FAQs
Probably not. Many of the most significant and
rewarding career paths require graduate degrees
from professional schools. Success in those
professional programs requires a broad
intellectual foundation, sharp reasoning skills,
and the ability to communicate effectively--all
skills the philosophy major provides. These
graduate programs do not expect you to have a
baccalaureate degree in the field, but rather to
be well-rounded and intellectually competent. For
example, law schools prefer that you NOT learn
law before you enter law school--they want to
teach that to you themselves.
We live in a very complex society.
Specializing too quickly is probably not in your
best interests because today's professions
require leaders who can comprehend research from
multiple disciplines and can easily cross
boundaries to work with other individuals from
different fields.
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Major in what you love! The best advice is to
take a variety of courses early on in your
academic career and then major in the field you
enjoyed the most. If you enjoy a course, it is
probably because you have at least some natural
aptitude in that subject which might very well
blossom into some exceptional talents.
Philosophy majors are typically students who
enjoy thinking about abstract topics, who are
passionate about pursuing the truth, and who
enjoy reading and writing about fundamental
philosophical issues. Many philosophy majors say
that once they understood what philosophy was all
about, they found themselves thinking about
philosophical issues in every course. If that's
you, great.
Finally, don't make the mistake of thinking
about a definite career too soon. Your task as an
undergraduate is to become educated--jobs come
later. Many majors can prepare you for a variety
of career possibilities and most persons do not
work in the field that they majored in. Your best
choice is make a decision based on what will
provide you with the best education now.
The philosophy faculty believe that for many
students, the philosophy major is an excellent
choice.
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The Philosophy Department has created a Professional
Career Advisor position. This individual can
help keep you informed about deadlines for
graduate entrance exams and assist you in
choosing professional programs and completing
your application. You can contact the
Professional Career Advisor on this website.
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Sort of. It is literally true, but it does not
necessarily mean what it appears to mean. One
reason philosophy majors score highest on these
exams is because some of the people taking the
exam are in fact Ph.D.'s in philosophy. For
example, lots of philosophy Ph.D.'s can't find
work and decide to go into law. Their scores tend
to skew the results.
Another consideration is that the major is
selective. The best students tend to gravitate to
philosophy as opposed to other majors. And, it's
a difficult major and that weeds out some
students who are not adequately prepared to deal
with the sometimes rigorous requirements of the
major.
Having said this, it is nonetheless the
considered view of most philosophy faculty that
the major does indeed improve students scores on
these exams. Students from all backgrounds and
skill-levels benefit from the major.
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No. In fact, in most cases, they don't care
about your major at all! Taking the Concentration
in and of itself won't help your chances of
getting into a better program.
The point of the Concentration is to help you
develop your talents and abilities and to be
fully prepared to succeed in a graduate program.
That's what will improve your prospects--not the
name of the degree on the diploma.
(And then there are your parents....Selling
Mom and Dad on being a philosophy major isn't
always the easiest thing. Parents are weird that
way. It might be easier to tell them your
majoring in the "Concentration in Moral,
Legal, and Social Philosophy for the
Professions" than the traditional
"Philosophy Major." Then again, maybe
you have wonderful parents!)
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First, in some respects it doesn't matter. The
choice between the traditional major and the
Concentration is not as important as your
choice of a major. But once you've decided to
become a philosophy major, which one is better
for you?
There is only one bit of firm advice: if
you want earn a Ph.D. in philosophy (or other
academic field such as literature or history),
take the traditional major. Otherwise, take
into account the differences between the two
tracks, especially the internship, and make your
best decision. Either choice is almost certainly
going to work out well.
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For many students, yes. It is not necessary,
but for many students this option is certainly
workable. Philosophy is a relatively low-unit
major and so it is certainly possible to
double-major. If you decide to double-major, you
should consult the Professional Career Advisor
for advice. Some second majors to consider
include English, History, Economics, and
Political Science. Your choice of a second major
depends on your reasons for double-majoring and
your career trajectory. |
