WHY STUDY PHILOSOPHY?

Engaged Citizenship

Studying philosophy allows you to develop the skills and understanding to be a more engaged citizen. Critical thinking and dialogue help you to think about difficult issues and to engage with many points of view. Courses in ethics, political philosophy, or environmental philosophy (to name a few) will deepen your understanding of the world and how you can make a difference.

The Examined Life

Philosophers strive to think clearly and carefully about the big questions. Do we have free will? What is truly good? What is the nature of the mind? Studying philosophy allows you to understand what some of the world’s greatest thinkers have thought about the big questions and to grapple with these questions yourself.

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Career Success

What are you going to do with a philosophy degree?!

Philosophy majors have had success in a wide variety of careers: business, tech, journalism, law, academia, medicine, and more. The skills you need to master in philosophy—critical thinking, clear writing, critical reading, creativity, dialogue, and problem-solving—are highly valued by employers. In fact, philosophy majors have higher average salaries than any other major in the humanities (sorry, English majors!).

The Earning Power of Philosophy Majors

"Philosophy doesn’t teach you one specific skill–it teaches you how to learn, how to think critically, and how to choose and flourish in whatever career you want. And...you don’t need to do just philosophy; philosophy works with everything. Philosophy is economic stability. Philosophy is freedom."
-Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein

What Can You Do With A Major In Philosophy?

Just About Anything!

Tech

Education

Government

Non-Profit-NGO

Arts & Entertainment

Foreign Service

Journalism

PHIL grad students talking

Law

Medicine

Publishing

Entrepreneur

Academic Philosophy

Business

Ministry

Practical Skills

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

  • Apply creative problem-solving to difficult issues
  • Use independent thinking
  • Understand complex ideas & reasoning
  • Evaluate the strength and weakness of evidence
  • Recognize, construct, & evaluate arguments
  • Ask fundamental questions—about reality, knowledge, value, meaning

Reading & Research

  • Use a variety of resource types in research and writing
  • Assess the quality & relevance of sources
  • Organize ideas & issues
  • Develop interpretive, analytical, & conceptual skills
  • Sort through information & identify what is essential or relevant

Communication & Collaboration

  • Engage in open, thoughtful, & respectful dialogue
  • Simplify complex problems & explain them to others
  • Write clearly & well
  • Demonstrate competence in interpretive, analytical, & argumentative writing
  • Present ideas & research in public settings
  • Listen to & understand a diversity of perspectives
  • Find common ground among differing viewpoints
  • Take & use criticism well

Values & Attitudes

  • Engage in open reflective inquiry
  • Understand ethical principles & apply them fairly to difficult cases
  • Apply cognitive flexibility to your own & others' ideas and values
  • Demonstrate intellectual curiosity in pursuits of truth & meaning
  • Aim to achieve a greater understanding of any issue
  • Apply critical reflection to all positions, including your own

Ready to Declare Philosophy as Your Major?

Academic Support Coordinator

mailto:neely.santeramo@colostate.edu

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