Employers Value Philosophy Majors
Philosophy students learn to think critically, analytically, and creatively about life’s biggest questions. They also learn to write well, solve problems, and view things from others’ perspective. The focus on these skills prepares them for careers in fields such as law, public policy, publishing, high tech, and education. In addition to the traditional philosophy major, we offer a pre-law concentration for students focused on preparing for the legal profession.
Common job titles for Philosophy majors include Instructor, Lecturer and Research Assistant.
Top skills for Philosophy majors include Logic, Research and Writing.
63% of Philosophy majors have advanced degrees.
Epistemology is the top skill for Philosophy majors.
Amazon and Google are top employers of Philosophy majors.
62% of Philosophy graduates from GSU are male, while only 38% are female.
Emory University, Home Depot and Bank of America Merrill Lynch are top employers of GSU Philosophy grads.
72% of Philosophy graduates from GSU stay in Georgia.
The average salary for all Philosophy graduates from GSU is $58K.
Outside of Georgia, California, New York and Texas attract the most Philosophy grads from GSU.
The top three industries for GSU Philosophy grads are Education, IT and Legal.
Major Stories
PHILOSOPHY FACULTY HELP STUDENTS WRITE THEIR SUCCESS STORIES.
- Andrew I. Cohen
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In my course, “Ethics and Contemporary Public Policy,” students explore the ethical dimensions shaping controversies such as gun control, civil disobedience, mandatory vaccination, free speech and cancel culture, sexual ethics, and much else. Students cultivate research, collaboration, and communication skills, and they deepen their sensitivity to reasonable disagreements about ethics.
- Eric Wilson
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In my courses at Georgia State, students read and discuss original works of philosophy – often written hundreds of years ago. They focus on issues such as the meaning of life, self-control, human nature, emotion, the foundations of science and morality, and the nature of love. All my courses focus on the skills of argument analysis, clear writing, good listening, and empathy. With such a focus, my courses provide good preparation for a wide range of careers, including law, social work, education, public policy, and technical writing.
- Heather Philips
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In my Biomedical Ethics course, students from the humanities and the biological sciences tackle ethical questions surrounding medical practice, obligations, therapies, and possibilities. Many of these students plan to pursue careers in the medical field and it is important that they begin building the skills necessary to identify ethical issues, evaluate the relevant factors and considerations, and determine the correct path forward - which can be difficult in complex, high-stakes situations. Of course, it is not only in medicine that students will face ethical challenges, so all students benefit from learning to listen to diverse perspectives, carefully evaluating the positions presented, and deciding how to respond, both in verbal and written communication.
- Juan Pineros-Glasscock
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Philosophy tackles some of the deepest and most general questions humans face. For example: ‘Does God exist?’, ‘What is the self?’, or ‘Can we perceive an objective reality?’. Although we sometimes discuss such questions informally with friends, philosophy does so in a systematic manner that takes advantage of logical and critical skills that enrich the activity. My courses place an emphasis on learning these skills as part of the discussion of big questions, teaching students how to identify premises and conclusions as they read, and to defend their ideas through sound arguments, avoiding common errors in reasoning. These skills can help students gain admission and succeed in careers such as management, business, and law. In addition, my courses encourage students to apply these skills to philosophical questions that affect them directly, such as the place that work should have in a human life. I thus hope that my courses will help students not only at performing well at their jobs, but also at choosing and pursuing careers in a reflective and critical manner.
Your Degree at Work
HERE ARE THE TOP FIVE EMPLOYMENT FIELDS OF GSU STUDENTS WITH A PHILOSOPHY DEGREE.
INDUSTRY
AVG. SALARY
AVG. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
COMMON JOB TITLES (without J.D.)
WHY HIRE PHILOSOPHY MAJORS FOR THIS FIELD? THEY'VE GOT SKILLS!
INDUSTRY
AVG. SALARY
AVG. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
COMMON JOB TITLES
WHY HIRE PHILOSOPHY MAJORS FOR THIS FIELD? THEY'VE GOT SKILLS!
INDUSTRY
AVG. SALARY
AVG. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
COMMON JOB TITLES
WHY HIRE PHILOSOPHY MAJORS FOR THIS FIELD? THEY'VE GOT SKILLS!
INDUSTRY
AVG. SALARY
AVG. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
COMMON JOB TITLES
WHY HIRE PHILOSOPHY MAJORS FOR THIS FIELD? THEY'VE GOT SKILLS!
INDUSTRY
AVG. SALARY
AVG. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
COMMON JOB TITLES
WHY HIRE PHILOSOPHY MAJORS FOR THIS FIELD? THEY'VE GOT SKILLS!
TAKE A LOOK AT THE CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMING AVAILABLE TO PHILOSOPHY MAJORS.
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Communication
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Self Development
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Your Career Starts Here
TOP EMPLOYERS OF GSU PHILOSOPHY GRADS AND AVERAGE SALARY
WHAT DOES A CAREER PATH LOOK LIKE FOR A PHILOSOPHY MAJOR?
Career paths are often full of twists and turns. They are rarely straight lines. Watch the following video tutorial to learn how to explore the career paths of GSU alumni who after graduating with a degree in this major pursued their interests and passions rather than a specific job title:
DIGITAL MEDIA |
*includes Philosophy degrees
75%
75% of 37,155 people working in digital media majored in fields other than Communications. The chart above shows what they studied.
