Skip to Main Content
You are now in the main content area

Careers

What can I do with a philosophy degree?

There’s a really simple answer: many, many things. Studying philosophy is excellent preparation for lots of different careers. One reason is that studying philosophy improves your ability to think critically, and, according to Forbes Magazine (external link) , this is the single most important skill that employers want to see.

 
Do you want to go to Law School, or to do an MBA, or to complete an MA or PhD?

If so, then studying philosophy is terrific preparation, since philosophy students perform extremely well on the standard tests (external link)  that are required for admission to these programs (LSAT, GMAT, and GRE).

 
Do you want to go to Teacher’s College?

If so, then studying philosophy first is a great idea. There are now two philosophy courses in the  (PDF file) Ontario high school curriculum (external link) : a Grade 11 course called Philosophy: The Big Questions, and a Grade 12 course called Philosophy: Questions and Theories. According to the OPTA (external link, opens in new window) , over 28,000 students now study philosophy in over 440 high schools across Ontario!

Visit the Ontario College of Teachers  (external link, opens in new window) 
Students graduating at convocation in their gowns.
Preparing for the job market

Read the guide below for some very practical career advice:

At Ryerson, we take career preparation very seriously. If you would like personalized advice about your career plans, visit the Career & Co-op Centre or contact the Faculty of Arts’ dedicated Career Counsellor, Sonny Wong.

Further reading

  1. Why Study Philosophy? (external link, opens in new window) 

  2. Philosophy is a Great Major (external link, opens in new window) 

  3. That 'Useless' Liberal Arts Degree Has Become Tech's Hottest Ticket (external link, opens in new window)  (Forbes, 2015)

  4. The Earning Power of Philosophy Majors (external link, opens in new window)  (The Atlantic, 2015)

  5. Heidegger's Marketing Secrets: What German Philosophers Know About Selling TVs (external link, opens in new window)  (Bloomberg, 2014)

  6. Philosophers Find the Degree Pays Off in Life And in Work (external link, opens in new window)  (The New York Times, 1997)

  7. I think, therefore I earn (external link, opens in new window)  (The Guardian, 2007)

  8. The Management Myth (external link, opens in new window)  (The Atlantic, 2006)

  9. 9 Famous Execs Who Majored in Philosophy (external link, opens in new window)  (Business Insider, 2014)

  10. The Unexpected Way Philosophy Majors Are Changing The World Of Business (external link, opens in new window)  (Huffington Post, 2014)

  11. The Value of Philosophy in Entrepreneurship (external link, opens in new window)  (Huffington Post, 2012)

  12. Learn Philosophy (external link, opens in new window)  (US News, 2008)