Question for those with Philosophy Degrees

[ChrisK]

I have to declare my Major next year and I'm definiately thinking of chosing philosophy. Now, if I choose to get my PhD in Philosophy, what sort of jobs can I get? How competitive is the job market for professors? Any other jobs that pay well for philosophy degrees?

[¿Que?]

I took a philosophy course once and the TA mentioned several times how hard it was to find a job and how the only jobs are in academia. That's how it is for most liberal arts, but I think it's especially true for philosophy.

[bcbm]

Now, if I choose to get my PhD in Philosophy, what sort of jobs can I get?

service industry, manufacturing, maintenance...

[Os Cangaceiros]

I think the old joke goes...

The engineering major asks "How does it work?"

The business major asks "How much will it cost?"

The philosophy major asks "Do you want fries with that?"

[which doctor]

The whole humanities job market in academia is pretty fucked. Too many graduate students and too few professorship positions. And the trend is to get rid of tenure track positions in favor of adjunct lectureships and fellowships. So there are still jobs available, but you won't be making that much money, possibly no benefits, and no job security.

If you're still an undergraduate, really think hard about whether or not you have an actual sustained interest in pursuing philosophy. Because you still have to get your MA and your PhD, and these programs can be stressful and difficult to get into, then you'll get tossed into an already oversaturated job market.

And no, there are no other jobs that pay well for philosophy degrees, but a philosophy degree could prepare you for law school.

[ChrisK]

The whole humanities job market in academia is pretty fucked. Too many graduate students and too few professorship positions. And the trend is to get rid of tenure track positions in favor of adjunct lectureships and fellowships. So there are still jobs available, but you won't be making that much money, possibly no benefits, and no job security.

If you're still an undergraduate, really think hard about whether or not you have an actual sustained interest in pursuing philosophy. Because you still have to get your MA and your PhD, and these programs can be stressful and difficult to get into, then you'll get tossed into an already oversaturated job market.

And no, there are no other jobs that pay well for philosophy degrees, but a philosophy degree could prepare you for law school.

Alright, I'll do that.

[YKTMX]

If you get a good degree, you're smart and you have something to say, you can get a job in the Academy. Don't listen to these people.

[Raúl Duke]

You could go to law school...

You may end up doing something totally unrelated to philosophy...maybe like working in an NGO/NPO but that also depends on cultivating certain skills and knowledge besides philosophy.

[JazzRemington]

Generally, a Ph.D. in any non-science field means you'd end up teaching or writing. Another thing, which is what I'm doing, is to go for a masters in Library and Information Science. Oddball degrees like philosophy or liberal studies are useful in the LIS because it's a multi-disciplinary field.

[RHIZOMES]

I'm lucky since NZ has a shortage of people with degrees... I think the best plan is to spend a few years working before you pursue postgraduate studies.

[black magick hustla]

If you get a good degree, you're smart and you have something to say, you can get a job in the Academy. Don't listen to these people.

not really. if you have something marketable to say, like zizek maybe. or a phd in harvard

[bcbm]

If you get a good degree, you're smart and you have something to say, you can get a job in the Academy.

but then you're just another pig