XXX
4,176
4,176 people working in digital media majored in Social Sciences & Liberal Arts
(includes Philosophy).
MARKETING CONSULTANT |
*includes Philosophy degrees
77%
77% of 27,466 people working as marketing consultants majored in fields other than Marketing. The chart above shows what they studied.
3,123
3,123 marketing consultants majored in Social Sciences & Liberal Arts
(includes Philosophy).
EDITOR |
*includes Philosophy degrees
77%
Around 77% of 50,855 people working as editors majored in fields other than Communications. The chart above shows what they studied.
7,140
7,140 marketing consultants majored in Social Sciences & Liberal Arts
(includes Philosophy).
IS GRAD SCHOOL NECESSARY FOR YOUR CAREER?
Learn about typical entry-level education requirements for over 800 occupations, reasons you should go to Grad School, reasons you should not go to Grad School, and whether or not you should go to Grad School right after Undergrad.
Earnings Outlook for Graduate Students
Current Average Salary by Degree Level for All Majors
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
$54.2K Bachelors | $71.8K Masters | $79.4K Doctorate |
"Right now, I hold what they call a ‘desk job’ in the healthcare field that involves constant interaction with patients. In the time of COVID-19, I’m very grateful to be employed full-time...
Put simply, my degree in Philosophy taught me how to think. Its principles are the railroad tracks to my train of thought and my first line of defense in any battle of wits. I’ve learned to process my thoughts in precise sequences, to sort through dilemmas logically to return creative and innovative solutions. I’ve also refined my communication skills. In philosophy and in life, what we say makes all the difference. To do my job, I ask myself daily, “How do I succinctly tell this patient what they need to know in ten seconds?” My philosophy training has my back.
You might think you’re just not cut out for a Philosophy degree, but you’re wrong. Philosophy (done well) has a precise methodology. During your degree, you will be taught to understand and utilize this – whether that be to digest academic literature, craft your own arguments, or successfully challenge your opponent in a debate. Philosophy is a skill, not a natural talent. YOU CAN get a degree in Philosophy."
Administrative Legal Clerk - Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP
"The best thing about philosophy is that it doesn't teach you what to think, it teaches you how to think - an ability that is adaptable and can be manipulated however an individual sees fit for any field of study...
For me, the reading, writing, and communication skills I've developed have been advantageous to my current position in the legal field. I am an Administrative Legal Clerk at Hawkins Parnell &Young LLP, and my position requires me to use these skills to create and maintain filing systems and assist in trial preparation for my team. This requires me to use critical, logical, and abstract ways of thinking in order to complete any task in the most efficient way. My abilities to read, write, and understand the jargon and nomenclature of the legal field can be attributed to the classes I took in undergrad. Most philosophy courses have a strong reading and writing component over a wide variety of topics, so it is likely that you'll be exposed to different fields of study and how they all require different approaches when analyzing them. Personally, this has been helpful when an assignment calls for me to read through legal documents and medical records and have a clear understanding of the information being presented in both forms of writing."
PhD Student in Psychology - University of California, Los Angeles
"Currently, I'm getting my Ph.D. in Psychology at UCLA (half-way through!). My training in Philosophy underpins much of what I do now: I apply critical-thinking towards understanding and unpacking psychological theory,...
logic towards programming tasks and statistical analyses, and, of course, I entered my program with strong writing skills developed through rigorous mentorship at GSU. I even study the same topic as I did during my M.A. (emotions in a social context)."
Corporate and Securities Attorney - Busch, Mills & Slomka, LLP
"My job is essentially to take business arrangements and realities and reduce the concepts to paper while adding the necessary legalities. Working with smaller companies usually means more creative deals (and personal connections), which creates challenges for the lawyer...
I'm very thankful for my Philosophy degree and background and think it helps me every day. It isn't talked about enough, but philosophy students make excellent transactional attorneys. I strongly recommend studying philosophy because, in my view, it will make you better at just about any career you eventually pursue. In my opinion, the best way to determine what to pursue is to network and take as many opportunities (internships, jobs, volunteering, random projects) as you can to hone in on what you enjoy doing with your time. I am an attorney based in Atlanta. I made partner earlier this year at Busch Slipakoff Mills I represent small and mid-sized companies and their investors in negotiated transactions. I typically handle capital raising transactions, business formations, mergers and acquisitions, and direct lending. My Philosophy degree helps me because my job requires creating, structuring, explaining, and negotiating abstract concepts."
Assistant Public Defender - Ventura County, California
"I was discouraged from studying Philosophy because it was not a “marketable” degree. Later, in law school, I found I was passionate about trials and representing those without a voice and became a public defender...
I never went the “marketable” route, and I have nevertheless enjoyed a fulfilling career that rewards my intellectual curiosity and allows me to serve my community. I am the Assistant Public Defender for Ventura County, California. I concentrated on Ethics at GSU, and I continue to be interested in “The Good” – how a public agency with limited funding can maximize its ability to serve the community, especially the most vulnerable among us, such as those with mental health issues, substance use disorder issues, and histories of trauma."
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