The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers a BA and a BGS in Philosophy. The critical aspect of philosophy involves posing difficult and probing questions about various truth claims. The constructive aspect of philosophy involves developing an accurate and productive picture of reality. The hope of philosophy is to understand ourselves, our world, our values, and the entirety of existence around us.
Philosophy Department website
Sample Career Paths in Philosophy
Politics/Public Policy: This is a very broad career path that offers you a variety of options within the field including public policy, elected or appointment official, campaign management, and staff administration. Strong personal and communication skills are necessary for this career path.
Law: The skills learned within this major like logical and critical thinking and the writing abilities gained offers a great path into the law profession. There is a variety of options within the profession including public defender, criminal defense, corporate law and many more.
Education: Offers you the ability to educate, research, and advise in all levels of education. Research and communication skills are very important to this career path.
Journalism: The ability to express yourself into a form of entertainment for knowledge seekers in several different categories including sports, news, fashion, and many more. Also, publishing is a huge aspect of this career path.
Religion: The skills attained from a philosophy major is a great path into religion. Further education within this profession is required and prepares you for this career path much more extensively. Clergy member and church administration are two of the most common professions within the career.
Business/Public Relations: Many businesses need help within the area of public relations which is all about their image and how they are viewed from the public’s point of view. Written and analytical skills are very important within this career path.
Possible Employers in Philosophy
- Churches
- Corporate Businesses
- District Attorneys
- Federal, state, and local government agencies
- Law Firms
- Middle/High Schools
- Newspapers/Magazines
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Political Campaigns
- Political Interest Groups
- Political Parties
- Prisons
- Private and Public Universities
- Public Relations Firms
- Publishing Companies
- Religious Based Universities
- Research Institutions
Possible Job Titles in Philosophy
- Clergy
- Copy Editor
- Copywriter
- Elected Government Official
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Legislative Aid
- Minister
- Newspaper Editor
- Paralegal
- Policy Analyst
- Prison Administrator
- Professor
- Public Relations Executive
- Publications Researcher
- Publisher
- Researcher
- Student Affairs Professional
- Teacher
Strategies for Finding Employment in Philosophy
- Focus on the skill sets that are sought after rather than focusing on the degree. Read the Using a Liberal Arts degree handout for more information.
- Become familiar with the required professional qualifications associated with careers that interest you (i.e. advance degrees, licensure and/or certifications).
- Gain direct experience within the areas that interest you most through research projects, independent studies, internships, part-time jobs, student organization involvement, or volunteering.
- Set up email alerts through KU Career Connections and join the Internship Listserv to receive automated weekly emails (see sample) with industry specific internship information.
- Consider joining a professional organization related to your area of interest in philosophy, and, if possible, attend local and/or regional conferences to make connections with professionals working in your field.
- Earn a minor or take additional coursework outside your major when relevant to your career goals.
- Complete an independent study to gain advanced research skills.
- Maintain a strong GPA if you are considering pursuing graduate or professional school.
- Consider getting involved with a student organization at KU related to your area of interest, such as: Philosophy Club, Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy, Dole Institute of Politics Student Advisory Board, The University Daily Kansan, Phi Alpha Delta (Pre-Law), and Graduate Association of Students in Philosophy.
The quick link for this page is: KUCareerHawk.com/Philosophy