Student activities, leadership development, admissions, orientation, career services, residence life, multi-cultural affairs, study abroad, international student services
Academic affairs
Academic support services
Advising
Educational advancement programs
Honors programs
Library sciences
Employers
Colleges and universities
Professional or graduate schools, including medical
Adult education programs
Vocational-technical educational programs
Strategies
Obtain a doctorate degree to teach at colleges and universities. Maintain a high GPA and secure strong faculty recommendations to prepare for graduate school.
Develop one or more concentration(s), such as mathematics, medical or business ethics, science, or religion.
Become an effective writer.
Earn a master’s degree in a specialized area (e.g., College Student Personnel, Higher Education Administration, or Library and Information Sciences to work in other roles at post-secondary institutions).
Seek campus leadership positions such as peer mentor, orientation leader, or resident assistant.
Build strong interpersonal skills.
Ethics
Teaching
Research
Medical/Clinical
Bioethics
Environmental
Law-related
Employers
Hospitals
Medical and professional schools
Colleges and universities
Bioethics centers
Research institutes
Medical organizations (e.g., American Medical Association)
Health science funding agencies
Environmental agencies
Law firms specializing in health or bioethics
Consulting services
Strategies
Plan to obtain a doctorate in philosophy for academic research and teaching positions. Some hospitals and healthcare organizations prefer to hire individuals who also have a clinical background in nursing or medicine. Another potential educational path is to earn a law degree.
Complete an internship in a relevant setting while in graduate school to gain experience.
Participate in professional organizations in ethics.
Develop excellent research skills as well as verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrate commitment to ethical issues through involvement and volunteer experiences.
Investigate interdisciplinary degrees in bioethics offered at some universities.
Law
Prosecution
Defense
Contractual
Corporate
Nonprofit or public interest
Government
Mediation
Other specialties
Law assistance
Employers
Law firms
Federal, state, and local government
Private practice
Corporations
Special interest groups
Universities and colleges
Legal aid societies
Nonprofit and public interest organizations
ACLU
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Legal Services Corporation
Legal clinics
Other private legal services
Strategies
Plan on attending law school or a paralegal training school/program depending on area of interest.
Develop strong research skills and attention to detail.
Participate in debate or forensic team to hone reasoning, communication and critical thinking skills.
Choose courses or a minor to specialize in a particular area of law (e.g., a minor in business for a career in corporate law).
Gain experience and build skills through part-time or summer work in a law firm or an organization related to your particular interests.
Shadow an attorney to learn more about the field and various specialties.
Get involved in pre-law and mock trial organizations.
Volunteer with a public advocacy group. Seek experience with mediation and conflict resolution.
Maintain a high GPA and secure strong faculty recommendations. Prepare for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test).
Business
Sales
Management
Office administration
Human resources
Training and development
Writing/Editing
Underwriting and claims management
Entrepreneurship
Employers
Product and service organizations
Retail stores
Hotels
Restaurants
Wholesalers
Manufacturers
Banks and financial institutions
Insurance companies
Real estate agencies
Consulting firms
Other business corporations
Entrepreneurial/start up, incubators and funding organizations
Strategies
Earn a minor in business.
Develop excellent communication skills.
Gain experience in an area of interest through internships or other employment.
Obtain leadership roles in campus or community organizations.
Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and a high energy level.
Learn to use various technologies and software packages such as databases, spreadsheets and presentations.
Be prepared to start in entry level positions, such as management trainee programs.
Consider earning an MBA to advance into higher levels of business management.
Participate in campus and community “pitch” competitions and startup support organizations.
Religious communities (e.g., convents and monasteries)
Religious retreat centers, Christian and Buddhist
Denominational boards and agencies
Monasteries
All branches of military service
Hospitals, hospices
Homes for children, youth, senior citizens
Correctional institutions
Police and fire departments
Missions boards
Local churches
Evangelical organizations (e.g., Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
Religious-based camps and youth programs
Strategies
Obtain general knowledge of practices, procedures, guidelines and doctrine of one’s faith.
Possess understanding of human spiritual and social needs.
Research requirements to enter leadership in the faith you want to pursue. Master of Divinity and denominational ordination are required for most clergy positions, for example.
Possess high moral and ethical standards.
Develop leadership ability and self discipline. Obtain excellent written and verbal communication skills.
To become a chaplain, obtain ordination and two years’ service in local church or after acceptance into branch of military service, attend chaplaincy school.
Obtain any needed advanced degrees, certification or licensing in area of interest for missions.
Seek related experience by participating with missions groups.
