Find your perfect college degree
If you love the idea of being wise and exploring the depths of things and life, perhaps pursuing a career in Philosophy is your passion and calling. Philosophy is simply the pursuit of understanding the world. You can make sense of the universe and live by ethical and moral principles by understanding Philosophy.
You can learn about yourself and others using an online bachelor’s in philosophy to become a good decision-maker, problem-solver, and leader.
If you’re wondering what career paths to take after graduating from an online Bachelor’s in Philosophy program, don’t fret. According to the Labor Statistics Bureau, there are about 537,520 current employees in the field of philosophy and religion.
Typical job fields for graduates include commercial, nonprofit, legal, and communications. Some philosophy majors go on to work as managers, lawyers, business analysts, clergy, reporters, nonprofit managers, or chief executives.
After earning your Philosophy degree, you can continue your studies, depending on the level of degree or job position that you want to acquire. Obtaining a doctoral or master’s degree in Philosophy is one choice. Degrees in these fields may lead to academic careers. Also, a Philosophy major can pursue Legal Studies or attend law school.
The Lowdown
Philosophy is the study of some of the most profound and thought-provoking topics in human history. Whether it is existence or knowledge, faith or ethics, or the world itself, you can cover all these topics and answer questions with an online bachelor’s degree in Philosophy.
Online program students also develop their critical thinking and decision-making skills—two of the sought-after attributes in the modern workplace.
Methodology
We put together the country’s top Online Bachelor’s in Philosophy degree programs! Each undergraduate degree was selected with these criteria in mind:
- Offers courses that may be taken fully online or combined with in-person undergraduate classes,
- Structured as a rigorous curriculum designed and taught by Philosophy experts to feature an in-depth look at ancient philosophy, ancient and medieval philosophy, modern philosophy, moral and political philosophy, social and political philosophy, contemporary analytic philosophy, philosophical theories, discussions, and viewpoints,
- Provides student internships, senior thesis, and other educational opportunities that increase readiness and skills for real-world work settings,
- Prepares graduates for diverse career pathways, focusing on building soft skills that are in demand today, including critical thinking, decision-making, leadership, teamwork, and written communication skills,
- Offers federal aid, transfer credit programs, financial assistance, student loans, scholarships, and military benefits to eligible online students,
- Accredited or approved by colleges and schools commission and the Department of Education, demonstrating that the school or program adheres to the teaching and learning standards.
Take a closer look at our selection process! Read our Methodology.
5 Best Online Colleges with Online Bachelor’s in Philosophy
University of Arizona
Online Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
If you want to attend a public university, you can choose the University of Arizona. They offer an online BA in Philosophy. In philosophy, questions are addressed through thought, analysis, and interdisciplinary experimentation with disciplines like psychology and cognitive science. Philosophy is the study of ideas and problems.
As an online student, you will dissect philosophical concepts, including what the mind is and how it relates to the brain, how true beliefs and knowledge differ, and what a good argument looks like. You will also get training about the foundations for the categories of correct or false, which form the basis of all academic disciplines.
This online philosophy degree can be completed in four years as long as you complete the 120 credit hours requirement.
What Makes This Program Unique:
Students of Philosophy degrees believe that studying the discipline aids in the development of their capacity for clear thinking and insightful judgments. This is a major benefit of earning an online bachelor’s in philosophy at the University of Arizona.
Since moral issues have grown more complex as a result of commercial globalization, there is a significant demand for ethics and philosophy specialists. You’ll be prepared to fulfill such roles after graduation.
Did You Know?
Arizona Online delivers its online education to distance learners using EDGE Learning as its learning management system. At the conclusion of their second year, students complete a general education portfolio as part of their graduation requirements.
American Public University
Online Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Your comprehension, analytical reasoning, philosophical investigation, critical thinking, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities will all be sharpened through the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy program at APU.
Their online BA in Philosophy program encourages students to share information and create new ideas. Philosophical thinking, ethical reasoning, and intellectual behavior are aimed at unearthing and passing along wisdom.
With a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from American Public University, you can gain a deep understanding of Eastern and Western philosophers, as well as ethical and moral concerns. All these learnings allow you to apply them in modern studies and life settings.
What Makes This Program Unique:
In this philosophy online degree, get ready to analyze the philosophical tradition’s historical development and evolution from its beginnings to the present. Analyze the history and justification for the growth of each philosophy and moral school.
