At Cleveland State University, students can choose the standard Major in Philosophy which combines the comprehensive study of the history of philosophy with upper level coursework in other areas of the student’s own choosing such as philosophy of religion or law, ethics and social philosophy, theory of knowledge, or in-depth study of a particular philosopher. Alternatively they can choose the Major with a Concentration in Ethics in which at least half of the coursework is focused on ethics and value theory. Undergraduates at Cleveland State University also have the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Bioethics by completing twelve credit hours from the bioethics sequence (see the online Catalog for details).

Classes in philosophy are generally small (under 30) and nearly all are taught by full time faculty who are established scholars in their field.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Career philosophers are employed almost exclusively in colleges and universities. A doctoral degree is generally required for teaching at the four-year college level or above; and a master’s degree is required for community college teaching.

A major in philosophy prepares a student to pursue graduate study in philosophy, but many philosophy majors choose careers in other areas —pre-college teaching, health and medicine, law and criminal justice, public relations, and managerial work in business and the public sector. The study of philosophy builds skills which are critical for success in every profession: the ability to analyze complex problems, to organize and classify data, to look for reasons why something should be done, to view issues from different perspectives, and to communicate clearly and persuasively both orally and in writing.

Philosophy complements most other fields of study. Students who have chosen a major on account of its direct link to a career often are able, through careful planning, to complete a second major in philosophy with little or no increase in total hours. Roughly a third of all Cleveland State University philosophy majors are double majors, combining philosophy with such fields as psychology, political science, religion, English, history, and urban studies.