By Connielyn Ramos
Kevin Burke is used to the look he gets when he says he’s a philosophy major.
“I kind of answer that question expecting a ‘what are you gonna do with that when you’re done?’” said senior Kevin Burke, vice president of the Philosophy Society at Stonehill College. Burke is one of a small but growing number of philosophy majors in the area.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, of the 597 students who graduated in 2011 from Stonehill, only three graduated with a philosophy degree. At nearby Bridgewater State University, five students left with philosophy degrees out of 1,680 graduates during the same year.
“The thing is that very few students come in with the intent of majoring in philosophy,” Richard Capobianco, department Chair of the Philosophy program at Stonehill, said. Stonehill sends off on average 10 philosophy graduates per year, he said.
But the numbers are going up slightly from 40 years ago. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, in the 1970-1971 graduating class there were 8,149 philosophy and religious studies graduates, compared to the 12,444 in 2008-2009. So over 40 about years, there were 4,000 more philosophy graduates.
Philosophy pales when compared to what many consider a more “practical” degree, such as business which showed a 230,000 graduate increase in the same time period.
Adam Carmichael, adjunct philosophy professor at Stonehill and a 2002 Stonehill graduate, said not finding a job in the field one majored in isn’t that unusual. “Lots of students get degrees in certain fields where they don’t end up doing anything in that field. So, I decided I might as well
study something I enjoy,” he said.
Josef Velazquez, Stonehill philosophy professor, and Capobianco said many philosophy majors go on to law school or another law related field. According to data released in 2009 by the University of North Texas Department Of Economics which compared LSAT scores of different majors, philosophy students were among those who scored the highest along with economics, engineering, and history majors. Philosophy and economics majors tied for first with an average score of 157.4, engineering majors came in third with 156.2, and history students fourth with a score of 155.9.
“I’m applying to law school, I sent my applications out last week. But it’s not like the philosophy degree is for nothing it really helps your arguing skills, writing skills, and speaking skills so I think that will be a real asset,” Burke said.
Other graduates go into teaching, publishing, medicine, or the business fields said both professors. “I’ve heard that certain accounting firms look for philosophy majors because they learn how to think. Maybe you won’t find a job right away but it equips you with so many skills necessary for everyday life,” Burke said.
Senior Christine Powers, president of Philosophy Society, plans to eventually enter bioethics, a field involving mediation between doctors, nurses, and patients; and also ethics boards which decide on issues such as end of life care.
Philosophy college graduates earn a modest income according to Payscale Inc. which reported the starting median pay for the 2011-2012 year at $39,000 and an increase at the mid-career level to $75,600.
Philosophy comes from a Greek word that means “love of wisdom.” Capobianco said that what sets these students apart is a “questioning habit.” They are “a little more courageous to challenge the status quo, and that’s a good thing in all kinds of jobs. It’s not just about following the rules and being obedient to the prevailing way of doing things, but questioning that in a constructive and productive way,” he said.
Joe Dacey, associate dean of Admissions at Stonehill and a 2002 Stonehill graduate, said he learned skills unique to philosophy. “I didn’t even realize it until I’d been doing it for awhile—it’s subtle—it's knowing how to apply a theory. To be able to learn critically, adapt information, and present it,” he said.
Carmichael started out as a biology student, yet felt unsatisfied by the regurgitation and memorization expected of the science classes. “With philosophy it was more think for yourself, critical thinking. I found that more rewarding.”
Velazqez recalls a few philosophy alums going on to odd careers such as moving furniture and being a pastry chef.
In the end, it’s up to the student to make the most of the degree, several said. “Don’t limit yourself,” said Dacey. “I got a job at an investment company because of an alum. Be prominent, ask your professors about their connections, who they know. You can do anything with a philosophy degree, with any degree in fact.”
According to statistics from the National Center for Education, more men major in philosophy. Nationally in 2003-2004 there were 7,046 males and 4,106 female philosophy majors. “There’s not a lot of female philosophy majors—at Stonehill it’s not that obvious—but in grad school there’s definitely a lot less female majors and probably at bigger schools,” Powers said.
“We don’t really have any good idea for why that’s happening. There’s something weird going on,” Velazquez said.
Students said most parents supported their children’s decision—that their parents wanted them to study something that captured their interest.
Carmichael said he always got the question “why?” when he told people he was majoring in philosophy. However, he said people eventually encouraged him after realizing how interested he was in it.
Burke and Powers got interested in philosophy after taking the same philosophy class early in their college careers. Carmichael and Dacey began as science majors then realized science wasn’t a fit and eventually switched to philosophy.
Carmichael said he’s glad he decided on philosophy. “It’s made me who I am today and all that kind of stuff. I don’t think I would do anything differently.” He said, even if majoring in philosophy ends up being a practical “dead end,” it’s invaluable since “it offers something more important than any monetary or practical value. Philosophy asks a lot of basic questions that many other studies just assume—philosophy digs deeper.”
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