• Stone Phillips;  News Broadcaster
• Brad Roberts;  Crash Test Dummies
• Susan Sarandon;  Actress
• Gene Siskel;  Movie Critic
• Jeff Smith;  Frugal Gourmet

Business:
· Carl Icahn: CEO,  TWA Airlines
· Gerald Levin: CEO  Time-Warner, Inc.
· George Soros;  Financier

Arts and Letters:
• Woody Allen; Screenwriter, Dir., Actor
• Umberto Eco;  Novelist and Semiologist
• T. S. Eliot; Poet
• Ken Follett;  British Writer
• Northrup Frye;  Literary Critic
• Philip Glass;  Composer
• Ira Levin;  Writer
• Susan Sontag;  Writer 


Social Studies:
• Gertrude Himmelfarb;  Historian
• Herbert Simon; Economist, Nobel Laureate
• C. Vann Woodward; Historian 

Sports:
· Phil Jackson; Coach, Chicago Bulls
· Michael McKaskey; Owner, Chicago Bears
· Aaron Taylor, Green Bay Packers

Government and Politics: 
• William Bennett; Former Sec'y of Educ.,Head of DEA 
• Jules Debray;  Writer and Government Official, France 
• Thomas Jefferson; U.S. President 
• Aung San Suu Kyi; Human Rights Activist, Nobel Peace Prize 
 

(Thanks to The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh)

 
 
 
 
 

RESOURCE ASSOCIATIONS

American Association of Philosophy Teachers, AAPT
Department of Philosophy
University of Louisville, KY 40292
 

American Philosophical Association
University of Delaware
Newark, DE  19716
 

California Occupational Guides
State of California
Labor Market Information Division
Attn: Publications and Information Unit
7000 Franklin Blvd., Suite 1100
Sacramento, CA 95823
(Ask for Management Trainee #59, Public Relations Rep #276.)
 
 

Institute for the Study of Applied and Professional Ethics
Dartmouth University
Ethics Institute
6031 Parker House
Hanover, NH 03755


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


WEB SITES OF INTEREST

www.uakron.edu/philosophy/index.html
   Provides info on UA’s Philosophy department as well as general and specific internet Philosophy links.

http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/uaphilosophy
Connects to web site showing UA Philosophy upcoming events.

www.earlham.edu/~peters/gpi/ass.htm
Comprehensive collection of Internet Philosophy sites

www.cearley.com/philosophy/pa.htm
Listings of Philosophy Associations

http://philosophy.about.com/homework/philosophy/mbody.htm
About.com's Philosophy site.

Study Abroad Scholarships, Fellowships, and Postdoctoral Awards
http://scholarships.fatomei.com/scholar14.html

Federal Grants
http://www.fedmoney.org/grants/0-scholarships.htm

Free Scholarship Info
http://www.scholarships.com/

More Free Information
http://www.college-scholarships.com/free_scholarship_searches.htm

Scholarships for International Study
http://www.iefa.org/


 


 
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