Start a Great Career with a Degree in Philosophy

• what makes some actions morally right and others wrong?
• do we have free will?
• what is reality ultimately made out of?
• is there a god?

A degree in Philosophy won’t necessarily help you answer these questions, but it will foster critical thinking skills, teach thinking from positions of multiple perspectives, and help students readily recognize the strengths and weaknesses of arguments and perspectives. Earning a degree in Philosophy can be found in an Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral program.

Associate Degree in Philosophy

Philosophy is the practice of thinking critically and rationally about human problems of existence including the topics of knowledge, morality, art, and religion. An Associate Degree in Philosophy is excellent preparation for a wide variety of entry-level careers and further educational success.

Jobs with an Associate Degree in Philosophy

• Teacher Assistant – Work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction. May specialize in specific student populations given area(s) of expertise. Median Annual Salary: $29,000.
• Legal Assistant – Perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers. Median Annual Salary: $52,000.
• Clergy – Conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination. Median Annual Salary: $55,000.

GI Bill® Approved Schools Offering Bachelor’s Degrees in Philosophy

• Allan Hancock College – Offers an Associate of Arts for Transfer in Philosophy. The Associate in Arts in Philosophy for Transfer degree is designed to prepare the student for transfer to four-year institutions of higher education while also satisfying the lower division requirements for the Baccalaureate Degree in Philosophy at a California State University.
• Contra Costa College – Offers an Associate of Arts in Philosophy for Transfer. The AA for Transfer degree is designed to prepare the student for transfer to four-year institutions of higher education while also satisfying the lower division requirements for the Baccalaureate Degree in Philosophy at a California State University. CCC also offers a Certificate of Achievement in Philosophy.

Online Associate Degrees in Philosophy

Fort Hays State University

Offers several Philosophy Certificates.

• General Philosophy
• Moral and Political Philosophy
• Philosophy of Religion

These programs are offered both online and as a campus-based programs. Fort Hays State University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program.

Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy

A Bachelor’s in Philosophy will help students develop a variety of useful skills including:

• critical thinking
• construction of reasoning
• evaluation of reasoning
• consideration of many different perspectives on a single subject
• charitable understanding of alternative views
• clear written and verbal communication on complex topics
• critical evaluation for and against a range of possible views

This is a wonderful foundation for those seeking careers and/or further education in majors from law, medical, and business to the humanities, social sciences, and education. Upon graduation, students can choose to enter the workforce and/or pursue further education by earning a graduate degree.

Jobs with a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy

• Legislator – An elected position responsible for the development, introduction, and/or enactment of laws and statutes at the local, state, tribal, or federal level. Median Annual Salary: $30,000.
• Secondary Teacher – Teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college. Median Annual Salary: $63,000.
• Top Executive – Plan strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. Top executives work in nearly every industry, for both small and large organizations. Median Annual Salary: $108,000.