Why Major or Minor in Philosophy?
Why major or even minor in an oddball subject like Philosophy that
everyone knows will be of no help when the time comes to get a job?
•
Well, one reason is intellectual excitement!
•
You will study fascinating questions with relaxed friendly teachers.
•
You will learn how to think outside the box, how to argue logically and
persuasively.
•
and how to write clear cogent reports about abstract topics.
•
But also ... actually it pays.
Why Major or Minor in Philosophy?
‘If you want to succeed in business, don’t get an
MBA.
Study Philosophy instead.’
These are the words of a US based management consultant, Matthew Stewart.
http://graspmag.org/education/rethink-mgmt-edu/why-future-business-leaders-need-philosophy/
Why Major or Minor in Philosophy?
Stewart means that instead of paying for a business qualification to learn
‘out-of-the-box thinking’, you can do a philosophy degree and acquire these
skills naturally.
Philosophy teaches you the skills all employers want—clear logical thinking,
communication skills, and independent reasoning.
Why Major or Minor in Philosophy?
The evidence for this is plain:
• In the GRE examination, a three-section exam (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical
Writing) for entry to postgraduate programmes in the US philosophy majors are
the frontrunners.
• In the 2011-2013 exams, philosophers came top in the Verbal section by a long
way.
• In the Quantitative Section, philosophers did better than any other humanities or
social science subject (apart from economics).
• In the Analytical Writing Section, philosophers—surprise!—again came top.
http://www.physicscentral.com/buzz/blog/index.cfm?postid=5112019841346388353
Why Major or Minor in Philosophy?
The result is that philosophers are well paid:
The Wall Street Journal says: Your parents might have worried when you chose
Philosophy as a major.
But read on …
•
In the US, a mid-career philosophy major earns more than most other humanities
and social science majors—and more than majors in some popular science
subjects, according to figures published by the Wall Street Journal.
•
A mid-career philosophy major earns US $81,200, or $NZ 102,176.
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-Degrees_that_Pay_you_Back-sort.html
Why Major or Minor in Philosophy?
But why study Philosophy at UC? Shouldn't I go to Auckland or Sydney?
•
In the 2013 QS World Ranking of the world’s top 800 universities,
UC is in the top 3%.
•
UC Philosophy is listed in the world’s top 100 Philosophy programmes.
http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2013
•
In the College of Arts, only 2 other subjects besides Philosophy are in the top 100,
and in the entire University only 9 subjects are in the top 100.
Check out UC Philosophy at http://www.arts.canterbury.ac.nz/philosophy/
If you would like to study:
If you would like to study:
Majoring or Minoring in Philosophy is simple: B.A.
Majoring in Philosophy is simple: BSc