Department of Philosophy

Degree Choices

What can I do with this degree?

Areas Employers Strategies

Social/Community Services

  • Research
  • Staff positions
  • Counseling
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Organizations serving the arts
  • Social service organizations
  • Public Interest research Groups
  • Museums
  • Libraries
  • Mental health organizations
  • Develop excellent verbal and written communications skills.
  • Gain related work experience.
  • Acquire master's degree in Library and Information Sciences.
  • Take counseling courses.
  • Obtain master's degree in social work or counseling for therapy positions.

Religion / Ministry

  • Clergy
  • Staff positions
  • Local churches/synagogues
  • District, jurisdictional, national and world divisions of denominations
  • Religious affiliated schools, colleges and universities
  • Local, national and international mission field
    Religious organizations
  • Obtain appropriate seminary training for clergy.
  • Become certified through denomination for specialized staff positions.
  • Gain related experience through local church or religious organizations.

Education

  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Administration
  • Student affairs
  • Colleges and universities
  • Adult education programs
  • Vocational-technical educational programs
  • Professional or graduate schools including medical
  • Obtain Ph.D. for most teaching and research positions.
  • Develop one or more concentrations, such as mathematics, medical or business ethics, science, religion, etc...
  • Gain related experience.
  • Combine with master's degree in specialized area, e.g. Library and Information Sciences, College Student Personnel, etc...
  • Secure internship in area of interest.

Research
  • Colleges and universities
  • Government agencies
  • Insurance companies
  • Publishers
  • Museums
  • Political organizations
  • Public interest research groups
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Obtain Ph.D. for college and university advanced positions.
  • Develop excellent research, verbal and written communications skills.
  • Obtain related experience.

Government

  • Staff positions
  • Congressional staffs
  • Lobbying
  • Federal, state and local government
  • Federal agencies including Office of Personnel Management
  • 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
  • Learn federal, state and local job application process.

Consulting
  • Service organizations
  • Research organizations
  • Health science funding agencies
  • Obtain graduate degree.
  • Gain related experience.

Ethics

  • Medical
  • Environmental
  • Research
  • Medical and professional schools
  • Colleges and universities
  • Consulting services
  • Research organizations
  • Health science funding agencies
  • Environmental agencies
  • Federal and state government
  • Obtain Ph.D. for most positions.
  • Participate in related professional organizations.
  • Join debate groups.
  • Develop excellent research, verbal and written communications skills.
  • Learn federal and state government job application process.

Writing

  • Writing
  • Editing
  • Technical writing
  • Journalism
  • Advertising
  • Publishing companies
  • Insurance companies
  • Travel Agencies
  • Magazine and newspaper companies
  • Professional/Trade associations
  • Advertising agencies/departments
  • Serve on college newspaper staff.
    Develop excellent writing and desktop publishing skills.
  • Take courses, minor or double major in journalism, advertising or English.
  • Get related experience.
  • Become student member of related professional group.

Business

  • Management
  • Sales/Marketing
  • Human Resources
  • Marketing Research
  • Advertising
  • Finance
  • Insurance
  • Lobbying
  • Business firms
  • Insurance companies
  • Bookstores
  • Marketing research
  • departments/organizations
  • Museums
  • Travel agencies
  • Advertising agencies/departments
  • Real estate companies
  • Take a business minor.
  • Get related experience.
  • Earn leadership role(s) in campus organizations(s).
  • Take advertising courses.

General Information

  • Philosophy students develop many functional skills which can be transferred from one career/job to another and provide flexibility and capacity for growth that employers find valuable.
  • These skills include analytical, organizational, research and oral and written communication. Abilities include generating ideas, formulating and solving problems, integrating diverse date, constructing useful analogies, adapting to change, eliciting hidden assumptions, persuading people and summarizing complicated material.
  • Undergraduate degree qualifies for entry-level positions in business, nonprofit organizations and government.
  • Graduate studies usually lead to careers in law, ministry, finance, psychology, counseling, diplomacy and related areas.
  • Ph.D. is required for college/university level teaching and research.
  • Concentrations with other areas can include: Philosophy and mathematics, religion, science, history, women, Eastern philosophy and medical or business ethics.
  • Selected computer science courses essential and offer more employment opportunities.
  • Develop aptitudes for analytical thinking, logic and statistics in order to apply philosophy to a broad range os professions such as: law, government, finance, management consulting and related areas.
  • Join related student or professional organizations.
  • Seek related summer or part-time work experience or internships in areas(s) of interest.

Prepared by the Career Planning staff, Career Services, 100 Dunford Hall, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, from resources available in its Career Resource Center. This information only highlights career opportunities. (1994)

 

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