Description | Skills | Experience | Sample Careers/Work Settings | Salary
Double Majors/Minors | Advanced Degrees | NCSU Orgs | Prof. Orgs | Links | Next Steps

Description of Major

Philosophy is a field of inquiry that aims to advance our understanding of ourselves and of the nature of reality, mind, knowledge and morality. It is concerned with fundamental questions about such topics, and it critically investigates what other disciplines, and other human activities, take for granted. The study of Philosophy helps students to develop their capacity to understand, criticize and construct arguments, to analyze and solve problems, and to elaborate their ideas and present them in a clear, coherent and well-organized form.

The undergraduate education that students receive in philosophy prepares them well for any career involving critical thinking, analysis and constructive problem solving. Philosophy majors in general tend to register higher scores on objective tests such as the GRE and LSAT. They often go on to careers in law, business (sales, marketing, human resources, management), medicine, teaching (K-12 and college), research (both in academia and in the private sector), government and non-profit organizations.

Courses include:

Logic; Ethics; Ethical Theory; History of Ethics; Bio-Medical Ethics; Metaphysics; Theory of Knowledge; Contemporary Political Philosophy; Global Justice; Philosophy of Law; Ethical Problems in the Law; Philosophy of Language; Philosophy of Science; Philosophy of Biology; Philosophy of Psychology; Introduction to Cognitive Science; Philosophy, Evolution and Human Nature; Ancient Philosophy; Medieval Philosophy; Early Modern Philosophy; 19th Century Philosophy; Kant; Existentialism; and more

The Undergraduate Catalog shows a listing of Philosophy courses, and the degree audit shows the curricula requirements for this major. If you are interested in expanding your career options, consider double-majoring and/or adding a minor.

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Skills You Develop In This Major

• Analytical reasoning
• Ethical reasoning
• Research
• Abstract thinking
• Critical and Analytical Communication
• Creative problem solving

Gaining Career-Related Experience

You are strongly encouraged to gain career-related experience prior to graduation in the form of an internship, summer job, or co-op. Though course credit is not available for this experience through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, you may receive compensation from the employer.

Co-op is a program of alternating semesters of work and school. Paid work terms of increasing responsibility enable students to graduate with the minimum equivalent of one year of relevant work experience. Full-time enrollment during the semester prior to the first work term is required. You can begin co-op after completion of at least two semesters (30 credit hours) at NC State (one semester for transfers and graduate students). An NC State transcript must show grades and admission to a degree program. A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.50 (3.00 for graduate students) is required. The Co-op Office web site lists the Orientation Schedule, which is the first step to program participation.

Internships are typically full-time during the summer or (for some) part-time during the semester. You can start interning or seeking summer jobs related to your field, whenever you are ready. The University Career Center provides services to help you get started.

Participate in ePack, the Career Center's on-line system that connects employees with students through internship postings, on-campus interviews, information sessions, and resume searches. You may activate your ePack account at any time.

Internship Example

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Sample Career Titles and Possible Work Settings

The following lists provide a brief sampling of the kind of jobs and work environments you might find with a degree in this major. These titles and work settings are by no means an exhaustive listing. Because the world of work is always changing, over time job titles and work settings can change. The below listing is provided in hopes of giving you initial insight into a particular career field that would employ the skills and knowledge gained through this major.

Sample Career Titles	Sample Work Settings
Research Analyst	Private Corporation, Non-profit Organization, Think Tank
Grant Coordinator	Private Corporation
Employment Interviewer	Corporation or Government
Lobbyist	Private Corporation
Fundraiser	Non-Profit Organization
Reporter/Journalist	Media Corporation

Careers Needing Advanced Degrees

• Professor
• Corporate Researcher
• Attorney
• Ethicist
• Physician

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Salary

Baccalaureate - $ 31,904 (general humanities degree)
From NACE National Survey - July 2010: http://www.naceweb.org/research/salary_survey/

The salary listed above is an average starting salary based on skills and experiences gained at the Bachelors level. Keep in mind that salary level typically increases with additional experience and/or educational degrees.

Furthermore, you may have the opportunity to mold an entry-level position into your dream job and subsequently increase your salary as you learn more, add responsibilities and gain experience.

NC State Related Organizations & Clubs

Philosophy Club
Faculty Adviser: Assoc. Professor Timothy Hinton, 513.7941, tim_hinton@ncsu.edu

Professional Resources (Outside NC State)

These resources include organizations, clubs, and conferences not affiliated with NC State and can be an important part of your career pursuit.

• American Philosophical Association

Links to Related Resources

• University Career Center
• For more specific information on occupation/job skills, expectations, and salary, go to the Occupational Information Network site and search for a specific job. (hint: for salary info, select a report on one of the jobs and find the wages link at the bottom of the page.)
• The list of available Minors at NC State.
• Experimental Courses Listing (a.k.a. Special Topics)
• Department of Philosophy & Religion
• College of Humanities & Social Sciences
• Cooperative Education Program
  

Next Steps

Need more information about this major? Contact the expert on this major,
Coordinator of Advising.

Don't want this major? Continue exploring the available majors.
Still unsure of your major and/or not sure what to do next?
You know you want this major. What do you need to do now?

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Last updated: 21st of September, 2010 at 12:56:58 PM

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