Career Opportunities for Majors in Philosophy


Introduction

Philosophy seeks answers to such fundamental questions as: What is ultimately real? What is the nature and extent of our knowledge? What is the source and nature of our moral obligations? Students majoring in Philosophy explore these types of questions and develop answers that can be defended in the arena of reasoned controversy.  Philosophy covers many areas of the human experience, including the study of reality, existence, logic, and moral and social issues.

Philosophy graduates pursue careers in business, education, government, and the non-profit sector.  Future career options may be determined not so much by the choice of the philosophy major, but by your interests, skills, values, and types of work experiences acquired during college.  Regardless of your career aspirations, increase your marketability to employers through internships, related work experience, good grades, advanced coursework, and involvement in campus activities.  Many careers do not require a specific major, but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills, accomplishments, and work experience while in school.

 

A Sample of Related Occupations

Admissions Counselor Employee Relations Specialist  Paralegal
Advertising Account Executive FBI/CIA Agent Personnel Recruiter
Attorney Financial Planner Professor/Educator
Business Manager Foreign Service Officer Psychologist
Child Welfare Worker Fundraiser Public Information Officer
Claims Examiner Government Agency Administrator Public Policy Specialist
Conflict Resolution Specialist Hospital Administrator Public Relations Specialist
Consultant Human Resources Specialist Public Service Official
Consumer Advocate Insurance Agent/Broker Publications Specialist
Copy Writer Investment Counselor Realtor
Corporate Trainer Journalist Religious Leader
Corrections Officer Lawyer Sales/Marketing Representative
Counselor Lobbyist Social Worker
Customer Relations Representative Market Researcher Travel Consultant
Editor/Writer  Non-profit Administrator  Youth Counselor

Types of Employers
 
Private and Non-Profit Organizations

Advertising Agencies 

Management/Consulting Firms

Consumer Organizations

Manufacturing Firms

Cultural Organizations

Media Organizations

Entertainment Firms

Museum, Historical Societies

Foundations

Personnel Agencies

Hotels/Restaurants/Resorts

Professional Associations

Insurance Companies 

Public Relations Firms

Law Firms

Publishing Firms

Libraries

Retail Stores

Magazines/Newspapers

Universities
 
 
Government Agencies

Central Intelligence Agency

Federal/State Congressional Offices

Civil Rights Commission

Foreign Service

Consumer Affairs Office

Legislative Affairs 

Criminal Courts

Peace Corps

Department of Labor

Smithsonian Institution

Division of Youth and Family Services

U.S. Customs Service

Drug Enforcement Agency

U.S. Information Agency

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Voice of America
   
 
 

Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

First Jobs of Recent Graduates
Account Executive, Archive Films Sales Representative, Sprint Corp.
Economic Service Worker, State of West Virginia State Trooper, Delaware State Police
Editiorial Assistant, Rutgers University Wilderness Therapy Counselor, Eckerd Family Youth Alternatives
Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Jobs of Experienced Alumni (graduate degree information not available for all alumni)
Accounting Specialist, Prudential Manager of Provider Relations, Liberty Health Plan
Asst. Attorney General, Office of Att'y. General (JD) Marketing Associate, Hill Partners Inc.
Assistant Director, Alternatives Inc. (social services) Member of Tech. Staff, Cycorp, Inc. (PhD Phil.)
Assistant Director-Study Abroad, Rutgers Network Engineer, ABB Lummus Global
Assistant Sales Manager, Merrill Lynch Office Manager, Office of Senator Edward Kennedy
Assistant Staff Manager, AT&T Partner/Lawyer, Dworkin & Silpe (PhD/JD)
Assistant Instructor, Philosophy Dept., Rutgers Philosophy Professor, Rowan State College (PhD)
Asst. Mgr., Costar Real Estate Group (MA Comm.) Records Coord., Superior Court of NJ (MLS)
Associate Attorney, Buchanan Ingersoll (JD)
 Recruiter, IRS
Claims Analyst, Christiania General Insurance Regional Director, US Envir. Protection Agency (JD)
Clinical Research Assoc., J&J Research Inst. Research Analyst, The Blackstone Group
Consultant, KPMG Consulting Research Info. Services Asst., Janssen Research Foundation (MLS)
Consulting Analyst, Accenture Senior Collection Officer, State of NJ
Desktop Analyst, ANZDL Management Services Senior Consultant, IBM Corp.
Director of Sales & Business Development, Vonage Senior Developer, Web Based Software, Random House
Int'l. Sales Specialist, NACCO Industries Sr. Tech. Writer, McDonnell Douglas (MA Linguistics)
IT Consultant, Glyphic Technologies Sr. Trust Administrator, Merrill Lynch Trust Co.
Librarian, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc. (MLS) Teacher/Tutor, Behshad Sheldon (M.Ed Special Ed.)
Manager, Operations, TQM Technology Corp. VP Human Resources, Community Medical Center (MA Educational Administration)

Graduate Schools Attended
American Univ., Washington College of Law, JD Rutgers University, Grad. School of Education, M.Ed
Boston College, School of Law, JD Rutgers University, MLS, Library Science
Emory University, School of Law, JD Rutgers University, PhD, Philosophy
Monmouth University, M.Ed., Educational Admin. The College of New Jersey, M.Ed, Special Ed.
Montclair State University, MA, Communication UMDNJ RWJ Medical School, MD, Medicine
Northern Illinois University, PhD, Philosophy University of Tennessee, College of Law, JD
Rutgers University - Camden Law School, JD Villanova University, School of Law, JD



 

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See the Occupational Outlook Handbook for additional career information.

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Created by the Rutgers University, New Brunswick Career Services staff

 

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Updated 9/27/06

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