PHILOSOPHY
Disciplinary Major or Minor - www.uwgb.edu/philosophy
OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM:
The study of Philosophy hones a logical and critical orientation to knowledge claims, and increases awareness and appreciation of the fundamental intellectual, aesthetic and ethical values of the world in which we live. The value of an education in Philosophy extends beyond the domain of personal and academic skills.
As the global community continues to shrink and corporate America restructures, careers will increasingly demand employees who can think critically, disclose hidden assumptions and values, formulate problems clearly, and discern the impact of ideas. The flexibility provided by a background in Philosophy can become a career asset.
WHO SHOULD Major in philosophy?:
Philosophy makes an excellent undergraduate major for students going on to careers in law, business, fields relating to social policy and public affairs, and graduate studies. A major or minor in philosophy will prove a significant advantage for students pursuing careers in any of these fields.
WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS MAJOR AT UWGB :
- National studies of college graduate test scores attest to the success of philosophy students. They consistently score better than nearly all other majors on the Graduate Record Exam, GMAT and LSAT.
- The philosophy program at UW-Green Bay emphasizes the History of Philosophy. Students are taught to appreciate the historical context of history’s more influential philosophers, and to apply historical thinking to contemporary problems. Each of our faculty specializes in a different area of the History of Philosophy, providing our majors with an introduction to the history and present state and concerns of philosophy which is equal to any and superior to most introductions available at other universities.
- The Philosophy program is maintained by a carefully selected, highly qualified and motivated faculty whose collective expertise covers the entire history of philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, value theory, social and political philosophy, and philosophy of logic and religion. We are particularly strong in Ancient, Medieval, and Modern philosophy, as well as the ethical, metaphysical, and epistemological issues these areas raise. This is evidenced in particular by our faculty’s contributions to the professional literature in these areas, about which they are always happy to talk about with students.
SKILLS & ABILITIES GAINED WITH THIS MAJOR:
Like Mathematics, Economics and Chemistry, the discipline of Philosophy embodies formal thought, structural relationships, abstract models, symbolic languages and deductive reasoning. Students who develop these skills gain perspective to meet problems squarely, improvise and devise solutions, and overcome unpredictable circumstances in life.
Students in this program hone their verbal and analytical skills, abilities to conceptualize and understand situations, and ability to communicate understanding to others. These abilities show up in the work-place as the leadership qualities which constitute managerial and executive ability, and typically result in faster and further advancement within the field (whatever it is).
WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THIS MAJOR:
Philosophers are now employed in a great variety of non-academic fields, as well as in academic positions outside teaching. Use the following as an idea list only, and not a complete list!
The following list represents a few of the kinds of career titles for Philosophy majors:
Advertising Executive, Hotel Manager, Assistant to President of a company or firm, Manager, Services Coordinator, Computer Systems Analyst, Consultant, Programmer, Technical Writer, Entrepreneur, Admissions Officer, Alumni Relations Officer, College President, Dean, Librarian, Residence Hall Director, Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Bank Officer, Investment Broker, Tax Accountant, Armed Forces Officer, CIA Staff Member, Congressional Staff Member, Diplomat, Policy Analyst, Policy and Planning Consultant, United Nations Official, Postal Service Staff Member, County Commissioner, County Supervisor, Freelance Writer, Editor, Attorney, Legal Aid, Paralegal Assistant, Legal Researcher, Hospital Administrator, Nurse, Nursing Administrator, Physician.
The following list represents a few of the businesses, fields, and institutions that employ Philosophy majors:
Advertising Agencies, Consulting Firms, Colleges & Universities, Journalism, Computers, Government, Research, Religious Ministries, Sales, Law, Political Parties, Hospitals, Non-Profit Organizations, Media, State & Federal Government, Publishing Companies, Business & Industry, Newspapers & Magazines
Want to know more about the nature of the work, working conditions, earnings, training, and job outlook? Then check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook @ http://stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm
LINKS TO GRAD PROGRAMS:
- Brian Leiter’s Philosophical Gourmet Report. This is an important cite for anyone interested in pursuing a graduate degree in philosophy. http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/
- Gradschools.com. The most comprehensive online source of Graduate School Information. http://www.gradschools.com/
- Peterson's.com. The most comprehensive and heavily traveled education resource on the web. http://www.petersons.com/
- Or you can try any of the following search engine sites for information on the graduate school program of your choice! http://www.yahoo.com, http://www.infoseek.com, or http://www.snap.com
- www.uwgb.edu/philosophy
LINKS TO WEB SITES FOR MORE INFORMATION:
- American Philosophy Association. The main professional organization for philosophers in the United States. Homepage @ http://www.udel.edu/apa/
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.html
- Episteme Links. Includes thousands of sorted links to philosophy resources on the internet and has several additional features. http://www.epistemelinks.com/
- Society for Women in Philosophy. Promotes and supports women in philosophy. Homepage @ http://www.uh.edu/~cfreelan/SWIP/
- Center for Critical Thinking. Conducts advanced research and disseminates information about the theory and practice of critical thinking. Homepage @ http://www.criticalthinking.org
LINKS FOR MORE HELP:
- For course listings and descriptions for Philosophy and other disciplines, check out UW-Green BayÕs Programs of Study page @ http://www.uwgb.edu/catalog/undrgrad/programs.htm
- More help is available on-campus at the Career Services Office at SS 1600, 465-2163. Homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/careers
- Contact Academic Advising at SS 1600, 465-2362. Homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/advising
- Another service for UW System students on the Web is UW HELP On-Line. This service provides in-depth information on the programs of the UW System. You can find them at @ http://www.uwhelp.wisconsin.edu
Updated 10/08
