Five starsTrusted by 70,000+ Future Students

Subject guide

Philosophy

If you’re passionate about exploring profound questions and understanding the world deeply, then a degree in philosophy could be the right option for you. In the field of higher education, philosophy offers a robust foundation for intellectual growth, fostering critical thinking, logical analysis, and ethical decision-making abilities. By delving into a broad range of subjects like morality, reality, and human consciousness, a philosophy education can equip you with versatile skills for any career path. You'll learn to scrutinize complex ideas and arguments, shaping your own perspectives in a more informed, empathetic way. And remember, the learning experience is not just about getting a job; it's also about personal growth and expanding your worldview.

Find school options
Philosophy study and career guide

Philosophy

When you delve into the field of philosophy in higher education, you're embarking on a journey through the complex realms of thoughts, ideas, and theories that have shaped the world we live in. You'll explore deep questions about life and human existence, delve into critical thinking, logical reasoning, and ethical considerations. Cultivating these capacities can provide a strong foundation for a multitude of career paths, including law, journalism, academia, business, and more. You'll cultivate a mindset that values questioning, understanding, and clarity over mere acceptance of facts. As your trusted source for reliable educational information, we are here to support you in this exciting intellectual adventure, and to facilitate your match with a school that aligns with your academic pursuits and career aspirations.

Explore this subject within Liberal Arts.

Philosophy Program goals

Studying a program in Philosophy can unlock profound insights into human thoughts, actions, and beliefs. It's a wide-ranging discipline that bridges many areas of human experience and encourages critical thinking and broad-mindedness. Taking up a philosophy program can sharpen your analytical skills, enhance your comprehension and communication abilities - all while you peel the layers of understanding about the nature of reality, the existence of humans, and moral and ethical values. These acquired skills can be vast and varied, making philosophy graduates versatile employees in a wide variety of industries.

  • To foster a deep understanding of fundamental philosophical theories and concepts
  • To engage in analytical thinking and problem-solving
  • To enhance written and verbal communication skills
  • To develop an appreciation for differing perspectives and beliefs
  • To prepare for varied career paths, demonstrating adaptability and versatility
Philosophy Program goals illustration

What are the Student Learning Outcomes

If you've decided to immerse yourself in the field of Philosophy, there's a broad spectrum of learning outcomes you can anticipate. The study encourages deep and critical thinking, empowering you to contemplate life's biggest questions, understand diverse perspectives, and articulate your insights in a cogent manner. Here's what you can expect:

  • Mastering logical reasoning and analytical thinking.
  • Gaining knowledge of great philosophical thinkers and their theories.
  • Acquiring strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Fostering a comprehensive understanding of ethics and morality.
  • Advancing problem-solving skills by analyzing complex concepts.
  • Developing ability to independently conduct philosophical research.

Studying Philosophy equips you well for a range of careers, fostering a variety of transferable skills that employers often value.

What are the Student Learning Outcomes illustration
Photo by This is Engeneering on Unsplash

What experience do I need to be able to apply for Philosophy

Embarking on a higher education program in Philosophy isn't just about being a profound thinker with a curious mind. It's important to arrive prepared, equipped with certain experiences, to help you get the most out of this academic journey. Prior to starting the program, you should ideally have some exposure to logic, critical thinking, or any kind of philosophical work. Familiarity with historical and contemporary philosophical texts will be an added advantage, as well as active participation in debates and discussions promoting reasoned argumentation. Having a strong foundation in reading and writing will greatly help you in understanding complex philosophical text and presenting your thoughts clearly. It’s not necessary to have all this experience, but having some of it will prime you for the unique challenges that studying Philosophy at a higher level presents.

  • Exposure to logic and critical thinking techniques
  • Experience in reading historical and contemporary philosophical texts
  • Participation in debates, discussions, reasoning, and argumentation
  • Strong foundation in reading and writing skills
What experience do I need to be able to apply for Philosophy illustration

Philosophy careers

If you're planning on pursuing a postgraduate degree in philosophy, you're setting yourself on a path that can lead to various rewarding career options. Philosophy is not only about understanding life's big questions but also aims to develop critical thinking, logical argumentation, and ethical reasoning skills. These abilities are highly sought after in many professions. Whether you're interested in academia, law, public service, business, or even computer science, the analytical and communication skills you acquire as a philosophy postgraduate can be invaluable. People with advanced degrees in philosophy find their skills suited to a vast number of different career paths.

  • Academic Careers: Many philosophy postgraduates consider a career in academia. This can involve teaching and research in philosophy at universities or colleges.
  • Law: Law school is a prevalent choice for philosophy majors. Your skill in critical thinking and logical argumentation can be a great advantage in the legal field, whether as a lawyer, judge, or legal consultant.
  • Public Service: For those interested in making a tangible difference in their communities, philosophy graduates often find rewarding careers in public service. This may include working in non-profit organizations, human rights advocacy, policy analysis, or diplomatic services.
  • Business and Management: The ethical reasoning and analytical thinking abilities of philosophy postgraduates can be ideal for roles in strategic planning, human resource management, or ethics consulting in business corporations.
  • Technology: Surprisingly, philosophy postgraduates can excel in computer science fields. This is due to the logic and reasoning skills required in programming and algorithm development - skills that philosophy cultivates in its students.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage in the philosophy and religion field of degree is $60,000 as of August 2024. For specific roles like Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary, the annual mean salary was $89,680 in May 2023 (BLS Data).

If you're pursuing your postgraduation in philosophy, you're opening doors to a wide range of employment opportunities. As a philosophy graduate, you possess skill sets such as critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving, that are sought after in many industry sectors. You may find rewarding jobs in education as a teacher, lecturer, or academic researcher, honing young minds and enlightening them on profound philosophical thoughts. Alternatively, you might choose the path of law or politics, leveraging your logical reasoning and persuasive argumentation skills. Other viable career paths involve working in public relations, human resources, or business management. Philosophy postgraduates also thrive in roles within the technological sector, such as data analysis, due to their proficiency in logical reasoning. This versatility ultimately empowers you to follow your passions and shape your own career path.

Ready to compare Philosophy programs?

Share your study preferences once. We’ll use them to find relevant school options.

Find school options