Is it a good idea to major in philosophy at NAU?
College advice from William F. Nietmann, Professor Emeritus, NAU Department of Philosophy
Edited by University Marketing
Ah, the age-old question. People ask me all the time. It’s one of those things a person can’t believe they might actually do. “What would my parents think if I became a philosophy major?”
As the technology age has boomed, so have majors in the STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and math. Rather unfairly, the liberal arts sometimes end up at the unpopular end of the spectrum. What many people fear is that nobody will line up at the door of the philosophy, English, or history departments to hire new grads. Is this cause for alarm? What can a philosophy major do after graduation?
The short answer is—anything. But to connect philosophy with a career path, you must understand what this academic discipline is all about.
What do you do in a philosophy degree?
Philosophy is very demanding; some call it the toughest of the liberal arts. I don’t know if that rings true for all students, but you do have to read, reason, and write well to succeed in philosophy. You ought to have a special sort of inquisitiveness and curiosity that doesn’t rest easy.
At heart, philosophy is the art of “crap detection,” and it is this training that makes the philosopher a very valuable person in the world at large. A philosophy degree prepares you primarily for analysis and the business of living rather than any specific job. As I like to say, philosophy bakes no bread, but it does give you an education in the skill of thinking, which opens up doors in the world of work.
Philosophy is a very useful and respected degree, and certainly one with which you can make money. Philosophers turn their attention to more than just the history of philosophy. They pick areas in which they want to become experts, such as science, psychology, religion, art, social science, and so on. One’s training can take off in a number of areas where there are concepts requiring analysis. You’ll have to decide where your talents and abilities lie.
What kind of job can I get with a philosophy degree?
Students in philosophy often pursue business, graduate degrees in law and medicine, and communication-oriented fields such as journalism or teaching. There is no better preparation for these career paths than a philosophy degree.
Due to the nature of philosophy, you get to choose your own path. What we, the faculty members, will do as your mentors is assist you in designing a course plan that suits your individual goals. Any career you want to pursue will not be threatened by having to take too much work in philosophy—only enhanced.
You’ll want to consider your individual goals and how you can best tailor your academic plan to support them. Adding a minor in business, biology, chemistry, political science, journalism, or psychology is a great way to combine your career interests with a philosophy degree.
Working in business with a philosophy degree
Most of our graduates find jobs in the world of business. Why? Usually, philosophy students can think analytically and write well. It is this training that prepares them for the many eventualities of a life in business.
I once wrote Consolidated Freight, a trucking company with headquarters located in Menlo Park, California, asking about their hiring policies. Their personnel officer wrote back saying that people in the liberal arts (that includes philosophy) rise higher and faster in management than other majors.
I recall Tony Picarello, who upon graduation was hired by Ford Motor Company’s Motorcraft division to sell Ford auto parts. He went to an NAU job fair and interviewed with a Ford Motor Company representative. After some negotiation, he was hired to sell Motorcraft parts out of Dallas. Quite soon he was assigned to Dallas itself, then he was made regional manager. He quickly rose through the ranks of Ford and became a consulting management team member for Ford’s Premier Auto Division, stationed in Irvine, California.
Some of our philosophy students go on to pursue their Master of Business Administration (MBA), including 2017 graduate Benjamin Bush, who is now an investment banker. We help interested students design a degree plan that includes all courses needed for admission to an MBA program. Philosophy students routinely achieve high scores on the standard business school exams.
More real-life examples of NAU philosophy grads and their careers
Getting into any of these jobs required initiative on the part of the individual—and that is usually the case for most academic majors. These people ended up doing things unrelated to philosophy, but still enjoyed studying philosophy in college and created their own value with the degree.
What is the practical truth, then? A philosophy graduate has to toot their own horn to those who do the hiring. Anyone applying for a job must be able to put their best foot forward in the hiring process.
Real-life examples of NAU philosophy alumni careers include:
- business owners, including floral companies and upscale restaurants
- business managers, including movie theatres
- sales positions
- librarians
- teachers
- fiction and nonfiction writers
- Pulitzer newspaper journalists
- economic consultants
- financial advisors
- irrigation system specialists
- numerous technicians in computer fields
- highly classified defense industry positions with Sandia and XS Corporation
- rock musicians
- Peace Corps participants
- government positions
- Jeopardy host (okay, Alex Trebek may not have been a Lumberjack, but he was a philosophy major at the University of Ottawa!)
Is a philosophy degree right for me? Who should not major in philosophy?
Many students will choose a major other than philosophy. The technical competencies required in certain jobs require specific training—you can’t be an engineer without a technical education, a translator without knowing a second language, or an accountant without the proper certifications. There is no way into dental hygiene or nursing but by training in those majors.
If a career beckons you, pursue it. But remember that it is always possible to return to philosophy. It won’t go away or become outdated. And no matter what major you choose, there is always the option of adding a philosophy minor to your plan—or even a double major. Speaking with your professors and an academic advisor about your career aspirations is the best way to make sure you’re in a degree program that is suited for your future goals.