What Can I Do With A Major In Philosophy?

Philosophers know, of course, that the important question is not what you can do with a field of study but rather what a field of study does with you. Nevertheless, it has been a welcome surprise within recent years to witness how many professions--business, law, nursing, for example, want and reward many of the capacities that the study of philosophy develops: the ability to solve problems, to communicate, to organize ideas and issues, to assess pros and cons, and to reduce complex data. These capacities represent transferable skills. For this reason, people trained in philosophy are not only prepared to do many kinds of tasks, they can also cope with change, or even move into new careers more readily than others.

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RELATED OCCUPATIONS

Anthropologist	Psychologist
College Administrator	Political Scientist
Freelance Writer	Criminologist
Archivist	Editorial Assistant
Credit Manager	Educator
Technical Writer	Financial Planner
Insurance Agent	Personnel Manager
Public Administrator	Historian
Investment Banker	Management Accountant
Foreign Correspondent	College Instructor
Arbitrator	Research Assistant
Advertising Executive	Librarian

SKILLS

Ability To Formulate And Defend Position	Ability To Speak Articulately And Listen Objectively
Broad Background Of General Knowledge	Ability To Summarize Complicated Materials And Solve Problems
Comprehensive Knowledge Of Grammar And Vocabulary	Proficiency In Analytical And Synthetic Reasoning
Designing and Reporting for both Individuals and Businesses	Manual Teaching Skills
Ability to Analyze, Compare and Interpret Facts and Figures Quickly	Maturity
Patience	Stamina

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SAMPLE JOBS

(taken from past issues of our Career Services Husky Job Board)

Human Services Specialist-
Serving individuals with developmental and physical disabilities in a residential setting within the Greater Portland area.
Qualifications: People with energy, creativity, enthusiasm, and a strong sense of responsibility.

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RELATED ACTIVITIES

Participation on a debate or forensic team; playing word games and games of strategy; attending lectures; listening to radio talk shows; participation in political campaigns; joining a student government group; freelance writing; part- time job or volunteering as research assistant, etc. .

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

(These resources are located in our Career Resource Centers)

Maine Dept. of Labour and Occupational Outlook Handbook

Choices

Careers in Health Care

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PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

(For more information see the National Trade and Professional Association
of the United States located in our Career Resource Centers)

American Philosophical Society
104 South Fifth St
Philadelphia PA 19106-3387
215-440-3400

American Catholic Philosophical Association

American Philosophical Society

American Society for Value Inquiry

Association for Informal Logic and Critical Thinking

Association for Philosophy of the Unconscious

Association for Practical and Professional Ethics

Association for Symbolic Logic

Association of Muslim Social Scientists

Association of Philosophy Journal Editors

Federation of State Humanities Councils

International Association for Philosophy and Literature

Jean Piaget Society/ Society for the Study of Knowledge and Development

Metaphysical Society of America

Philosophy of Education Society

Philosophy of Science Association

Semiotic Society of America

Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy

Society for Business Ethics

Society for Natural Philosophy

American Association of Philosophy Teachers

American Philosophical Association

North American Society for Social Philosophy

Society of Christian Philosophers

Society for the Philosophy of Sex and Love

Society for News Language Study

Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy

Society for Philosophy of Religion

Society of Asian and Comparative Philosophy

Society of Philosophers in America

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The information on this page was taken from the following sources: CareerWare 98; Maine Dept.of Labor, 94; Occupational Outlook Handbook, 98; National Trade and Professional Associations Of the United States, 97; College Majors and Careers

Website Last Updated August 8, 1999

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