<p>Is it good to major in philosophy? What can you do with just a philosophy major as far as career options?</p>
<p>Would it be a better idea to minor in philosophy and major in international relations, poli sci, or econ?</p>
<p>I plan to go to law school, so would this major best prepare me? Are there other options I should be considering?</p>
<p>Philosophy is an excellent major for pre-law students. It teaches you to read carefully, to analyze arguments rigorously, to construct logical counter-arguments, and to write lucidly. These are all skills you will find necessary in law school and later as a practicing attorney. That’s one reason why philosophy majors typically score high on the LSAT.</p>
<p>However, if you do not plan to go on for a professional degree after your undergraduate work, you need to realize that a philosophy major does not prepare you immediately for the workplace, any more than any other undergraduate humanities or social science degree does. You will need to be entrepreneurial about figuring out what you are good at in “the real world,” and how to sell your skills to an employer. Your university’s career center can be a helpful resource for you, both in suggesting possible career paths, and in suggesting combinations of coursework that might make you more employable without committing you to a major you dislike. For instance, a student of mine took a couple of accounting courses alongside his philosophy/English dual major and is now an executive in an insurance company. Many students do not think to visit their school’s career center until they start thinking about a job in the second semester of their senior year, and thus miss out on a lot of useful advice.</p>