Why Philosophy
Because Philosophy Makes Sense!
See what Baylor's Philosophy Professors have to say about studying philosophy here. But you don't just have to take our word for it! Read below to see how Philosophy Makes Sense ...
Philosophy is about making progress on some of the most difficult and most important questions in life. When properly engaged, philosophy leads to a deeper understanding of human nature and the world around us.
Contemporary philosophy has its own jargon and professional techniques, but at heart it remains a quest for wisdom: the kind of understanding that enables one to live a fully human life.
In the discipline of Philosophy we reflect on and attempt to integrate all other disciplines, putting them in creative tension with each other in order to gain as complete an understanding of ourselves and our world as we can.
For Business, Money, and Employment
Leave your preconceptions at the door! Philosophy delivers highly marketable, highly transferable skills. If your ideal career requires thinking, talking, or writing, we'll help you prepare. Just ask these people (some of whom you might recognize).
Your parents might have worried when you chose philosophy as a major. But graduates in philosophy earned 103.5% more about 10 years post-commencement. See here, here, and here.
To remain competitive, Billionaire Mark Cuban advises ditching degrees that teach specific skills and opting for degrees that teach you how to think in a big picture way, like philosophy. See here.
In an era in which chronic unemployment seems to demand hard skills, some students are turning to an ancient study that they say prepares them not for a job, but for the multiple jobs they expect to hold during their lifetimes. That is, study of philosophy makes gains despite the economy.
According to a study, and another, philosophy majors earn the most among those who earned bachelor's degree in the humanities. Philosophy majors know to find creative ways to solve problems and for this very reason they are highly valued in the corporate world.
Thinking about graduate school? Add up the three sections: Philosophy majors have the highest score on the GRE. How about business school? Philosophy majors outperform majors in economics, statistics, finance, accounting, etc. on the GMAT. See here, here, and here.
"[W]hen accomplished entrepreneurs like Reid Hoffman, Peter Thiel and Carly Fiorina credit their philosophy backgrounds for their success, you have to wonder if they’re on to something. After all, many of the same qualities that make a good entrepreneur are the same qualities that make a good philosopher. Both occupations require clear communication, critical thinking and the ability to sell your ideas. And while these are just a few skills that entrepreneurs share with philosophers, there are many more valuable lessons that founders and CEOs can learn from this ancient yet timeless discipline." Nicholas Miller, CEO and Co-Founder, Gather
For Medical School
A Harvard Medical School professor makes the case for Philosophy here. "What a continuously giving gift philosophy has been... If you can extract, and abstract, underlying assumptions or superordinate principles, or reason through to the implications of arguments, you can identify and address issues in a myriad of fields."
Philosophers enjoy the best chance of admission to medical school of any major (as measured by scores on the MCAT).
If you're still not sure you're ready to take the plunge and major in Philosophy, a Philosophy minor is a nice accessory to any degree. And if you do major in philosophy, know that we also have a concentration in Medicine.
"The MCAT is not an exam that tests your rote knowledge of basic science—it is an exam that tests your ability to think critically about what you have learned. I learned what I needed in the basic sciences, but I learned how to think about what I learned in philosophy. As a pre-med student, you need to be able to decipher complex information and make decisions about it, which is something you learn in philosophy courses."
Ashley Davis, Baylor '12
For Law School
"As robots take over routine jobs, we need people who can think creatively, imaginatively, logically, and laterally. Acquiring a narrow 'skillset' of the kind society increasingly demands will, in fact, leave students not equipped for the future, but vulnerable to it." So if you want to run the world, study a so-called useless subject. See here.
You guessed it, philosophy tops the LSAT. Philosophy is a better bet for getting into law school than political science, pre-law, and anything starting with "business".
If you're still not sure you're ready to take the plunge and major in Philosophy, a Philosophy minor is a nice accessory to any degree. And if you do major in philosophy, know that we also have a concentration in Pre-Law.
"Philosophy makes sense for pre-law students because the study of philosophy is just naturally connected to the skills necessary for success in law school. First of all, there can be no better major to give you a general preparation for the LSAT. In order to even get into law school, much less succeed once you’re there, you need to be able to analyze arguments, make deductions, comprehend dense passages, and write effectively. All four of these skills are developed extensively throughout the course of a philosophy major."
Alan Swindoll, Baylor '12
For Life
Ever wondered if God exists? If you have free will? If life has a meaning? Whether abortion/affirmative action/capitalism/current-hot-topic is right or wrong? What it means to be a person? If you should fear death?
So have we! Believe it or not, we've made progress and we have answers—lots of them—backed up with reasons. Come join humanity's conversation before life gets in the way and you die wondering.
"At Baylor, the pursuit of excellence and knowledge of 'the life of the mind' is a rigorous and wholesome journey. You grow as an individual from your professors as well as your peers. Your philosophy courses are places where every viewpoint is accepted. They are also places where every viewpoint is debated. As a result, you are challenged to understand what you believe and why you believe what you believe. At the end of the journey, you are more well-rounded, able to think more critically, and able to express yourself more logically. I would not trade my journey from Heraclitus to John Rawls for anything in the world."
Ben Aguinaga, Baylor '12
(Much of the above resources come from an unabashed rip-off of a page compiled by Tomás Bogardus here.)
Career Resources
"As a student majoring in English and Philosophy, I remember all too well the family dinners where relatives asked me what on earth I would do with a degree that wasn’t “practical” like business or nursing. What they failed to see was that a humanities education actually well prepared me for the workplace. I developed valuable language and critical thinking skills and graduated with a continued thirst for knowledge."
-Matthew Fitzpatrick, BestColleges.com
Choosing to pursue a philosophy degree can be daunting to students. As more high schools emphasize STEM subjects and parents pressure students to pursue those fields, it’s easy to lose track of one’s true academic passions. In order to help students with this dilemma, Matthew and his team at BestColleges.com have created a guide to the best careers for philosophy majors. The guide highlights common paths of employment, a few "out-of-the-box" employment options, and the skills developed through philosophy that prove beneficial in the workplace.
Impress skeptical relatives at your next family dinner by viewing this guide: http://www.bestcolleges.com/careers/philosophy-majors/.