This paper examines the career possibilities available to women who study philosophy, arguing that a philosophy background develops critical thinking and analytical skills applicable to a wide range of professions. Drawing on sources including the American Philosophical Association, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, and admissions guidelines from Harvard Law School, the paper surveys five specific fields: college professor, attorney, minister, mathematician, and journalist. For each field, the paper outlines educational requirements, typical job prospects, and the ways in which philosophical training provides a relevant foundation. The paper concludes that while academic positions in philosophy are competitive, the discipline serves as a versatile launching point for diverse and rewarding careers.
Philosophy is not a hard science requiring that problems be worked out with formulas and centuries-old givens. The American Philosophical Association describes it this way: "Philosophy is a basic field of inquiry. Its range encompasses ideas and issues in every domain of human existence, and its methods apply to problems of an unlimited variety. The major in philosophy can develop not only philosophical skills and sophistications but also intellectual abilities that are readily applicable to pursuits in everyday social and personal life." (APA)
The options open to women in philosophy are nearly endless. Because the study of philosophy develops critical thinking and analytical skills, it provides a background for careers requiring problem-solving, along with the ability to view issues from other perspectives and to develop logical arguments with a sensitivity to the values of others. Philosophy can be the starting point for any number of careers. This is verified by the results of the 1990–1993 Graduate Record Exam, which is taken by students who seek higher education in any area. The results showed that philosophy students ranked 6th out of 50. (GRE)
The career possibilities explored here include teaching, law, ministry, mathematics, and journalism.
Master's and doctoral degrees in philosophy are needed to teach at the college level.
The Philosophy Department at one university notes that "employment prospects in this area have not been very good for several years, and it is uncertain how much they will improve in the coming years." Instead, the department concentrates on the applications of philosophy to other career areas, pointing out through its graduates list the wide variety of careers that philosophy majors have chosen.
Harvard Law School prefers that its students have a four-year educational background in a "cultural field" such as economics, literature, government, or philosophy. (Harvard) The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is required before applying. Although no specific score is required, it is viewed as part of a whole application package that includes college grades and extracurricular activities. The school's website notes that students they accept generally have LSAT scores in the top five percentile and have graduated in the top ten percent of their class.
Harvard Law School is a three-year program. First-year courses include Criminal Law, Contracts, Civil Procedure, Torts, Property, and Legal Reasoning and Argument. To receive the Juris Doctor degree, students must successfully complete all three years of coursework and produce a "satisfactory piece of written work." Attorneys must also pass a written bar exam administered by the state in which they practice.
The legal profession is divided into several categories. General practice covers the legal needs of individuals on a daily basis in areas such as divorce, adoptions, probate, family law, and real estate transactions. (Missouri) Many general practice attorneys are sole practitioners who work for themselves. The job possibilities are wide open for sole practitioners, who need only open an office and advertise their services; however, there is no guaranteed regular paycheck.
Corporate law is confined to businesses, with the attorney handling the day-to-day legal matters of a single company. Job possibilities for corporate lawyers depend on the job market, the employment rate, and the state of the economy. Many governments at the federal, state, and local levels keep attorneys on the payroll for the myriad legal matters that must be handled, with job possibilities depending on need and the specialized skills of the attorney. The legal profession is expected to see growth in the areas of healthcare, intellectual property, international law, elder law, environmental law, and harassment. (Outlook)
The Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002–03 states that "entry requirements vary greatly; many denominations require a bachelor's degree followed by study at a theological seminary, whereas others have no formal educational requirements." (Occupation) Depending on the type of position sought, it might be necessary or advantageous to hold a degree. Some universities offer a degree in Christianity that prepares students for ministry or for further graduate studies, with requirements including nine required semester hours plus twenty-five additional hours covering Christian ethics, historical and theological studies, and Biblical studies.
Ministry work covers a wide range of roles: youth minister, music minister, worship minister, senior pastor, pastor of families and children, and more. (Minister) Not all religions have opened their doors to women in the ministry, but those that do have welcomed women into all facets of church life. The Unitarian church has the highest number of women clergy, with women "making up 51 percent of the total, up from fewer than 3 percent in 1968." (Niebuhr) As the population continues to grow, more churches will be built and more ministers will be needed.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook states that "a doctoral degree in mathematics usually is the minimum education needed for prospective mathematicians, except in the Federal Government. In the Federal Government, entry-level job candidates usually must have a four-year degree with a major in mathematics or a four-year degree with the equivalent of a mathematics major — 24 semester hours of mathematics courses."
The combination of philosophy and mathematics is not as unusual as it might first appear. The University of Oxford observes that "historically, there have been strong links between mathematics and philosophy, while logic, an important branch of both, provides a natural bridge between the two subjects." (Oxford) Theoretical mathematics is a good match with philosophy because of the abstract thinking and exploration involved in producing new principles and theories.
A four-year degree in journalism is required for most journalism jobs, although many employers will accept other degrees, especially if the candidate has journalism experience. For specialized work, an additional degree in a field such as political science or economics might be required.
"Ministry roles and women's growing presence"
"Philosophy-mathematics links and career requirements"
"Journalism fields and self-employment possibilities"
Oxford. University of Oxford, Mathematics and Philosophy. [institutional reference]
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