What it’s about:

Philosophy is the study of the study of the fundamental questions about the nature of being, knowledge, right and wrong, and our place in the physical world. You explore the key philosophical texts and traditions, and examine the nature of argument and reasoning. You’ll also consider the ways philosophy affects other fields of inquiry, such as physics, religion, and computer science.

What the study of this major is like:

Philosophy majors participate in a tradition of thought as old as civilization and as new as artificial intelligence. Philosophy is the most general field of study. Every religious or moral belief, every detail from science-even ordinary information-can be viewed as subject matter. Philosophy majors are encouraged to contemplate the universe, both human and nonhuman. At the same time, they are trained to become disciplined, imaginative thinkers who can persuasively support their positions.

Many questions that philosophers ask are often asked by children. How did the world begin? Do animals have their own language? Could I be some-one else? Part of the fascination of philosophy is that it can reveal the complexity and subtlety of simple matters. On the other hand, philosophy tries to expose the muddled thinking we read and hear every day.

Beginning courses in philosophy are designed for students with little background, because few high schools teach philosophy. Most college programs have introductory courses in philosophical problems, which may include such topics as ethics (moral conduct). Metaphysics (the nature of reality), logic, epistemology (the study of knowledge), and aesthetics (the nature of art). Another introductory course surveys the history of philosophy beginning with the Greeks, and usually takes one or two years to complete.

As you progress through, the major, you will read works by Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Wittgenstein, John Dewy, and other important writers on such issues as the nature of consciousness, “truth,” and social justice. Increasingly, though, you will be expected to think from a philosophical perspective on your own. A substantial paper or thesis is usually required in your senior year.

Philosophy can present you with ideas that may at first seem overly abstract, incomprehensible, or pure fantasy. You may also have trouble seeing the connection between the philosophical concepts you study and the issues that matter in your daily life. In addition, philosophy courses seldom begin with easy material and then progress to the more difficult. Philosophers circle back on questions again and again. When studying philosophy, you can expect to progress from confusion to some clarity, but not from one small but clear concept to another well-defined concept. This situation frustrates some students and excites others.

Most philosophy departments at large universities are strong in certain areas of philosophy, such as ethics and moral philosophy, philosophy of language, history of philosophy, or political philosophy. Some departments focus on the sciences, some on the humanities, and a few take a religious approach. Departments at colleges that do not have graduate programs tend not to be specialized. Most departments, however, offer undergraduates a full range of courses. You can generally assume that the more professors in the department, the greater the variety of subjects taught.

Career options and trends:

Philosophy majors find their training useful in a variety of fields. The analytic skills developed in college are easily transferable to a number of professional areas. Students of philosophy tend to have the flexibility and capacity for growth that employers find valuable. Many graduates accept jobs in business, journalism, computer science, public administration, teaching, publishing, and public relations.

Teaching positions at the collegelevel are very competitive and require a Ph.D.

Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors