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Careers & Alumni
Philosophy provides an excellent vehicle for the development of logical, critical, and creative reasoning, analytical reading and writing, and creative problem-solving skills. Since those skills are highly valued by employers and graduate/professional programs alike, career opportunities for philosophy graduates exist in a variety of fields.
You will also have the opportunity to study classic texts in the history of ideas, East & West contemporary works in ethics and epistemology, feminism and philosophy of science, Individual thinkers in depth, and environmental ethics & wildlife ethics.
The misconception that graduates with a Philosophy degree have few career opportunities is fortunately not true. Philosophy graduates are well prepared to successfully pursue many career paths.
Career Paths
University Lecturer / Professor
Philosophy Lecturer or Professor, University - Requires completion of a four-year Doctoral / Ph.D. program in Philosophy.
Community College Lecturer / Professor
Philosophy Lecturer or Professor, Community College - Requires completion of a two-year Masters degree in Philosophy.
High School Teacher
Many of the skills developed by a philosophy degree can be applied to the field of teaching, including oral and written communication, research, and critical thinking. Many teachers teach courses in a field other than their primary subject of study. Philosophical skills, issues and sometimes philosophy texts and literature can be made part of subjects such as English, Social Studies and Government courses.
The traditional path requires a bachelor's degree and completion of a one-year teaching credential program after the Bachelor's. Most state universities, Including Cal Poly Humboldt, offer such a program.
Valuable Skills
Philosophy is an excellent route for a pre-law major. The majority of the work you will do as a philosophy major will involve reading, analyzing, and presenting written summaries and critiques of arguments. These are precisely the skills you will use most as a law student, and later as an attorney. And law schools know this.
Highest LSAT Scores
Many schools view the Law School Aptitude Test (LSAT) as the single best predictor of a student's success at law school. Your LSAT score will often play as great (if not greater) a role in determining your admission as your undergraduate GPA.
According to data provided by the Law School Admissions Council on LSAT scores from the past few decades, philosophy majors annually have the highest or close to the highest average LSAT scores.
One of the Highest Law School Admission Rates
According to National Jurist, philosophy majors are admitted to law School at a higher percentage than any other major.
Consider taking Philosophy of Law as one of your electives toward the philosophy major.
The paralegal, or legal assistant, works hand in hand with lawyers. In many ways their duties include the same tasks lawyers who assume responsibility for the legal work do, but paralegals do not practice law and are prohibited from dispensing legal advice, trying a case in court, or accepting legal fees.
Careers include a range of specializations that focus on a specific area of the law, such as: Bankruptcy Paralegal, Corporate Paralegal, Criminal Law Paralegal, Immigration Paralegal, Labor Paralegal, Litigation Paralegal, Personal Injury Paralegal, and Probate and Estate Planning Paralegal.
With no legal requirements for certification or license in the paralegal profession, law offices, and other employers (corporations, government) effectively set the standards for the paralegals they hire. Some firms even hire liberal arts majors as paralegals directly after college and then train them on the job.
Business and philosophy seem at first glance to be poles apart, but in reality, quite a bit of evidence suggests that the skills developed in the philosophy major are highly conducive to success in business. For example:
- Many successful people in business and industry started out as philosophy majors and credit their philosophy training as largely responsible for their success.
- Philosophy majors are more likely than other majors to become CEOs.
- Philosophy majors score significantly higher than most majors, including business majors, on the General Management Aptitude Test (GMAT), used to determine admissions to Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programs.
- Salary data suggests that Philosophy majors earn more than most majors, including Business majors.
The National Philosophical Counseling Association (NPCA) is the first association of philosophical counseling in the United States. Established in 1992 under the auspices of the American Philosophical Association (APA), it was the first U.S. association of philosophical counseling to begin to certify philosophical counselors.
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Featured Alumni
Alumni Updates
Andy Powell
Philosophy, 2005
Still residing in Humboldt, Andy Powell ('05, Philosophy) finds that his degree in Philosophy easily influences not only his day-to-day being in the world but also his varied professional life since 2005. Powell started Powell Consulting in 2018, offering financial consulting for local businesses and specifically focusing on the local cannabis industry. Detailed analytical thought is quite useful when trying to take a long-term approach to financial regulation and planning as is asking his clients "What is the Good Life, really?" and "Is rapid accumulation of wealth a goal in itself?" He expects to be out of business by 2024.
Casey
PhilosophyComputer Science and French&Francophone Studies, 2018
Studying Philosophy at HSU has provided Casey with pleasure for taking on any difficult intellectual activity. It has kept him open minded when he approaches difficult subjects. Taking Philosophy 420 with Goodman has given Casey the language to talk about his own foundations of knowledge, metaphysical theories, science and epistemology which are tools he uses everyday in tackling his professional and social relationships. Casey fondly remembers taking classes in Modern Philosophy with Heise and having his world turned upside down everyday and Casey's first A on a Hegel paper with Cannon. He is now publishing papers in PhD Computer Science with relentless thirst for knowledge. The Phil degree is a compass for life.
Kristin Klamm-Doneen
Philosophy, 1992
Kristin Klamm-Doneen, Philosophy, 1992, serves as the Chair of our Philosophy & Humanities Department at Anoka Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, just outside Minneapolis. She obtained her Ph.D. in Practical Philosophy from Stockholm University, her M.A. in Individual Studies: Comparative Philosophy & Religion from Central Washington University and a M.A. in Practical Philosophy. When pursuing one of her advanced degrees she was so pleased to take a distance learning class in advanced logic from her Humboldt State University advisor, Michael Goodwin. She absolutely loves her job here in Minnesota, where she has taught full-time in Philosophy for the past 15 years. "Thank you HSU, for the great start!"
H.A. Nethery IV
Philosophy, 2003
H.A. Nethery IV, 2003 Philosophy, received an M.A. in philosophy from the University of Memphis, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Duquesne University.
Nethery is currently an assistant professor of philosophy in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Florida Southern College.
Steve Brudney
PhilosophyLandscape photography at earthscapephoto.com, 1970
Steve Brudney, 1970, Philosophy, might just have the first Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. About the same time Brudney refused induction into the war in Vietnam. Later he earned Master of Arts in philosophy at UC Davis. Brudney wrote to 263 community colleges, found eight openings, got one interview, and was not hired. Instead, Brudney worked at Pacific Lumber Company for 19 years and then for the county. Now he’s writing a book on Christian fundamentalism. He draws from decades of experiences with fundamentalists, his training in philosophy, and over 33 years studying Bible scholarship, the historical Jesus, Christian beginnings, and the formation of the New Testament.
Andy Powell
Philosophy, 2005
Since the last update given, I have been working at Lost Coast Communications as a DJ for KWPT "The Point" as the host of The Night Show. Outside of playing music on the show 6 nights a week, I also talk about current events (news, politics, foreign policy, and yes even some philosophy) and attempt to present a fair look at subjects or topics of debate in today's times.
As was stated in my last update, I am still playing music with my band Strix Vega as the bass player, keyboard player, and one of the composers. We're expecting to release our third album in early 2013.
Shawna Joy Hernandez
Philosophy, 1996
While I did not pursue an advanced degree in Philosophy - my bachelors in Philosophy has served me well. I feel that my written communication, critical thinking and "outside of the box" perspective have come in very handy as I have navigated my way through the business world.