After Graduation
Given the rigorous training it provides in argumentation and critical reasoning, the philosophy major prepares students for excellence in a wide range of fields.
Some of our students have chosen to pursue graduate work in philosophy — most recently at Rutgers University, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the University of Michigan.
For example, Amanda Roth ’04, who received her Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Michigan in 2010 and is now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan, passes the knowledge she gained at Lafayette to the next generation of students.
“The part of my job I like best is interacting with undergrad and graduate students in many different disciplines who have such a wide variety of interests,” says Amanda, who worked previously at the University of Michigan Center for Ethics in Public Life. “My work is quite similar to the daily work of a professor, research and teaching. I recently taught an undergraduate course in moral philosophy with a focus on reproductive ethics, and I am pursuing a number of my own research projects in ethics and political philosophy. At the Center, I advised the undergraduate ethics-bowl team, helped create a minor in ethics in public life, organized a workshop on teaching ethics in the professional disciplines, and arranged our graduate fellows’ speaker series.”
Amanda’s undergraduate experience as a double major in philosophy and women’s studies helped her to choose her future career path. “I knew from the time I left Lafayette and went to graduate school in philosophy that I wanted to be a faculty member of some sort,” the former EXCEL and Marquis scholar and summa cum laude graduate says. “Since my profession is philosophy, I use the philosophical knowledge and skills of argumentation I acquired in philosophy courses at Lafayette every single day.”
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Though some of our students choose to pursue an academic career in Philosophy, many more have used the training that they have acquired for something other than a philosophy Ph.D.
One of those students is Jason Pang ’10, currently studying law at UCLA. “My interest in analytic philosophy is what cultivated my interest in law,” says Pang, recipient of degrees in philosophy and government & law. The former EXCEL scholar plans to receive certification in law and philosophy from UCLA Law. He credits his experiences with the Lafayette Mock Trial Team, which led him to coach a similar award-winning undergrad team at UCLA.
Real trials trump mock ones, though. “I am writing an appellate brief I will submit to the Ninth Circuit on behalf of a real pro bono client,” says Pang, who will argue his client’s case before a three-judge panel. “I find this experience taxing because the results from my efforts will matter.”
At the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Pang helps assistant U.S. attorneys with active cases. “I am excited to represent the government in my capacity as a legal extern.”
Pang also does legal research for UCLA Law dean Rachel Moran and serves as comments editor for the UCLA Law Review. “I make a meaningful impact on scholarly discourse on a variety of subjects by deciding which articles to publish,” he says.
Next year, Pang plans to clerk for a federal judge. He then will join a multinational firm, specializing in health care law and government enforcement litigation.
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In the case of Allie Owen ’07, assistant attorney general for the state of New York, understanding philosophy grants her that mental edge. “I found the analytical skills I gained from writing critical papers in philosophy made adapting to legal writing much easier,” she says.
A Trustee Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate, Owen charted her own undergraduate major direction with interdisciplinary studies in law & philosophy and Spanish. Making her own path carries over into her work. “I like the idea of being thrown into litigation, getting my own cases right away, where it was up to me to research the issues, draft the motions, and learn the intricacies of litigation that you don’t learn in law school,” says Owen, who received her J.D. in 2010 from the George Washington University School of Law.
“A few months ago, a case that I was doing research for went to trial. From preparing for depositions and strategizing before the trial, to jury selection and all the way to a (winning) verdict, I was able to participate in a meaningful way,” says Owen, who will be joining the firm of Ropes & Gray in fall 2011. “Trials are actually hard to come by, and litigation can sometimes take years, so it was a great experience being part of the team and seeing the case through to the end.”
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A nationwide study shows that philosophy majors are one of the three highest scoring groups on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Other studies have demonstrated that, as a group, philosophy majors rank second in average scores on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), a key factor in admission to graduate management programs, and tops among humanities majors in average scores on the GRE. Indeed, only five undergraduate majors across all disciplines — physics and astronomy, mathematical sciences, materials engineering, and chemical engineering — had students with higher average combined GRE scores than did philosophy (see “Philosophy Rocks the GRE”).
Nationally, about 52% of philosophy majors eventually go on to earn advanced degrees, many of them in law (see the CNN Money article “Working Your Degree: Philosophy”). The reason for this is unsurprising when one considers how highly law schools regard the rigorous training provided by an undergraduate major in philosophy. Evidence for this is the following passage, from the American Bar Association’s advice to law school applicants:
In assessing a prospective law student’s educational qualifications, admissions committees generally consider the chosen curriculum, the grades earned, and the reputation of the colleges attended. They also view favorably scholastic honors, awards, and special recognition. Solid grades in courses such as logic, philosophy, and abstract mathematics are generally considered a plus. […] [L]aw schools will respect your pursuit of subjects you find challenging. This is especially true if the courses you take are known to be more difficult, such as philosophy, engineering, and science. Also, look for courses that will strengthen the skills you need in law school. Classes that stress research and writing are excellent preparation for law school, as are courses that teach reasoning and analytical skills.
– from “Education” in the The Council on Legal Education and Opportunity, American Bar Association.
Philosophy majors at Lafayette reflect national trends that have seen philosophy undergraduates excel in the legal professions. In the past five years, a number of Lafayette philosophy graduates have been accepted to some of the nation’s most prestigious law schools, including Columbia, UCLA, NYU, Duke, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Other students have pursued a variety of career paths, from medicine to investment banking to a Math for America teaching fellowship in New York City. Recent articles, in the New York Times (“In a New Generation of College Students, Many Opt for the Life Examined”), in the UK’s The Guardian newspaper ( “I think, therefore I earn”), and in Business Week (“Philosophy is Back in Business”) have touted how students trained in philosophy are becoming highly sought-after in the job market.