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Saint Peters University Majors

Philosophy

Mariel Brito-Gonzalez and Brandon Franco

Career Development

December 5, 2017
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A major is a preparation for a specific career in return of a college degree. As a first year

student at a university, choosing a major can be frustrating. However, it is something you should

immediately look into. Choosing a major impacts your career path as well as your life, but it is

not your final destination. If you are indecisive about choosing one, then you should begin to

research, ask questions, and meet with counselors. Also, you should ask yourself, Am I really

interested about this major, Do I want to continue preparing myself on this subject for several

years?, What do I gain from this major? While you answer these questions, you can

determine if it is the right fit for you. You should also think about your goals and how your

career will help you achieve them.

When choosing a major you should look at the possible occupations or jobs that this

major offers. This gives you an idea, especially if you envision yourself working in this field.

You can get a glimpse of the industries that your career pertains to. Students should research the

job outlooks, the wages of the occupations, the benefits that you receive from it. For instance,

the shifts, stability, employment rate, the sick days paid, the holidays given, the retirement plans,

the health, dental and vision insurance are all characteristics of the workplace that you should

consider. You can investigate the competition youll have and the requirements for a job in your

career. For instance, if you need to have a certain degree, certification or even license for a

specific job, then be sure that you are equipped for it. The positions offered and the type of work

you will be assigned to do at the job are also things to be taken into consideration. In addition,

you should review the jobs responsibilities, the challenges, the supervision, future career

potential, and its environment.

In your major, you will be introduced to all kinds of professionals. Creating

relationships with them are important for your career. They will assist you throughout your
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career and even help you find jobs or internships. Studies show that those who get along with

their colleagues and coworkers, perform efficiently at work. There might be situations where one

does not get along with another co-worker for whatever reason, situations like those are learning

experiences on both sides. By working with people one is not necessarily fond of, in a way,

challenges you to be more open to differences in opinion and know how to confront situations

like those in the future. You need to feel comfortable with the type of environment you are in,

especially with how the co workers communicate with each other, how situations are resolved.

How to get receive awards or recognition in your major is essential to look at.

In this case, philosophy is a major that every student should consider studying.

Philosophy is the study of knowledge and reasoning. In this major, students will be introduced to

difficult text that will be analyzed and read throughout the year. Students will also learn about

the history of philosophy and some of the philosophers that have made a great impact in this

field. Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, are some of the most influential philosophers the world has come

to know. Their way of thinking was rooted in the theory of coming closer to the truth by

considering other possibilities of thoughts and ideas. With that being said, philosophy is one of

the hardest majors because of how analytical you have to be with the work that you are doing.

Extensive logistical reasoning comes into play with the workload and one must expand thoughts

and possibilities to find the solution to a problem. Since it is challenging, students must be

committed to the subject at all times and should be constantly studying. Students should also be

aware of current news, which is a great way to connect the text to daily events. The challenges

that students will face will later on become a reward. You will become a better student

academically, and you will grow intellectually, emotionally and psychologically. Studies have
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shown that students that major in philosophy become better writers, better speakers, and are

much more analytical in situations.

Philosophy Program consist of different courses such as Introduction to Philosophy I,

Introduction to Philosophy II. Following is Introduction to Ethics, and Contemporary Ethical

Issues. Then Logic, Rhetoric, Speech and Argument, Critical Moral Thinking, Philosophy of

Human Nature, General Ethics, Political Philosophy, Business Ethics, Contemporary Issues

Bioethics. Technology Society and Values, Philosophy and Dylan, The Philosophy of Immanuel

Kant, Asian Philosophy, Feminist Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Ethics and Leadership.

Special Projects Philosophy, Tutorial, Symbolic and Mathematical Logic, Platos Dialogue and

Platos Republic. (Saintpeters.edu, 2017)

Students who become successful in this major are able to construct and analyze

arguments, write persuasively, work in teams, expand their creativity, flexibility, and create

solutions to problems. In fact, philosophy enhances your critical thinking skills, soft skills, as

well as your communicational skills. Also, you develop stronger ways to debate a topic, defend a

point, and summarize debate results. In an interview, the philosophy professor Lisa O'Neill said,

Philosophy teaches you how to master written and oral communication through exploration of

humanity's most profound questions. She added that the knowledge you receive from this major

never becomes obsolete meaning that the knowledge you attain from this major will be used in

all aspects of your life from personal to professional relations and will always be applied. Also

professor Lisa ONeill stated that knowledge and education is the key to liberation, this means

that in order to expand on our own personal liberation with different ideas and thoughts, you

have to be properly educated on the matter.

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The transferable skills developed in this major offer a range of employment in different

fields. Some of the transferable skills are known as working in teams, problem solving,

leadership skills, communication, and numeracy skills. In the article, Philosophy Is A Great

Major, A recent study by The Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that in 2015, only five

percent of philosophy majors were unemployed, six months after graduation a percentage that

has been decreasing for years. (Philosophy is a Great Major, 2017) This major proves to be

successful in many areas of the workplace because of how flexible it is and those that graduate

with a degree in philosophy are sought out for from industries.

Philosophy graduates are offered a range of jobs including being a newspaper journalist

to a stockbroker. Some of the typical employers are law firms, local government and the civil

service, banking and insurance companies, recruitment agencies, accountancy firms,

management consultants, advertising, marketing, and public relations agencies, secondary

schools, and higher education institutions.

Recruiters often hire employees with a philosophy degree. This is particularly due to the

fact that they want someone in their company with high thinking skills, and can be a problem

solver. Also, philosophy majors are open minded to different types of ideas, and strategies that

can benefit a workplace. Philosophy majors pay special detail to their surroundings which is

important since employes should always be aware in their job.

References

Interview with Professor Lisa ONeill

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Making the Right Career Move: Choosing the Role That's Best for You. (n.d.). Retrieved

November 30, 2017, from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCDV_73.htm

Philosophy.as.uky.edu. (2017). Where Can Philosophy Take Me? | Philosophy. [online]

Available at: https://philosophy.as.uky.edu/where-can-philosophy-take-me [Accessed 1 Dec.

2017].

Philosophy is a Great Major. (2017). In 2015, only 5% of Philosophy Majors were unemployed,

six months after graduation.. [online] Available at:

https://philosophyisagreatmajor.com/2017/03/22/in-2015-only-5-of-philosophy-majors-were-

unemployed-six-months-after-graduation/ [Accessed 4 Dec. 2017].

Saintpeters.edu. (2017). Saint Peters University - Philosophy - Courses. [online] Available at:

http://www.saintpeters.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/philosophy/courses/ [Accessed 4

Dec. 2017].

Usm.edu. (2017). Why Philosophy Is a Surprisingly Good Major | The University of Southern

Mississippi. [online] Available at: https://www.usm.edu/philosophy-religion/why-philosophy-

surprisingly-good-major [Accessed 1 Dec. 2017].