Transcript Slide 1

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A
MAJOR IN...
PHILOSOPHY
www.sc.edu/career
phi·los·o·phy
1. Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and
moral self-discipline.
2. Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of
reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical
reasoning rather than empirical methods.
3. A system of thought based on or involving such
inquiry.
4. The critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or
beliefs. *
*"philosophy." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English
Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 05 Aug. 2009.
<Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/philosophy>.
Philosophy Majors
• how to see from multiple points of view
• taking different viewpoints into consideration
in decision making
• recognizing patterns and errors of logic
• using library and primary resources to find
answers to complex questions
• how to communicate thought and expression
through speech and writing
• disciplined reflection about our world;
ourselves, the good life, our politics and ethics
• social and political philosophy
...and more
Philosophy Majors Study
• Develop intellectual abilities for a wide
variety of careers, as well as life as a
whole:
– The appetite for self-expression and
examination.
– The capacity for the exchange and debate of
fundamental beliefs and controversial ideas.
– The ability and capacity to express difficult
ideas clearly The willingness to deal with
problems without easy answers.
– The ability and capacity to pursue difficult
research.
Philosophy At The
University Of South Carolina
Undergraduate Options
Degrees: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Majors: Philosophy
Minors: Philosophy
Students are provided a solid grounding in the history of
philosophy and take classes to develop an emphasis in
several areas including ethics, history and philosophy of
science and technology, philosophy of mind, aesthetics,
phenomenology and existentialism and, indeed, the
history of philosophy.
Philosophy At The
University Of South Carolina
Graduate Degrees
Master of Philosophy (MA)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)
Students in both programs are provided with a
substantial grounding in the history of philosophy.
Further coursework and research on an MA Thesis
or PhD dissertation may pursue a wide variety of
options including further work in the history of
philosophy, work in the history and philosophy of
science and technology, and work in various areas
of social, political and moral philosophy.
Philosophy Majors
Develop Skills In
• Conflict resolution
• Debate and ethical
discussion
• Defining personal
purpose and beliefs
• Seeing issues from
more then one point of
view
• Critical thinking
• Taking different views
into consideration
during decision making
• Digesting and
summarizing large
amounts of information
• Problem solving
Psychology Majors
Develop Skills In
• Reshaping ideas in light
of new circumstances
• Recognizing patterns
and errors of logic
• Using library and
primary resources to
find answers to
questions
• Persevering through
difficult intellectual
pursuits
• Reducing sophisticated
language to
comprehensive terms
• Stating and defending
an argument verbally
and in writing
Employment
To increase employment prospects, it is
recommended that a philosophy major:
seek part-time or summer job experiences while
a student
select an occupationally related major (i.e.
computer science, finance, management,
marketing, education, and English)
consider and define professional or graduate
school goals early
With Additional Education, A
Degree In Philosophy Is An
Excellent Background For
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Law
Teaching
Diplomacy
Public service
Publishing
Journalism
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Mathematics
Business
Arts
Ministry
Social or natural
sciences
Employment Settings
• Business & Commerce:
Includes management and direction
of for-profit organizations including
the development of business plans,
marketing strategies, product
development, and human resource
management
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With Business &
Commerce
• Claims Adjuster
• Communications
Director
• Community Planner
• Credit Analyst
• Employment Interviewer
• Lobbyist
• Marketing Research
Analyst
• Policy Analyst
• Project Planner
• Public Relations
Assistant
• Recruiter
• Research Analyst
• Service Representative
• Underwriter
Employment Settings
• Communication & Journalism:
Includes print, television, radio, and
Internet media. Encompasses
everything from business planning
and capital development to producing
and writing original news or
entertainment material.
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With
Communication & Journalism
• Advertising Agent
• Announcer
• Communications
Director
• Copy Editor
• Director
• Foreign Correspondent
• Opinion Writer
• Political Commentator
• Press Secretary
• Public Relations
Specialist
• Producer
• Publisher
• Reporter
• Technical Writer
• Writer/Author
Employment Settings
• Consulting:
Includes historical and ethnographic
research; political surveying,
social/cultural assessments,
designing bilingual and bicultural
curricula; assessing services, and
more.
