As a philosophy major, you can choose among courses in epistemology, metaphysics, history of philosophy, logic, ethics, social and political philosophy, Continental philosophy, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, aesthetics and philosophy of science. You’ll participate each year in events that range from informal reading groups and workshops to formal conferences and large public lectures by visiting philosophers. The Sage School's small classes and collegial atmosphere support vibrant philosophical exchange among undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and visiting philosophers.
Sample classes
- Ethics of Eating
- Knowledge and Reality
- Minds and Machines
- Ethics and Healthcare
Outcomes
All information below is based on the 2014-2018 First-Destination Post-Graduate Survey. Lists are not exhaustive, rather they are a sampling of the data. "Other" includes time off, travel, volunteer experiences, and/or preparing for graduate school. If you would like more information, please email as_careers@cornell.edu
52% Employed
23% Attending Grad School
13% Seeking Employment
12% Other
66% of the Class of 2014-2018 Philosophy graduates completed the survey. n = 69
Below, you will find:
- Top Employment Sectors
- Where Graduates Work
- Top Graduate Fields
- Where Graduates Study
Top Employment Sectors
- Financial Services (19%)
- Nonprofit Organization (14%)
- Communications & Media (14%)
- Government (11%)
- Retail (8%), Technology (8%)
- Consulting/Prof. Practice (6%), Education (6%)
- Human Healthcare Services (3%), Agriculture (3%), Hospitality (3%), Law (3%), Business - Other (4%)
Where 2014-2018 Philosophy Graduates Work
| Employer | Job Titles |
|---|---|
| Alcohol & Drug Council of Tompkins County | Administrative Assistant |
| AlphaSights | Analyst |
| Amazon | Knowledge Engineer Federal Cloud Consultant |
| BlackRock | Analyst (2) |
| Bloomberg | Sales Representative Sales & Analytics |
| Bunge Limited | Commodities Risk Analyst/Trader |
| Center for Family Representation | Family Advocate |
| City Year | Corps Member |
| College Achieve Central Charter Schools | Middle School Science Teacher |
| French Cheese Board | Marketing, Events & Retail Coordinator |
| Goldman Sachs | Analyst Strats Analyst |
| Software Engineer | |
| Guggenheim Partners | Corporate Credit Investment Analyst |
| Harvard University | Research Assistant |
| International Service for Human Rights | Intern |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co | Business Analyst & Alerts Specialist |
| Microsoft | Program Manager |
| National Institutes of Health | Fellow |
| PlantBased Solutions | Marketing Manager |
| Social Science Research Council | Program Intern |
| Sony Pictures Entertainment | Writer's Production Assistant |
| Sullivan & Cromwell LLP | Litigation Legal Assistant |
| TD Ameritrade | Rotational Analyst |
| Thumbtack | Software Engineer |
| United States Attorney's Office | Paralegal |
| United States Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant |
| Utilities International | Consultant |
| VOX Global | Digital Intern |
| Weill Cornell Medicine | Clinical Research Assistant |
Top Graduate Fields Pursued
- Law (31%)
- Philosophy (25%)
- Medicine (13%)
- Physics (13%)
- Information Science (6%), Education Administration (6%), Psychology (6%)
Graduate Degrees Pursued
- JD (31%)
- PhD (25%)
- MS (19%)
- MA (13%)
- MD (6%), MPS (6%)
Where 2014-2018 Philosophy Graduates Study
- Columbia University In The City of New York
- Cornell University
- Georgetown University
- Harvard University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Stanford University
- SUNY Upstate Medical University
- University of Chicago
- University of Massachusetts
- University of Pennsylvania
- Vanderbilt University
