Hunter Fullhart
Photography and social media editor
Philosophy is defined as “the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline” and believe it or not, this can be an extraordinary and interesting career choice to pursue.
Those that study philosophy aim to tackle such questions surrounding existence, ethics, reality, and language, to name a few. As a philosophy major, students likely encounter different modes of thought from different cultures and time periods, reading the efforts of some of history’s most brilliant writers and thinkers attempting to solve the fundamental questions of human existence.
According to http://www.onedayonejob.com, a recent study found that in today’s universities only eight percent of students choose to study in the humanities, less than half of the figure seen 50 years ago. Yet, findings published in the Wall Street Journal and Forbes show that down the road philosophy majors are some of the higher paid of the bunch, averaging a mid-career salary of around $81,000 per year. Like English majors, those that concentrate in Philosophy often have a grim sense of humor regarding life after school.
For one who wants to continue with philosophy specifically, there are few routes to pursue aside from graduate school, teaching or writing.
“The most common path is toward graduate school with the goal of becoming a college professor,” Professor of Philosophy and Ethics Terry Sader said. “However, a [bachelor of arts] in philosophy is also an advantage for taking the LSAT and getting into law school.
Some who focus on Ethics can find a career as an ethics officer or consultant in the private sector. Some go into publishing as well.”
Looking at four year schools within the region, almost every college in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska offers some form of a philosophy degree. Whether that be religious studies or general philosophy, the schooling options are bountiful. Not surprisingly, philosophy is not at the very top of the salary list, but it is a lot higher than you might think: According to the 2011 numbers, the median starting salary for philosophy bachelor of arts is $39,800 and the median mid-career salary is $75.600.
“[Philosophy] is [a] more difficult program and degree to attain,” Sader said. “Right now, most full-time college instructor positions are harder to get because of a decrease in college funding and the continued movement toward part-time instructors. Outside of class, the best place to start is a college Philosophy Club like ours. Plenty of blogs out there also. Most importantly, read, read, [and] read. Philosophy starts with ideas that must be learned and then shared with others in an open dialogue.”
Philosophy encourages students and the world to think about things in a way they never thought about. It can be fascinating, and if that is your thing, then philosophy is the way to go.
