Why Philosophy

Preparing Students for the Future

Philosophy graduate students

Strong Academic Performance

Philosophy majors have performed strongly on graduate and law school exams in recent years:

  • Among the highest Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) scores across humanities and social science majors
  • Strong verbal portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
  • High Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) scores, second only to mathematics majors

These results reflect the analytical and communication skills developed through philosophical study.

AI Exposure and Employment chart

Built for the modern workforce

A 2026 article in The Economist found that from 2022 to 2024, while "Artificial intelligence (AI) is the popular villain" for many graduates, philosophy grads’ employment prospects held up better than those in other fields. 

As technology reshapes the workplace, philosophy provides the adaptable skills needed to thrive amid rapid change and uncertainty.

Career Flexibility and Transferable Skills

The American Philosophical Association notes that philosophy graduates pursue careers in law, business, publishing, sales, criminal justice, public relations, and other fields. It highlights how philosophical training develops the ability to solve problems, communicate, organize ideas and issues, assess pros and cons, and boil down complex data. These transferable skills help graduates adapt to change and transition to diverse career paths.

What Employers Want

A survey by the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) found that 91% of employers believe “a candidate’s demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than his or her undergraduate major.”

Employers highly value communication, teamwork, ethical decision-making, critical thinking, and real-world problem solving skills.

At Cal Poly Pomona, the Philosophy Department helps students develop these high-level cognitive skills, preparing graduates to succeed in many careers and adapt to an evolving workforce.

“The ability to analyze a problem carefully and consider it from many points of view... communicate ideas clearly in a logically compelling form... and handle many different kinds of problems are valuable skills.”

— Lee H. Hamilton, Former U.S. Representative