Follow us on social media
Explore Fundamental Questions While Gaining High-Demand Career Skills
Philosophy teaches you how to think. “I already know how to think!” you say. You’re right—to a degree. But to thrive in our anxious, tangled world, you need to think at a whole new level, which you learn in philosophy courses.
Philosophy is both a subject and a method. It emphasizes analytical skills, including logical thinking, careful reading, and clear writing. The focus on developing these skills, coupled with philosophy’s connections with many other disciplines, makes studying it an excellent preparation for graduate work in a variety of fields. If you prefer to seek a job after graduation, employers across the career spectrum highly value the skills you learn in philosophy, too. Just a few of these skills include how to:
- Think critically and analytically.
- Express yourself effectively in writing.
- Assess and integrate information.
- Make a case using evidence.
- Discover solutions to problems based on a broad perspective.
While teaching valuable career skills, philosophy also explores fundamental questions about human beings and our place in the world. For example:
How do we define reality? Is the definition fixed or fluid? Or: What evidence is there that God exists? How about evidence for life after death?
You only need 33 credits to complete the philosophy major-related requirements. This makes philosophy an especially appealing choice if you want to double major or you’ve already earned many credits and want to finish a degree.
Only a small percentage of philosophy majors pursue a career in teaching philosophy. Instead, they pursue careers in business, communications, education, health care, information technology, law, public policy, and a host of other fields. The bottom line: Wherever you want to go with your life, a philosophy degree will help you get there.
Buzz recently opened his own law practice, The Plan Firm, and helps people with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and giving legal help to families after a disability or death. Buzz stated, “The skills and experience I gained in critical thinking, reading, and writing at UM-Flint prepared me for success in law school. I can’t imagine making it through my law school courses without the rigorous practice in reading and writing I had in my philosophy courses.”
Buzz Suuppi
Philosophy 2004
Why UM-Flint?
The quality of our faculty is the most important reason to study philosophy at UM-Flint. They’re scholars who are engaged in research, but they’re here because they love teaching and helping students succeed. As a philosophy major, you have a faculty mentor with whom you can discuss selecting classes, internship opportunities, career possibilities, graduate school, and more.
Here are a few other reasons you should study philosophy at UM-Flint:
- For your convenience, philosophy courses are available in person or online.
- As you complete courses, you gain opportunities to lead the next generation of students as a student instructor for an introductory philosophy course.
- The UM-Flint Philosophy Club offers opportunities to meet other students with similar interests and participate in club activities.
- The Philosophy Department is affiliated with the Center for Cognition and Neuroethics, which promotes the exploration of the conceptual foundations of the neurosciences and the study of the legal, political, social, and ethical implications of their advances.
- You can attend, volunteer to help run, or present a paper at the annual Michigan Undergraduate Philosophy Conference, which is organized by the UM-Flint Philosophy Club and sponsored by the Philosophy Department and the Center for Cognition and Neuroethics.
- You can rise through the ranks to become a student editor of compos mentis: Undergraduate Journal of Cognition and Neuroethics, which is published online twice a year.
- Internships are available at the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village, which is affiliated with the Philosophy Department and the Center for Cognition and Neuroethics.
- In a paid or volunteer role, you can develop your research skills while working side-by-side with faculty on state-of-the-art research in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program or its summer counterpart, the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, which offers full- and half-time positions.
Philosophy Programs at UM-Flint
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the University of Michigan-Flint invites students to explore profound questions about existence, knowledge, ethics, and the human condition. This program emphasizes critical thinking, logical analysis, and effective communication, equipping students with versatile skills applicable to various careers. Through rigorous coursework and engaging discussions, students will grapple with diverse philosophical perspectives and develop a nuanced understanding of complex issues. The BA in Philosophy not only prepares graduates for advanced studies in various fields but also cultivates reflective, informed citizens ready to contribute thoughtfully to society.
Minor
The Philosophy minor at the University of Michigan-Flint allows students to explore profound questions about existence, knowledge, ethics, and reason. This program complements any major by enhancing critical thinking, analytical skills, and moral reasoning. Students will engage with classical and contemporary philosophical texts, fostering a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives and cultivating the intellectual tools needed for thoughtful reflection and problem-solving in various professional fields. With dedicated faculty and a supportive learning environment, pursuing a Philosophy minor at UM-Flint prepares students for a lifetime of thoughtful engagement with the world’s most significant challenges.
Scholarships
UM-Flint offers two scholarships specifically for philosophy students:
- Candace Marie Bolter Scholarship
- Ralph M. and Emmalyn E. Freeman Philosophy Scholarship
Our Office of Financial Aid offers a variety of other scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. They’re all part of our effort to make your world-class UM-Flint education affordable.
Free Tuition with the Go Blue Guarantee!
Upon admission, we automatically consider UM-Flint students for the Go Blue Guarantee, a historic program offering free tuition for high-achieving, in-state undergraduates from lower-income households.
Academic Advising for Philosophy Majors
With so many educational opportunities and career paths available to our philosophy majors, we strongly encourage you to meet regularly with two people: your faculty mentor and your academic advisor. Our academic advisors can help you choose classes, navigate program requirements, overcome personal issues, find internships, explore career and graduate school options, and more.
Nicole Altheide at nrock@umich.edu or 810-762-3096 or Schedule an Advising Appointment with Nicole Altheide.
Career Opportunities
Your Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy degree from UM-Flint will open the door to a huge range of graduate school and career options. Consider these projections for just a few career possibilities from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Financial Analysts
- Job growth through 2031: 9 percent
- Job openings annually through 2031: 32,000
- Typical entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $95,570
- Lawyers
- 35,600 projected job openings
- Median annual salary of $151,160
- Projected job growth rate of 5%
- Market Research Analysts
- Job growth through 2031: 19 percent
- Job openings annually through 2031: 99,800
- Typical entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $63,920
- Operations Research Analysts
- Job growth through 2031: 23 percent
- Job openings annually through 2031: 10,300
- Typical entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $82,360
- Postsecondary Teachers (all subjects)
- Job growth through 2031: 12 percent
- Job openings annually through 2031: 132,600
- Typical entry-level education required: Master’s or doctoral degree
- Median annual salary: $79,640
- Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers
- 140,100 projected job openings
- Median annual salary for software developers of $133,080. Median annual salary for software quality assurance analysts and testers of $102,610
- Projected job growth rate of 17%
More information about careers for philosophy majors is available from the American Philosophical Association.
Get Started on Your Philosophy Career Today
If you want a degree that provides a strong academic foundation and skills that open the door to a wide range of exciting career opportunities, apply to UM-Flint’s Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy program today. If you have questions, you can contact the program’s dedicated academic advisor, Nicole Altheide at nrock@umich.edu or 810-762-3096 or Schedule an Advising Appointment with Nicole Altheide.