Acquire the Skills You'll Need for the Future
Students who pursue philosophy education will study some of the most important and demanding topics and questions that humanity has ever faced. People who pursue philosophy degrees interrogate the way we see and understand the world, the role of humanity in the universe, the meaning of life and the nature of reality.
Topics of Study in Philosophy Degree Programs
In just about every school of philosophy, the first course you'll take will be an introduction to philosophy. These are broad-ranging survey courses intended to familiarize you with major thinkers in the Western tradition. For example, Plato's Republic is almost always studied in an introductory philosophy course.
Most philosophy degree programs are structured to allow students to focus their concentrations on the topics, eras or specific thinkers that interest them most. Major topics in philosophy include ethics, social philosophy, the philosophy of art, science, language and religion, and epistemology (how it is we know what we think we know). Philosophers are also very concerned with reality and our relationship with the world in which we live.
As you pursue your philosophy degree online or in class, you'll have the chance to delve deeper into specific periods in the history of philosophy, such as ancient philosophy or 20th century philosophy. If you're interested in expanding your horizons, you can also explore the philosophical traditions of the Far East (which are as rich, if not richer, than Western philosophical traditions) and other cultures from around the world.
If you want an idea of what might be covered in a philosophy degree program, an online philosophy guide will help you get your feet wet with major thinkers and topics from the Western canon.
Career Paths for Philosophy Grads
Jobs for philosophy grads have a reputation for being hard to come by, but this is not true. While you'll be limited to teaching or scholastic pursuits if you want to make direct use of your newfound knowledge, the more abstract skills you learn as a philosophy major will serve you well in a wide range of careers.
The logic skills you'll learn in a philosophy program put you in a very strong position to excel on the LSAT, which is the entry exam for law school in the United States. Philosophy degrees also make excellent points of entry to careers in diplomacy, government and public service.