Assess the validity of inductive and deductive arguments using logic. Finally, you can also evaluate alternative arguments for morality and knowledge.
Did You Know?
Active duty, National Guard, and Reserve undergraduate students are not charged a technology charge of $85 per course.
Oregon State University
Online Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy
The Online Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy program at Oregon State University differs from other programs across the country because it emphasizes active philosophy rather than abstract thought. You will examine both traditional philosophical questions and modern viewpoints raised by artificial intelligence, pop culture, political influence, and social media.
The study of knowledge, reality, and the proper conduct of human life are all topics that are deeply questioned in your online philosophy degree at Oregon State University.
You will acquire the interpretative, analytical, and communication skills you need to sustain lives marked by moral thought and civic duty through this demanding online curriculum.
The BA and BS online programs have four start dates per year and call for 180 credits. Both emphasize practical philosophy over abstract thought.
What Makes This Program Unique:
Some degree requirements from other colleges may be transferred. However, 45 of the remaining 75 credits must be taken at Oregon State in order to satisfy the degree program’s academic residence requirement.
As an OSU Ecampus student, you can add a minor to your bachelor’s degree program. Online minors at Oregon State are available in a variety of fields. Adding minor related studies to your philosophy degree will boost your job application even more.
Did You Know?
Your undergraduate education in Philosophy will give you knowledge and skills that are applicable to many different fields of work. It is your launching pad for graduate studies in law and other subjects.
Arizona State University
Online Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
An Online BA in Philosophy is available at Arizona State University. Thirty-nine lessons totaling 7.5 weeks are offered here. Expect to get engaged in studies in logic and reasoning, effective and structured communication, and argument construction.
An online philosophy degree will help you develop your critical thinking abilities by studying theories from many cultures. You’ll receive instruction on how to attentively read and comprehend complicated literature. A variety of employment options can be pursued by developing such transferable talents.
Some of the courses include:
- Philosophy of Mind
- History of Ethics
- Social and Political Philosophy
- Philosophy of Science
What Makes This Program Unique:
The emphasis in philosophical thought is on reason and logic. It tries to provide fundamental answers regarding the nature of humanity and the natural world. You will gain knowledge of philosophical texts during your studies that will help you in both your personal and professional lives.
Did You Know?
Graduates with a degree in philosophy may be prepared for work in the analytical, communicative, and reasoning sectors. Business, finance, and education are some industries that you can explore and enter after graduation. Pursuing a second major or minor that can influence your career choice is another option.
University of New Orleans
Online Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
One of the few online Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy programs offered in the nation is provided by the University of New Orleans. All of their online philosophy courses were developed by Philosophy faculty who also teach face-to-face courses on campus.
For those students who want to pursue a Bachelor of Arts, this program is a wise choice. In their Philosophy degree, many of the students come from all over the states of the US and from 4 other countries in the world. Courses include:
- Independent Study in Philosophy
- Social and Political Philosophy
- Phenomenology and Continental Philosophy
- Philosophy of the Natural Sciences
There is no prerequisite for philosophy courses. However, it is strongly advised that applicants have at least some college experience before applying.
What Makes This Program Unique:
A BA in Philosophy can be earned with the help of scholarships and awards from the UNO Philosophy Department. The program is ideal for post-baccalaureate students who desire to earn an additional degree because All requirements can be completed online.
For post-baccalaureate students, completing additional courses at UNO just takes one year!
Did You Know?
Through UNO, a selection of distance learning courses are offered. Some classes demand that students log in at a specific location and time in order to participate. There will surely be specific due dates and deadlines for assignments.
However, each online learner gets the most time management flexibility because the courses are asynchronous. This is also reflected in the way that our courses are taught.
Difference Between Ethics and Philosophy
As an academic discipline, philosophy examines the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, whereas ethics are moral guidelines. There are many philosophies that deal with ethics, which help a person lead a moral life.
A moral philosophy is one that adheres to these principles. However, in academia, there is a wide variety of philosophies.
The field of study known as ethics focuses on the moral precepts that guide people’s behavior. On the other hand, the study of truth, meaning, and knowledge is known as philosophy. The two fields are related because ethics frequently uses philosophical concepts to explain ethical issues, while philosophy frequently addresses ethical issues.
