Philosophy

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
Google 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