Why a Second Major or Minor in Philosophy May Be More Practical Than You Think

Philosophy is one of the best second majors or minors around. Training in philosophy can be extremely practical and useful in the real world. That’s because philosophy teaches you to think carefully and deeply, to write clearly and persuasively, and to question preconceived ideas critically and creatively. These are extremely valuable skills. All things being equal, the person who has these skills will always have an advantage over the person who does not.

These skills make a powerful addition to more "practical" training in other fields. This is why having a minor or second major in philosophy is such a good choice. Philosophical training will enhance your ability to succeed in any career.

At CMU the philosophy major has been designed with this in mind. It was created in such a way as to be a very practical second major. Only 33 credits of philosophy courses are required for the major, and students have a great deal of flexibility about what courses to take. [The required courses for philosophy majors are PHL 100 (Introduction to Philosophy), PHL 140 (Logic), PHL 218 (Ethical Theories), PHL 320 (Theory of Knowledge), PHL 200 (Ancient Philosophy) and PHL 302 (Modern Philosophy).

A minor in philosophy is even easier to work into one’s education. The minor requires only 20 credits in philosophy courses, and there are no requirements as to which courses you must take.

Students who have a talent and taste for philosophy, but who came to college to get practical training for a job in the "real world" sometimes feel torn between studying philosophy and studying something they think is more practical. But there is no reason to feel this way: A second major or minor in philosophy is actually very practical: it can be integrated into most students’ educational plans, and it offers a kind of training that will be an extremely valuable–and practical–asset in the "real world."