Obtain travel and cultural experience with group of interest. Foreign language skills are a plus.
Develop fund raising skills and contacts. People interested in religious vs. secular work possess deep faith, want more than filling one’s own personal needs and desire to make a difference.
May be more opportunities for specific ministries in urban areas and large religious institutions.
Obtain experience and contacts through extensive involvement in campus organizations or local religious institutions. Leadership on the local, state and regional level is crucial.
Seek camp experience to improve organization and counseling skills as well as network within the denominational/organizational structure.
Learn to work well with people of all different backgrounds and socioeconomic status.
Earn dual degrees where appropriate (e.g., music).
Social/Community Services
Administration/Management
Fund raising/Development
Public relations
Policy analysis
Research
Grant writing
Direct service
Social entrepreneurship
Employers
Local and national nonprofit agencies
Foundations
Charitable organizations
Trade or professional associations
Special interest groups
Labor unions
Research organizations and think tanks
Government Agencies
Incubators, start up investors
Strategies
Seek courses with service learning components.
Supplement curriculum with courses in business, psychology, sociology, or social work.
Plan to volunteer and/or complete an internship.
Obtain leadership roles in relevant campus and community organizations.
Develop strong communication and research skills.
Learn how to write grants.
Demonstrate knowledge and experience in a specialty area (e.g., public health, environment, urban issues).
Research organizations’ values. It is critical that you are knowledgeable about and committed to the work you plan to do.
Investigate term of service or service corps positions as a way to gain entry into the field.
Consider earning a graduate degree for more job opportunities and advancement.
Participate in campus and community “pitch” competitions and startup support organizations.
Government/Politics
Public policy
Research
Regional planning
City management
Intelligence
Foreign Service
Law enforcement
Legislative, Executive, or Judicial Services
Program administration
Elected or appointed leadership
Campaign management
Staff administration
Special interest advocacy
Employers
State and local government
Federal departments and agencies
Foreign Service
Federal Municipal Archives
National and State Endowments for the Humanities
Legislative, executive, or judicial officials
Political action committees
Special interest groups
Political parties
Campaigns (national, state, or local)
Strategies
Take courses or minor in applicable interest area(s).
Seek leadership roles in relevant campus organizations such as model United Nations, student government, and cross-cultural organizations.
Write for campus publications focused on national and international affairs.
Participate in national campaigns.
Develop computer, statistics, data analysis and other functional administrative skills.
Acquire foreign language competency and travel experience for international positions.
Complete an internship with the federal government.
There are a large number of specialized agencies within the federal government. Extensive research will help you find the right fit.
Earn a graduate degree in political science or public administration for advancement.
Become familiar with the government application process. Utilize applicable websites and seek assistance from your college career center.
Communications
Writing
Editing
Technical
Writing
Journalism
Employers
University and commercial publishing companies
Magazine and newspaper publishers
Professional and trade associations
Electronic media organizations
Websites
Strategies
Take courses or minor in journalism, advertising, public relations, or English.
Develop excellent writing, editing, and desktop publishing skills.
Learn how to design websites.
Gain related experience through internships.
Volunteer to help campus or local organizations with their communications.
Serve on college newspaper or other campus publication staffs.
Join relevant professional associations.
General Information
Philosophy students develop many transferable skills that can be can be utilized in a variety of careers and jobs, demonstrating the flexibility and capacity for growth that employers find valuable. These skills include analytical, organizational, research, as well as oral and written communication.
Other skills emphasized in philosophy that are attractive to employers are idea generation, problem formulation and problem solving, diverse data integration, adaptation to change, the ability to elicit hidden assumptions, persuasion, and summarization of complicated material.
It is important for philosophy students to identify potential career goals and seek out the experiences and education required to enter those fields.
An undergraduate degree qualifies one for entry-level positions in business, nonprofit organizations, and government.
Graduate and/or professional studies usually lead to careers in law, medicine, ministry, finance, psychology, counseling, diplomacy, ethics, and related areas.
Ph.D. is required for college/university teaching and research.
Consider earning a minor or concentration in another discipline such as: mathematics, religion, science, business, political science, women’s studies, Eastern philosophy, sustainability or environmental studies.
Develop aptitudes for analytical thinking, logic, and statistics in order to apply philosophy to a broad range of professions such as law, government, finance, management, consulting, and related areas.
Seek related summer or part-time work experience or internships in area(s) of interest.
Join related student or professional organizations. Work toward leadership roles.
Conduct informational interviews or shadow professionals in fields of interest.
