Bachelor of Arts Degree
Philosophy
Wondering what you can do with a philosophy degree? You might be pleasantly surprised.
According to employer surveys, liberal arts degrees are increasingly attractive in today’s job market—especially philosophy degrees. Our Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy combines intellectual rigor with adaptable skills, providing you with a strong formula for sustainable career success. You’ll excel in critical reasoning, writing, and research, acquiring an excellent foundation for a graduate degree in philosophy or a career in complex fields such as law, government, education, and technology. Oakland’s philosophy degree also provides opportunities to gain practical experience, adding sparkle and substance to your resume. You’ll graduate with a versatile degree in philosophy and marketable skills that are always in demand.
According to employer surveys, liberal arts degrees are increasingly attractive in today’s job market—especially philosophy degrees. Our Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy combines intellectual rigor with adaptable skills, providing you with a strong formula for sustainable career success. You’ll excel in critical reasoning, writing, and research, acquiring an excellent foundation for a graduate degree in philosophy or a career in complex fields such as law, government, education, and technology. Oakland’s philosophy degree also provides opportunities to gain practical experience, adding sparkle and substance to your resume. You’ll graduate with a versatile degree in philosophy and marketable skills that are always in demand.
Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy: The Oakland University Advantage
Our philosophy degree trains you to apply academic theory in real-world contexts. You’ll develop practical skills that get professional results, including the ability to synthesize information, solve problems, and exercise independent judgment.
Oakland’s undergraduate degree in philosophy provides you with:
- Graduate-level opportunities. The philosophy program employs undergraduates as research interns and teaching assistants, roles that are reserved for graduate students in most universities. Philosophy majors at Oakland can also travel to academic conferences and conduct independent research.
- Facility with knowledge. In today’s big-data era, information is relatively cheap, but true knowledge remains scarce. A philosophy degree trains you to distinguish meaningful patterns from random noise, a skill that won’t ever become obsolete as technologies and trends evolve.
- Academic freedom. Our philosophy major offers great variety and flexibility, giving you wide latitude to personalize your studies. You’ll find philosophy courses that address art, religion, science, law, politics, psychology, history, gender, technology, and many other subjects.
- Dynamic faculty. Oakland University’s philosophy degree features small classes taught by senior faculty, not graduate students. You’ll learn from accomplished scholars who serve as mentors, role models, and intellectual sparring partners as well as classroom instructors.
- Strong extracurricular activities. Our philosophy majors perennially contend for national honors in the Ethics Bowl, which attracts teams from universities across the U.S. You can also participate in service-learning projects and initiatives through the philosophy department’s Center for Ethics.
What Can You Do With a Philosophy Degree ?
You may have heard it’s difficult to get good jobs with a philosophy degree, but that’s a myth. According to a survey by PayScale, philosophy majors are the top earners among all humanities majors after 10 years in the workforce.
Graduates of Oakland’s philosophy degree have a strong record of graduate school admission. Those who have gone into the workforce hold a broad diversity of jobs, with examples such as:
- Attorney
- Mortgage specialist
- Linguist
- Information technology (IT) manager
- International English teacher
- Sales manager
- Behavioral health therapist
- Television writer
- District marketing manager
- Pastor
- Disability advocate
Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy: What You’ll Learn
Oakland University’s philosophy degree is built around core courses in logic, Western philosophy, morals/ethics, and modern topics in philosophy. It concludes with a capstone seminar that supports in-depth exploration of a specific philosophical topic.
The program offers broad flexibility in course selection, enabling you to tailor the philosophy degree to fit your academic interests and career goals. Some examples of elective course options include:
- Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
- Philosophy of Science
- Philosophy of International Relations
- Ethics in Business
- Philosophy of Law
- Bioethics
- Animal Minds and Morals
- Consciousness and Persons
- Philosophy of Religion