Philosophy

Frequently Asked Questions - Philosophy

What can I do with a philosophy major or an applied philosophy major?

Postgraduate Opportunities:
Law School, Medical School (with a double major in the sciences), graduate school in philosophy public policy, public administration, and business.

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, philosophy and applied philosophy majors score higher on standardized tests such as the LSAT, GRE and GMAT.

Employment Opportunities:

  • Business (with a double major in an area of business)
  • Government (congressional staff member, federal agencies, government analyst)
  • Law Enforcement (with a double major in criminal justice)
  • Teaching

What is the difference between the philosophy and the applied philosophy major?

The emphasis.  The philosophy major emphasizes the classic questions of the discipline whereas while the applied philosophy major also discusses classic questions, it also asks those questions in a new way or asks different questions altogether.

Who should choose a philosophy major and who should choose an applied philosophy major?

If you are interested in learning about what philosophers say about “the 3 in the morning questions” like “What is a person?” “How do we gain knowledge?”  “What is a good life?” and then exploring how these questions are still relevant, then you would like the philosophy major.  

If you are interested in learning philosophy and using philosophical skills in order to understand and address today’s issues, such as “How should we ethically respond to the health care crisis or to globalization?” “What political system should we adopt?” or “What are the basic ideas underlying the scientific enterprise”, then you would like the applied philosophy major.

Can I major in philosophy and have a minor with a concentration in ethics or can I have an applied philosophy major and a philosophy minor?

No.  You must choose one program in the department.

Last Updated: 11/18/11