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With Consulting
• Bicultural Curricula
Developer
• Bioethicist
• Business Consultant
• Community Planner
• Corporate
Communications
Consultant
• Employee Relations
Specialist
• Ethicist (Medical,
Environmental or
Professional)
• Mediator
• Management
Consultant
• Policy Analyst
• Public Health Advisor
• Recruitment Consultant
• Training Specialist
Employment Settings
• Education:
Includes classroom instruction, curricula
development, research, writing,
administration, program management,
and lecturing.
Teaching and research positions at
colleges and universities require an
advanced degree. Most other teaching
positions require proper certification.
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With Education
• Administrator
• College/University
Faculty
• Curriculum Writer
• Docent
• Educational Media
Programmer
• Grant Writer
• Guidance Counselor
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Language Instructor
Lecturer
Librarian
Primary Teacher
Program Director
Secondary Teacher
Social Science Teacher
Test Designer
Text Author
Employment Settings
• Social Services:
Includes among others counseling,
social work, program management,
public service, non-profit work, ministry,
and positions in correctional facilities.
Most ministry and counseling positions
require the completion of a certification
or advanced study program.
Sample Occupational Titles
Associated With Social
Services
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Correctional Worker
Drug Counselor
Fund Raiser
Grant Writer
Mediator
Minister/Pastor
Non-Profit Researcher
Pastor/Priest/Rabbi
Police Officer
• Policy Analyst
• Public Service
Specialist
• Recreational Facility
Worker
• Social Columnist
• Social Scientist
• Social Worker
• Therapist
Distribution Of Employed Persons
With A Bachelor’s Degree In
Philosophy By Sector
Government/
Military, 8%
Private-forprofit, 31%
Self-Employed,
15%
Education, 14%
Non-Profit,
32%
Source: Fogg, N.P, Harrington, P.E. & Harrington, T.F, (2004). College
Majors Handbook (2nd ed). Indianapolis, IN: Jist Publishing.
TOP 10 Occupations That Employ Persons
With Only A Bachelor’s Degree In
Philosophy
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Clergy, other religious workers
Top- and mid-level managers, executives
Broadcasters, writers, public relations specialists
Insurance, securities, real estate, business services
Sales (including retail)
Construction trades, miners, well drillers
Receptionists, typists
Other management-related occupations
Other administrative occupations (i.e. record clerks)
Personnel, training and labor relations specialists
Source: Fogg, N.P, Harrington, P.E. & Harrington, T.F, (2004). College
Majors Handbook (2nd ed). Indianapolis, IN: Jist Publishing.
Strategies For Developing Skills
To Get The Job You Want
• Develop excellent
verbal and written
communication skills
• Double major in an
additional area of
interest
• Obtain an advanced
degree for teaching and
research positions
• Develop a
concentration like
mathematics, medical
or business ethics,
religion, etc.
• Secure an internship,
part-time, or summer
employment in an area
of interest
Strategies For Developing Skills
To Get The Job You Want
• Shadow a professional
or faculty member
whose work interests
you
• Develop astute
research skills
• Participate in related
professional
organizations
• Earn leadership role(s)
in campus
organization(s)
Books And Web
Resources
Books
What else you can do with
a Ph.D: A career guide for
scholars by Jan Secrist
Liberal arts jobs: the guide
that turns learning into
earning by Burt Nadler
Web Resources
American Philosophical
Association
http://www.apa.udel.edu/a
pa/sitemap.html
Jobs in Philosophy
http://www.sozialwiss.unihamburg.de/phil/ag/jobs/
Resources For More
Information
USC’s Department of Philosophy
www.cas.sc.edu/phil/
Career Center Library
http://www.sc.edu/career/Library/library.html
Related Websites
http://www.sc.edu/career/la/philosophy.html
College of Arts and Sciences Career
Development Program
www.sc.edu/career/cascdp/index.html
Career Center Contact
Information
University of South Carolina Career Center
6th Floor, H. William Close Building (BA Building)
Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: (803) 777-7280
On-call counseling without an appointment:
M - F, 1:00 am - 4:00 pm
(Summer and holiday hours may differ, please check the
website at www.sc/edu/career)