undergraduate
General philosophy
Best schools with general philosophy
What is a general philosophy major?
Students majoring in philosophy learn about the logical structure of ideas including instruction on various facets of philosophy such as morality, aesthetics, symbolism, and theory which can be applied to other disciplines.
of students said a highlight of this major was the fascinating subject.
of students found this major to be difficult.
of students said they were motivated to select this major because it fit their passion & interest.
of students and alumni plan on being or are currently employed in an occupation related to this major.
of students said the numerous research papers were a challenging aspect of the major.
How much do general philosophy majors make?
median average salary
$67,000/yr
The national average salary for general philosophy graduates in the United States is $67,000 per year. Those in the top 10 percent make over $200,000 a year, while the bottom 10 percent make under $24,000 a year. While salary ranges can vary by role, industry, and location, general philosophy graduates typically make between $40,000 and $111,000 per year.
How popular is general philosophy as a major?
Each year, around 8,270 students obtain a bachelor’s degree and around 350 students obtain an associate degree in general philosophy. In 2021, 8,748 students received a bachelor's degree and 427 students received an associate degree. This is 2% more general philosophy majors than there were in 2020. Overall, philosophy is a relatively uncommon area of study.
Advice from general philosophy majors
Share your experienceDefinitely do the readings and get ready to participate in class! But they have really awesome professors and engaging topics, so I definitely recommend it. They also have a lot of great pre-law options.
Committing to this major is a decision that should be made equal parts passion and utility. It's not especially popular, so I image that anyone choosing this path is doing so out of particular interest, yet I urge students who declare this major to have another major, minor, project, or pathway laid in front of them. I feel that this major is underrated in terms of its accepted applications after school, and is more in demand than given credit, but many of the careers based on this major are not lucrative, and I feel that individuals should have a plan, or at least a general direction to justify this (potentially) mediocre ROI major.
The best advice I can give to students interested in pursuing a philosophy major would be to never let your curiosity limit you. Ask questions in class like your life depends on it, question the known as well as the unknown, become comfortable with the fact that your ideologies won’t align with others don’t let that limit you in fact use that to broaden your understanding of philosophy and the world. Remember the world is your classroom it’s up to you to utilize it.
Lots of critical thinking is involved and have an understanding of the world and society we live in.
It's hard and sometimes exhausting to read but it's rewarding in the end!
