Is philosophy a respected major?

Asked by: Keira Wilkinson  |  Last update: November 3, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (72 votes)

Philosophy majors tend to be well-rounded individuals able to converse and reason about a wide range of topics. These attributes can give philosophers an edge in the job market and in gaining admission to professional programs in fields like medicine, business and law.

Is philosophy a useful major?

Philosophy majors develop valuable career skills, such as reading and understanding complex materials, making logical arguments, explaining ideas clearly in oral and written form, and thinking about things from multiple perspectives.

Is philosophy a valuable degree?

A bachelors in philosophy can be a useful stepping stone toward careers in law, criminal justice, divinity, public policy, and more. Getting a BA in Philosophy can help you develop your reading, analysis, and communication skills.

How popular is a philosophy major?

Overall, 0.5% of bachelor's degree recipients major in philosophy. Notes: 1. All numbers include students with philosophy as either their first or their second major.

Is it worth taking philosophy in college?

Graduate Study

The philosophy major is also exceptional training for many other post-graduate paths, such as law school. In fact, statistics indicate that philosophy majors perform very well on standardized tests for post-graduate and professional study.

Is a Philosophy Degree Worth It?

32 related questions found

Do philosophy majors read a lot?

Philosophy students do a lot of reading. And most philosophy books are quite thick. But that doesn't mean you will read entire piles of books in a single semester. You will actually do a lot of selective reading on key concepts.

Are philosophy majors happy?

How satisfied are philosophy students compared to other degrees? Overall, philosophy students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.8 out of 5. This is high compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees.

What type of person majors in philosophy?

The Personality of Philosophy Majors
  • openness – “curiosity about and tolerance for diverse cultural and intellectual experiences”
  • conscientiousness – “being dutiful, diligent, and orderly”
  • extraversion – “tendency to experience positive emotions and being active and sociable”

Is philosophy a wasted degree?

Ultimately, whether or not a philosophy degree is “useful” will depend on the individual and what they hope to gain from their studies. Some individuals may find that a philosophy degree is exactly what they need to achieve their goals, while others may find that it is not the best fit for them.

What is the average IQ of a philosophy major?

As you might expect, the celebrity examples tend to be higher than the average, so that while philosophy majors come in at an average IQ of 129, famous philosophy major Steve Martin is listed as having an IQ of 142.

How employable is a philosophy degree?

They are naturally suited to careers in research or politics. Plenty of philosophy graduates go on to work with charities, and publishing is also a popular choice. This guide should help you think about the skills you have, the jobs they can be applied to, and the options available.

Are philosophy majors smart?

Philosophy majors enjoy some of the highest scores on graduate-level exams (for example, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, and MCAT). In addition, if you include high school students who say they plan to study philosophy, they also do extremely well on the SATs and ACTs.

Do philosophy majors make any money?

While the starting salary is near the middle of all majors, the average mid-career salary of philosophy majors quickly rises to $81,200.00, outperforming Finance, International Relations, Marketing, Business Management, Communications, Nursing, Biology, Health Care Administration, and many others.

Is majoring in philosophy hard?

Philosophy is a challenging major. To do well in philosophy classes, one must be intellectually curious, and also be willing to work hard.

What kind of people like philosophy?

Reflective people, deep thinkers, highly intelligent people, people who were thinking about existential issues early in life, highly verbal persons, mostly introverts.

What do philosophers do for a living?

Philosophy graduates are found working for almost every type of employer in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Opportunities are available in areas like publishing, the media, journalism, advertising and teaching, through to computing and IT.

Is it hard to find a job with a philosophy degree?

Earning a philosophy degree can open up endless career opportunities in almost every field. Positions in education, law, and the clergy are common for philosophy degree holders, but graduates who enter the fields of health care, business, marketing, and even financial services are not unusual.

Is philosophy a soft degree?

So, is philosophy a soft subject? No. Its hard, and that is what makes it essential.

Where do most philosophy majors end up?

Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy

These highly critical, analytical, and argumentative skills that are developed often lead students to pursue legal studies, MBA programs, or seminaries. Jobs for philosophy majors include a lawyer, systems analyst, cultural affairs officer, technical writer, and a critic.

What majors pair well with philosophy?

Majors in Mathematics, Computer Science, Psychology, Economics, Political Science, English, Modern Languages, Criminal Justice, and the natural sciences can usefully combine their studies with a double major in philosophy. These majors need just 33 credits in philosophy to earn a double major.

Is a philosophy degree a BS or BA?

Most schools that offer a bachelor's degree in philosophy offer a bachelor of arts degree.

Are philosophers in demand?

A degree in philosophy is highly marketable, and that trend is only going up. Across the various fields, demand for philosophers has increased.

What degrees have the highest happiness?

The Happiest Majors and Careers: How to Choose a Path That Puts a Smile on Your Face
  • Computer Science and Computer Information Systems. The value of a Computer Science or Computer Information Systems degree cannot be denied. ...
  • Entrepreneurship. ...
  • Business Administration and Management. ...
  • Communication Disorders.

Are philosophy students happier?

Yes. They scored above average on all of the relevant scales. The three groups of philosophers also claimed to be happy 38-44% of the time (on average; when also given corresponding questions about feeling unhappy and neutral).