<p>I double-majored in Philosophy and PoliSci for undergrad, at a pretty prestigious school. My current plan is to continue on to get a Master's in Philosophy, but I'm unsure how this'll affect my chances at employment. Is there a better master's degree that would leave me in better shape for the job market? And would I be able to get into a program with the undergrad experience I possess? I've been looking into computer science, as I have a marginal interest in the area and I can see a few similarities (logic, for one). But I'm unsure how easy it is to break into a master's program with such little experience. Thanks for the help, all.</p>
<p>A master’s in philosophy isn’t going to help you get a job much of anywhere outside philosophy - and even there, you need a Ph.D to be competitive to teach it.</p>
<p>The bigger question is, what do you want to do for your career? You need to figure out your own personal interests and goals beyond graduate school, then determine if graduate school is going to help you get there.</p>
<p>Well, I know for a fact that what I want to do is study philosophy for the rest of my life. It just seems pretty clear that the chances of getting a secure professorship where I COULD do that are pretty non-existent. I know brilliant, brilliant professors, with PhDs from great schools, who still can’t find permanent positions teaching. So that being said, I’m just trying to find something that’ll satisfy my philosophical mind that’ll still give me a roof over my head. I’ve been working for the last year in marketing and advertising, which has been…not bad. Some good experiences, some bad. I do like writing copy, and I could see myself doing it for a while. All I want is something where I can use my mind and write, those are my principal skills. I’m hoping to get some more experience, since it’s possible I’ll have to wait until Fall 2013 to go to grad school, but finding a job’s been tough, and I’ve had little luck in the past 4-5 months.</p>
<p>You can study philosophy without being a full-time philosopher, or even getting paid to do it. I know a lot of ex-academics who earned their PhDs and realized that their fields absolutely sucked for job prospects. They started working in other fields and do research in their spare time - kind of like their “hobby” - because they love it so much. If you realize that the job market is abysmal for philosophers and you don’t want to throw your hat in the ring as a PhD candidate, then I see no point in earning an MA in philosophy UNLESS you just really want an MA in philosophy and are willing to pay for it out of your own pocket, via loans.</p>
<p>If you want a job, an MA in philosophy won’t help you get one. If you’ve been working in marketing and advertising, and want to continue, you may just want to work your way up or consider an MBA in a few years after you have more experience. You can satisfy your philosophical mind by reading books on philosophy, starting a blog, maybe writing a book on popular philosophy in your spare time, going to philosophical conferences nearby you if you are willing to pay out of your own pocket, etc.</p>
<p>I think you’re right. I will say that I don’t really want philosophy to be a “hobby”, which is what it more or less is now for me. Doing all that helps, but it’s just not the same as being involved in an academic community. That being said, it won’t make much of a difference if I can’t get a job with that degree anyway. It sucks, but I guess that’s the way of the world. Thanks for the help.</p>