Philosophy differs from most disciplines because, in philosophy courses, you are not taught what to think but rather how to think. Philosophy not only sets you up for success, it is fun!
Employers Want Philosophers
Here’s what philosophy graduates know: Employers want someone who can think logically, find unique solutions to problems, and communicate them to others. Data gathered by PayScale from the 2020–2021 academic year shows that people with undergraduate degrees in philosophy tend to earn more over their lifetime than people with degrees in any other humanities field.
When you study philosophy, you develop skills in verbal and written communication, problem solving, clear and disciplined thinking and analysis, along with persuasive argumentation. These are skills that are directly applicable in careers that require analytical and writing skills, including law, business administration, computer programming, politics, and entrepreneurial professions.
If you are considering careers that require a professional exam, a 2025 study looking at test and survey data from over 600,000 students found that philosophy majors scored higher in verbal and logical reasoning and good habits of the mind, traits that have enabled them to perform very well on these types of exams. Philosophy majors also demonstrated greater curiosity and open-mindedness than other students.
Philosophy is Fun
Apart from the practical usefulness of philosophy and the fact that the skills of philosophy can help you get a job after graduation, there is also the intrinsic joy of pursuing philosophy for its own sake.
Philosophy will be fun for you if:
- You can’t help but ask “why?”
- You enjoy critically assessing and developing arguments.
- You like the challenge of grappling with issues that have been studied by some of the greatest thinkers of every age.
- You enjoy discussing philosophy with others.
- You like thinking about issues and problems in a variety of ways.
- You are interested in finding answers to difficult and fundamental questions.
Learning the facts is the easy part. Philosophy trained me to connect intangible concepts and universal ideas with the tangible objects of the Grand Canyon area, giving people a much deeper experience.”
– Rader Lane, UA philosophy alum, Interpretive Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park