Philosophy Degrees

Philosophy is an area of study that focuses on various hypotheses of the material reality and intangible perceptions. A degree in this discipline can open up several career paths for students. Education, law, business and journalism are some of the fields that students can possibly get into with a philosophy degree.
If developer a deeper understanding of life and its mysteries interest you, pursuing a degree in philosophy can be a good decision. These programs will help you investigate the mysteries of life and logic. They also help students develop critical thinking and analytical skills useful for various occupations. Teaching is one of the most common career paths for philosophy graduates. The job outlook for postsecondary religion and philosophy teachers has been projected up to 19% employment growth from 2010 to 2020.

Philosophy Degrees
A number of degree programs are offered in philosophy. Students can pursue the bachelor’s or master’s degree in this field and explore questions of existence, intellect and logic. The bachelors’ degree provides students with the basics of the overarching field of philosophy. Students in these programs can take courses for developing a deeper understanding of the human soul, scientific changes and religious beliefs. They also get a chance to explore the legacy of prominent philosophers throughout history such as Socrates and Descartes. Some of the courses students can pursue in the bachelor degrees in philosophy are political philosophy, modern philosophy, moral philosophy, ethics and metaphysics.

Master’s degrees are also available in philosophy. These advanced programs help students get an insight into logic, political philosophy, philosophy of mind and philosophy of language. Students can pursue courses such as medical ethics, contemporary philosophy, politics and culture and eastern philosophy.

The doctorate programs in philosophy can be useful for the ones who want to teach at the postsecondary level. Students in these programs must complete a dissertation in addition to completing general coursework. In addition, they also need to complete philosophy-related graduate seminars. The curriculum in these advanced programs may include topics such as metaphysics, ancient philosophy and ethics.

Online Philosophy Degrees
Students who want to explore the mysteries of the world can also enroll in the online philosophy degrees. The distance learning route can be useful for working professional, stay-at-home- parents and the physically disabled as learners in the online degree programs do not need to attend classes in person. All they need is an internet connection, a computer and related software to go through the online degree programs.  They can study at their individual schedule and complete a degree at their own pace.

Admissions Requirements
A high school diploma or equivalent is required to enroll in a philosophy degree. Candidates who want to pursue a master’s degree may need to hold a bachelor's degree in the field. Other requirements for admissions may vary by school or program.

Employment Opportunities
Degrees in philosophy can potentially lead students to various career paths. Graduate can become postsecondary teachers, writers or managers. According to O*NET, postsecondary teachers of philosophy earned a median salary of $64,990 in 2012 while writers earned a median wage of $55,420 a year in May 2010.