The study of ethics is a subfield of moral philosophy. Even while the terms morality and ethics are sometimes used interchangeably, they do have a few subtle differences. Ethics takes morals into account but does not expressly categorize specific behaviors or actions as good or bad.
Morality, as a system of principles governing proper conduct, is more subjective.
Skills Necessary for Philosophy Graduates
Communication
A company’s success depends on efficient communication. Good communication skills are valued by employers because they translate into the capacity to rapidly interpret messages in a clear, objective manner and to distinguish value from facts.
You become a better communicator as a result of philosophy, enabling you to express yourself freely and without violating the rights of others. When you can concisely state your thoughts and guiding principles, it transforms you into a persuasive speaker.
Analytical thinking
Philosophers are analytical thinkers. You could find employment in a wide range of fields if you have these skills because you have a wealth of creative problem-solving options.
Additionally, you will be in high demand as an employee because of your ability to solve problems and develop solutions. Your ability to consider minor differences and similarities between two options helps you decide between them.
Critical thinking
Philosophy graduates are always assumed to be critical thinkers. After all, studying philosophy helps you develop the ability to think critically, which is useful for locating the main problems in diverse situations.
By developing your critical thinking skills through a philosophy degree, you can assess and comprehend the many parameters of difficulties.
Possible Career Pathways for Philosophy Graduates
Lawyer
Average Annual Salary: $145,760
Philosophy majors are accepted into law schools at a very high rate. Many philosophy degree holders enroll in philosophy as a stepping stone to higher education. Do note that a Juris Doctor degree is required to practice law, as well as pass the Bar exam for lawyers.
Professor
Average Annual Salary: $84,380
For philosophy majors, being a professor of philosophy is a common career choice. If you want to partake in academia, it’s a worthy decision to be a philosophy teacher.
In addition to authoring and co-writing scholarly articles, this also entails delivering lectures and seminars on specific subjects to college students in undergrad and graduate programs. However, you must obtain a Ph.D. if you want to teach philosophy.
Public Policy Professional
Average Annual Salary: $91,000
Communicating with others, putting forth arguments, and dissecting others’ arguments are all talents that philosophy majors are well-versed in. Government officials frequently hire public policy experts to study and address issues that have a large public impact.
In order to be an effective public policy professional, you should be creative and have good research skills.
Journalist
Average Annual Salary: $57,500
Due to philosophy’s emphasis on writing and communication skills, students majoring in philosophy often work as writers in journalism. Their ability to conduct research and write is particularly valued in this field.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can graduates do with an online degree in Philosophy?
Online philosophy degrees provide students with useful analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication abilities that can be used for a multitude of careers, particularly when combined with advanced degrees in other subjects.
For instance, before pursuing a more specialized subject at the graduate level, students who want to work in the fields of law, commerce, economics, public policy, or social work sometimes get their bachelor’s degrees in philosophy.
Is a Philosophy degree worth it?
A degree in philosophy opens a lot of opportunities in your personal and professional life. Philosophy may be the right major for you if you’re looking for one that will help you build your soft skills and be applicable to several in-demand fields.
Managers of social and community services are occasionally philosophy graduates. As long as your soft skills are well-developed in this degree, you can acquire different jobs in different industries.
How long does it take to get a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy online?
You can probably get your philosophy degree in 4 years if you take full-time courses. A bachelor’s degree program usually lasts four years. If a student’s academic year is split into two semesters, they should finish their courses by the conclusion of the eighth semester.
How much do graduates with an online Philosophy degree make?
Majoring in philosophy gives students a variety of transferable skills they can apply to a wide variety of careers. Because there are so many possible career paths, it is difficult to specifically confirm a wage range. For instance, if you pursue becoming a philosophy college instructor, the yearly median salary for this position is $56,273.
Summary Points
- Studying Philosophy helps you develop critical thinking abilities, such as the capacity to see problems from several angles and to come up with original solutions. General philosophy know-how is crucial for any career.
- Students who major in Philosophy typically have broad interests and can reason and converse on a variety of issues. These qualities can give philosophers an advantage in the job market and when applying for professional degrees in disciplines like social and behavioral sciences, business, law, and medicine.
- Studying Philosophy can push your thinking in novel directions. You can create your own framework for comprehending fundamental concerns connected to existence, truth, and knowledge. Furthermore, in this program, you will study the history of philosophy and the great philosophers throughout time.
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