Philosophy is a versatile degree that can lead to jobs and careers in many different areas. Visit the department website, watch the videos below, or scroll down and select an option under Related Career Fields to see more information about potential careers you can pursue.
Philosophy
Related Career Fields
Select a career field below to see some of the various areas it encompasses, types of employers, and some sample occupations.
Social/Community Services
Career Areas
- State and Federal Conservation
- Health and Regulatory Inspection
- Agricultural Inspection
- Policy analysis
- Legislation
- Association representation
Employers
- Local and state government
- Department of Agriculture
- National Parks
- Army Corps of Engineers
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Bureau of Land Management
- Non-profit organizations
- Advocacy groups
- International agencies and non-governmental organizations
General Information
- Develop excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Gain experience and exposure to the industry by volunteering with organizations such as 4-H.
- Complete an internship with a government agency.
- Maintain a high grade point average.
- Research government application processes.
Religion and Ministry
Career Areas
- Clergy
- Administration
- Missions
Employers
- Local churches or synagogues
- District, regional, national, and world denominational headquarters
- Religiously affiliated schools, colleges, and universities
- Local, national, and international mission fields
- Religious organizations
General Information
- Obtain appropriate seminary training for clergy positions.
- Become certified through a denomination for specialized staff positions.
- Gain related experience through volunteering with local churches or religious organizations.
- Develop applicable foreign language skills for international mission work.
- Seek leadership positions in campus religious organizations.
- Complete an internship or summer positions with a religious camp or missionary organization.
Education
Career Areas
- Teaching
- Research
- Administration
- Student Affairs
Employers
- Colleges and universities
- Adult education programs
- Vocational-technical educational programs
- Professional or graduate schools including medical
General Information
- Obtain a doctorate degree for opportunities in teaching and/or research.
- Develop one or more concentrations, such as mathematics, medical or business ethics, science, or religion.
- Gain related experience through internships, volunteering, or part-time employment.
- Earn a master's degree in a specialized area (e.g., Library/Information Science, College Student Personnel, or Counseling).
- Seek campus leadership positions such as peer mentor or resident assistant.
Government
Career Areas
- Public Policy
- Research
- Regional Planning
- City Management
- Intelligence
- Foreign Service
- Law Enforcement
- Legislative, Executive, or Judicial Services
- Program Administration
- Elected or Appointed Leadership
- Campaign Management
- Staff Administration
- Special Interest Advocacy
Employers
- Federal, state, and local government
- Commission on Civil Rights
- Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Department of Energy
- Federal Communications Commission
- Foreign Service
- Federal Municipal Archives
- National and State Endowments for the Humanities
- Legislative, executive, or judicial officials
- Political action committees
- Special interest groups
- Political parties
- Campaigns (national, state, or local)
General Information
- Become familiar with federal, state, and local job application processes.
- Supplement curriculum with courses in political science, public administration, or business.
- Complete an internship in government or related area.
- Serve in Model United Nations.
- Become involved in student government.
- Participate in cultural groups and organizations.
- Write for campus publications focused on national and international affairs.
- Develop skills in computers, statistics, and data analysis.
- Acquire foreign language competency and travel experience for international positions.
- Earn a graduate degree in political science or public administration for advancement.
- Volunteer with the staff of a government official.
- Participate in local or national campaigns.
Ethics
Career Areas
- Medical
- Environmental
- Research
Employers
- Hospitals
- Medical and professional schools
- Colleges and universities
- Consulting services
- Research organizations
- Health science funding agencies
- Environmental agencies
General Information
- Obtain a Ph.D. for most positions.
- Participate in related professional organizations.
- Join debate groups.
- Develop excellent research skills.
- Hone verbal and written communication skills.
Law
Employers
- Law firms
- Corporations
- Federal, state, and local government
- Private practice
- Special interest groups
- Universities
General Information
- Obtain law degree.
- Develop excellent research and writing skills.
- Participate in debate or mock trial.
- Maintain a high grade point average.
- Gain experience through part-time employment or internships in legal settings.
Writing
Career Areas
- Editing
- Technical Writing
- Journalism
- Advertising
- Public Relations
Employers
- Publishing companies
- Magazine and newspaper companies
- Professional and trade associations
- Advertising agencies and departments
- Electronic media organizations
General Information
- Serve on college newspaper staff.
- Develop excellent writing and desktop publishing skills.
- Take courses in journalism, advertising, public relations, or English.
- Gain related experience.
- Become a student member of a related professional group.
Business
Career Areas
- Management
- Sales
- Human Resources
- Market Research
- Finance
- Insurance
Employers
- Business firms
- Insurance companies
- Banks
- Retail stores
- Marketing research departments or organizations
- Real estate companies
General Information
- Minor in business.
- Gain related experience through internships or part-time jobs.
- Obtain leadership role(s) in campus organization(s).
- Develop computer skills in word processing, database management, and spreadsheet programs.
Join Organizations
Being active in both student and professional organizations can help boost your career. You'll have the opportunity to network with and learn from peers, mentors, and professionals. Working within these groups helps build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. You'll gain hands-on experience, showing employers your proactive attitude and commitment to growth, making you a stronger job candidate.
Student Organizations
Check out the organizations listed below, search Laker Life, or talk with a Career Coach to find others.
Search for Employers
General Guidelines and Strategies
- Philosophy students develop many transferable skills that can be utilized in a variety of careers and jobs, demonstrating the flexibility and capacity for growth that employers find valuable. These skills include:
- Analytical skills
- Organizational skills
- Research skills
- Oral and written communication skills
- Other related skills that are attractive to employers:
- Idea generation
- Problem formulation and problem solving
- Diverse data integration
- Adaptation to change
- Ability to elicit hidden assumptions
- Persuasion
- Summarization of complicated material
- An undergraduate degree qualifies one for entry-level positions in business, nonprofit organizations, and government.
- Graduate and/or professional studies usually lead to careers in:
- Law
- Medicine
- Ministry
- Finance
- Psychology
- Counseling
- Diplomacy
- Ethics
- Related areas
- A Ph.D. is required for college/university teaching and research.
- Concentrations with other areas can include:
- Mathematics
- Religion
- Science
- History
- Women's studies
- Eastern philosophy
- Medical or business ethics
- Develop aptitudes for analytical thinking, logic, and statistics to apply philosophy to a broad range of professions such as:
- Law
- Government
- Finance
- Management
- Consulting
- Related areas
- Seek related summer or part-time work experience or internship(s) in areas of interest.
- Take computer courses to increase employment opportunities.
- Join debate groups.
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Phone: 315-312-2255
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