Philosophy
Philosophy trains your mind. As a philosophy major, you'll get to ask the big questions about the nature of reality, beauty and justice—and study a rigorous methodology and analytical skills that are broadly applicable throughout your professional and personal life. Whether you’re thinking about graduate school (including law school or business school), or you want to get a job right after graduation, philosophy is a thoughtful choice that gives you flexibility.
What will I learn?
At UB, you’ll learn how to construct a sound argument, evaluate the arguments of others, clarify disagreements and come to new conclusions. You’ll also explore how to promote productive dialogue by using tools such as clear premises, counter-examples and thought experiments—and discover how to apply these methods to a variety of topics within metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy and aesthetics. Some of the questions you might engage in include: “What is the nature of time?” “What tools can I use to make decisions or to resolve conflicts?” and “What is justice?”
If you’re interested in a broader approach, consider majoring in philosophy, politics and economics.
What can I do with a philosophy degree?
It might be easier to ask what can’t you do with a philosophy degree? That’s because a philosophy degree—with its emphasis on critical thinking, clear writing, succinct argumentation, broadly persuasive reasoning and productive dialogue—is highly marketable. In a competitive and dynamic job market, it’s wise to choose a degree that gives you a fairly broad range of options. Our faculty and staff are here to help you develop foundational skills for career success after graduation.
While some students start working right away, many philosophy majors choose to continue their education at law school, medical school or another professional or graduate school. (In fact, philosophy majors historically score better on these entrance exams including the GRE, LSAT and GMAT because of their experience and background.)
Some typical job titles for philosophy grads include:
- Attorney.
- Bioethicist.
- Communications director.
- Marketing director.
- Ontologist.
- Policy analyst.
- Professor.
- Research analyst.
- Teacher.
- Technical writer.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $100,360.00 | N/A |
Data provided by the and DOL data from 2024.