Philosophy Major Resource Center – Part 3

Professional programs especially appropriate for students with BA philosophy degrees:

There are a number of professional degrees for which a BA in philosophy is an especially powerful foundation. Typically, the student pursues either a Master”™s degree in the relevant area, either traditionally by attending college (full- or part-time), or by taking courses online and earning a degree that way. In some cases, besides getting the relevant Master”™s degree, the student needs to obtain a credential or license as well. These professions include (among others): Business Administration; Counseling; Creative Writing; Education; Journalism; Law; Library and Information Science; and Ministry/Religion.

In fact, many distinguished professionals were philosophy students in college.

In business administration, this includes:

• Stewart Butterfield–co-founder of Flickr.
• Patrick M. Byrne–founder of Overstock.com.
• Eva Chen-co-founder and CEO of Trend Micro.
• Carly Fiorina-CEO Hewlett-Packard Company, Presidential primary candidate.
• Carl Icahn–Hedge fund manager.
• Phil Jackson-NBA coach and executive.
• Jordan Kotick-head of Strategy for Barclays Bank.
• Gerald Levin-CEO Time-Warner, Inc.
• Peter Lynch-head of the Fidelity Magellan Fund.
• Michael McCaskey-president of the Chicago Bears.
• Larry Sanger–co-founder of Wikipedia.
• George Soros–hedge fund manager.
• Peter Thiel–founder of Paypal and financier of many start-up high-tech firms.
• Adam Zimmerman-CEO of Noranda, Inc.

In creative writing, this includes:

• Edward Abbey-writer.
• Wes Anderson-writer, filmmaker.
• Mary Higgins Clark-best-selling mystery writer.
• Ethan Coen-writer, filmmaker.
• Philip K. Dick-science fiction writer.
• L. Doctorow-writer.
• Umberto Eco-novelist, semiotician.
• Mircea Eliade-writer, religious scholar.
• Ken Follett-novelist.
• Michael Frayn-playwright and novelist.
• William Gass-novelist and writer.
• Ellen Gilchrest-writer.
• Rebecca Goldstein-novelist.
• Peter Hoeg-novelist.
• Hanif Kureishi-writer.
• Elmore Leonard-novelist.
• Ira Levin-novelist, playwright.
• John Mighton-playwright and mathematician.
• Iris Murdoch-novelist.
• Patricia Rozema-screenwriter, director.
• Wallace Shawn-playwright, actor.
• Terry Southern-writer.
• Miguel de Unamuno-writer and intellectual.
• David Foster Wallace-novelist.
• Elie Wiesel-writer.
• Eric Kaplan–writer.

In education, this includes:

• Bob Moses-educator, civil rights activist.

In journalism (including political columnists, science columnists, and movie/art/literary critics), this includes:

• Northrop Frye-literary critic.
• Martin Gardner-science columnist.
• Christy Haubegger-editor of
• Mark Hulbert-financial columnist, writer.
• Claude Lanzsmann-journalist, filmmaker.
• Michael Lerner-editor of TIKKUN.
• Stone Phillips-TV commentator, anchor.
• Meyer Schapiro-art critic.
• Gene Siskel-film critic.
• Tony Snow-columnist, TV anchor.
• Susan Sontag-writer, activist, critic.
• Juan Williams-journalist, writer, commentator.

In the law, this includes:

• Sheila Bair-lawyer, chair of FDIC.
• William Bennett-former Secretary of Education, talk show host, writer.
• Steven Breyer-Supreme Court Justice.
• Rudi Giuliani-U.S. Attorney, mayor.
• Beverly McLachlin-Canadian Chief Justice.
• David Souter-Supreme Court Justice.

In the ministry, this includes:

• Joseph Bernardin-Cardinal.
• Georges Pire-Dominican friar, Nobel Peace Prize winner.
• Karol Wojtyla-Pope John Paul II.

Here are a number of useful sites, grouped by profession:

1. 1. 1. CareerKarma report on the IT skills most in demand today…link.
      2. To continue your education by taking college courses on line, Accredited Schools Online has a site called The Ultimate MOOC Handbook…link.
      3. OnlineMasters.com organization for information on Masters programs available online…link.
      4. See also the Center for School, College and Career Resources website for enhancing your education…link.
      5. Business administration-the professional degree is the Master”™s in Business Administration (MBA). Some relevant sites:
         1. Wiki discussion of the MBA degree … link.
         2. EducationDegree.com on a career in teaching…link.
         3. Forbes article on ten reasons to get an MBA—link.
         4. Forbes list of top MBA schools—link.
         5. OnlineMBA webpage on getting the MBA by distance learning…link.
         6. Online MBA programs…link.
         7. Best online MBA programs…link.
         8. MBA scholarships…link.
         9. GMAT tips and tricks…link.
         10. Online MBA programs and majors…link.
         11. Financial Times of London ranking of business schools worldwide—link.
         12. Financial Times on what these rankings mean—link.
         13. Wharton School of Management curriculum—link.
         14. Grantham University online MBA program…link.
         15. CSUF Mihaylo College of Business and Economics graduate programs (MBA programs, MS programs in accounting, information systems, taxation, and the MA in economics—link.
         16. OnlineMBA.com page ranking online MBA programs…link.
         17. BestColleges.com has a page on online bachelor’s programs in business administration…link. 
      6. Counseling-the professional degree is the Master”™s in Counseling, and there are credentials (such as the MFT credential) required. Some relevant sites:
         1. OnlineCounselingPrograms.com on becoming a counselor…link.
         2. Counseling-License.com on becoming a counselor…link.
         3. Counseling-License.com on online degrees in counseling…link.
         4. Best On-line Master’s programs in counseling…link.
         5. Online degree programs in school counseling…link.
         6. Ph.D. programs in counseling…link.
         7. American Counseling Association choosing a career in counseling—link.
         8. Counseling Today symposium on the future of the profession—link.
         9. CACREP on why one becomes a counselor—link.
         10. org guide to counseling and Master”™s programs—link.
         11. com guide on careers in counseling—link.
         12. com on how to become a counselor—link.
         13. CSUF Master”™s in counseling—link.
         14. PsychologyDegrees.org on careers in psychology…link.
         15. CounselingDegreesOnline.org on careers in counseling…link.
      7. Creative writing-the professional degree is the Master”™s of Fine Arts (MFA). Some relevant sites:
         1. Poets and Writers Magazine database of writing MFA programs—link.
         2. Atlantic Magazine discussion of what makes a great MFA writing program—link.
         3. com list of the top ten creative writing MFA programs—link.
         4. Ryan Boudinot on what makes a good MFA student—link.
      8. Education-the relevant degree here is the Master”™s in Education (M.Ed.), and a teaching credential is usually needed as well. Some relevant sites:
         1. Explanation of the degree—link.
         2. Teach.com explanation of the profession—link.
         3. Maryville University explanation of the profession…link
         4. Best online Masters programs in education…link.
         5. Best online PhDs in education…link.
         6. BestColleges.com Comprehensive Guide to an Online Teaching Degree…link.
         7. How to become a teacher…link.
         8. Bestcolleges.com site rating online masters programs in education…link.
         9. com site on credentialed Master”™s programs—link.
         10. Arkansas State University online MS programs in education…link.
         11. CSUF Master”™s in Education—link.
         12. American University site on how to become a teacher…link.
         13. Novoresume.com page on how to do an effective resume for getting a teaching job…link.
         14. TeacherCertification.com guide to careers in education…link.
         15. TeacherCertification.com guide to becoming a private school teacher…link.
         16. TeacherCertification.com guide to becoming an ESL teacher…link.
         17. TeacherCertification.com guide t0 becoming a special ed teacher…link.
      9. Journalism-the professional degree is the Master”™s of Science or the Master”™s of Professional Studies in Journalism. Some relevant sites:
         1. Study.com rankings of journalism schools—link.
         2. College Magazine”™s ratings of top 20 journalism schools—link.
         3. org on master”™s degree in broadcast journalism—link.
         4. Columbia University School of Journalism website—link.
      10. Law-the professional degree is the Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Here are some relevant sites:
          1. 7sage.com website on taking the LSAT…link.
          2. Purdue University on how well students do on the GRE, GMAT, and LSAT—link.
          3. Tutor the People website on tutoring test prep for the LSAT, GRE, GMAT and others…link.
          4. University of Missouri discussion of why philosophy majors are desired by Law schools—link.
          5. National Jurist on how well classics and philosophy majors are suited for law school—link.
          6. US News rankings of philosophy schools—link.
          7. US News more detailed ranking—link.
          8. Above the Law rankings of law schools (by success of their grads in finding legal work)—link.
      11. Master”™s in Library and Information Sciences (MLIS/MSLIS)
          1. Description of the degree and its usefulness—link.
          2. Accredited MLIS schools—link.
          3. Best Online MLIS programs—link.
          4. A discussion of jobs prospects for MLIS recipients—link.
          5. Complete Guide to Online Programs in Library Science…link.

11.  Nursing programs

a. NurseJournal.org on how to become an RN…link.

b. NurseJournal.org on financial aid to nursing students…link.

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