Preparing for Grad School
A philosophy major is excellent preparation for a wide range of graduate degrees, perhaps including some you haven’t considered:
With an M.P.P or M.P.A, you can work in policy development, program analysis, public relations, advocacy work, campaign operations – a wide range of careers both inside and outside the government sector.
With an M.B.A, you can work in consulting, marketing, communications, program management, and more. Philosophy majors score highly on the GMAT and are often preferred by M.B.A. programs to traditional business students.
With a J.D., you can explore not only the wide range of careers within the law, but also many successful careers outside it – in journalism, government, publishing, and more.
With a Ph.D., you can become a professor. Not done with your philosophical journey? Consider the Ph.D., or the M.A., and talk to us about which makes more sense.
Could you pursue an M.D.? An M.F.A? A Master’s Degree in Journalism?
Your degree in philosophy can open doors to all of the above.
Email carl.brownson@lehman.cuny.edu for pre-graduate advisement and to discuss your options.
To download a flyer about this, please click on the flyer below.
How to go on in Philosophy after you graduate
You can also pursue a graduate degree in Philosophy. Why would you want to do that?
First, there is the money
- The expected lifetime earnings for someone without a high school degree is $973,000; with a high school diploma, $1.3 million; with a bachelor's degree, $2.3 million; with a master's degree, $2.7 million; and with a doctoral degree (excluding professional degrees), $3.3 million.
- If you’ve enjoyed your philosophy courses and want to go on, PhD programs pay students in living expenses and free tuition.
Then there is loving what you do.
If you’ve enjoyed your philosophy courses and done well in them (mostly A’s and some B’s), consider enrolling in an MA or PhD program. The Lehman Philosophy Department faculty are eager to help you with the application process, so you have nothing to lose in process.The graduate application process takes time and planning. You need: letters of reference, a strong GRE score, an impressive writing sample, and a compelling statement of purpose.
You can put these together on your own but here is how we can help.
- Take the 3 credit PHI 481 Readings in Philosophy as the independent study for students who are preparing for grad school. Every step of your application will be supported in this course.
- Take the 3-credit PHI 482 Honors tutorial if you want to both apply to grad school and write an honors thesis.
- Take the GRE prep course as PHI 265, for credit or no credit.
- Inquire about LSAT and MCAT prep courses when you register next.
- Stay up to date by attending PHI Department GOING ON events each semester.
For information and advice about which courses to take, please contact, Philosophy Department Chair, Professor Julie Maybee, Julie.Maybee@Lehman.CUNY.edu.
