Philosophy Option, Liberal Arts A.A.

Philosophy, A.A.

What are the Advantages of a Degree in Philosophy?

The study of philosophy benefits students intellectually, spiritually, and morally.  Philosophy encourages students to ask questions about right and wrong, truth and falsehood, the nature of reality, knowledge and society, as well as the meaning of life.  Students learn how to think critically, ask good questions, and distinguish valuable questions from worthless ones.  Students are taught how to  make rational arguments and understand philosophical research.

Philosophy majors develop critical thinking skills, clear writing abilities, and the confidence to handle ambiguity.  The primary expertise of philosophers is to take complex and ill-defined problems, and attempt to offer satisfactory explanations, which in turn often leads to more questions.  Skills gained by philosophy graduates are useful in almost any career.

Most think "teacher" or "professor" when they think of jobs for philosophy graduates. If a career as an educator is your choice, the national median pay for a professor of philosophy at a college or university was $80,560.00 in 2020, according to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. Employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 12% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.