Career Information for Philosophy Majors

It is important to understand that employers hire people, not degrees. The skills and knowledge you develop as a result of your education, as well as in your work and community activities, have the greatest impact on hiring decisions. Listed below are some specific knowledge and transferable skills you will acquire as a result of your university education and your focus on Philosophy.

Specific Knowledge Skills
Valuable Transferable Skills
Some Career Options for Philosophy Majors
Potential Employers
Websites

Specific Knowledge Skills

• Ability to formulate rational, logical ideas and intelligently defend and consider many positions
• Knowledge of how to build and defend one point of view, to appreciate competing positions and to indicate forcefully why one’s view is preferable to alternatives
• Ability to distinguish fine differences between views and discover common ground between opposing positions
• Ability to summarize complicated materials and develop well-reasoned arguments
• Proficiency in analytical and synthetic reasoning
• Skill in the efficient resolution of conflicts through listening, debate and counter point
• The ability to rationally examine and explain beliefs, situations, arguments and opinions
• The development of a basis for ethical decisions and the management of discussions related to ethics
• The skills to express what is distinctive in one’s view with clarity and reason

-top-

Valuable Transferable Skills

Information-gathering and Communication Skills

• The skills required to identify and access a wide range of relevant information and resources
• The ability to compile and organize facts and information and to comprehend and apply new and/or unfamiliar information to different situations and settings
• Skills in preparing interesting, creative and informative presentations which target diverse audiences
• The ability to develop effective reports, presentations and materials using current technology

 Thinking, Planning and Organizational Skills

• The ability to learn, understand and interpret information and apply knowledge to new situations
• The ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and effectively plan/manage time, data and resources
• Problem-solving skills and the ability to make well-reasoned decisions, think creatively and search for, identify and consider all sides of an issue
• Skills to effectively analyze and interpret a wide range of information and data to discuss, support and/or reject ideas, opinions, reports, theories and proposals

Teamwork and Management Skills

• Skills enabling you to work effectively as part of a team by identifying your role and contributing, through leading, teaching, motivating and/or encouraging others, to the success of the team
• An understanding of how to successfully identify, plan and contribute to the goals of a project
• The ability to oversee, supervise and/or contribute to a project from beginning to end including determining outcomes, planning details, making decisions, assigning roles and completing tasks

-top-

 Some Career Options for Philosophy Majors

-top-

Potential Employers

-top-

 Websites

-top-