Careers
Discover Career Opportunities
Sample Career Options
Note: Additional training and education may be required.
Because philosophy provides such a comprehensive undergraduate foundation, our graduates have the freedom to pursue a variety of professions or graduate degrees. Some examples include:
- community development officer
- diplomat/embassy worker
- editor
- ethicist
- foreign service officer
- labour negotiator
- lawyer/paralegal/judge
- librarian/information specialist
- management/business consultant
- mediator
- political strategist
- public policy analyst
- public relations specialist
- publisher/copy editor
- teacher/professor
- technical writer
Sample Industries / Types of Employers
- business consulting firms
- cultural organizations
- educational institutions
- foundations
- government
- legal services
- media organizations
- non-profit organizations
- political parties
- publishing companies
- social service agencies
Online Resources
- Canadian Philosophical Association
- Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
- Canadian Bioethics Society
- American Philosophical Association
- Canadian Society for the Study of Practical Ethics
More career resources are available through Navigator.
Laurier Grads are Successful
Sample Jobs within the First Year After Graduation
- contracts and trade compliance administrator
- field marketing representative
- law clerk
- media administrator
- underwriting assistant
Sample Further Education Programs within the First Year After Graduation
- JD: Law.
- Master’s degree: Philosophy, Applied Politics, Theological Studies.
- College program: Publishing, Technical Writing, Public Relations, Human Resources.
- Bachelor’s degree: Education.
Careers of Alumni Two-Five Years After Graduation
- bioethicist and mental health advocate
- development and communications coordinator
- lawyer
- learning facilitator
- program director
- senior policy advisor
Develop Your Knowledge and Skills
Employers identify these competencies as very important when recruiting entry-level candidates. As a Laurier student, you gain these skills through the opportunities available to you.
Functional Knowledge
- Demonstrate familiarity with the central problems, debates and movements within three primary areas of Philosophy: Epistemology and Metaphysics, Values and Society, and History of Philosophy.
- Articulate some of the major theoretical approaches within the three above-mentioned areas, and be able to apply select approaches in one's own writing and research.
- Identify a philosophical problem and analyze key argumentative elements such as premises, conclusions, presuppositions, and empirical versus a priori reasoning.
- Identify and understand the characteristics of a well-structured and well-supported argument within a philosophical context.
- Develop and display a sensitivity to the historical, social, political and cultural forces that may shape and influence philosophical problems and perspectives.
- Discover how information is sourced, valued and used in creating new knowledge.
Collaboration/Teamwork
- Work effectively as part of a team by identifying your role and contributing, leading, teaching, motivating and/or encouraging others for team success.
- Oversee, lead and/or contribute to a project including determining goals, planning details, making decisions and completing tasks.
- Demonstrate professional behaviour and an understanding of individual perspectives and diversity.
Communication
- Read philosophical works closely, charitably and actively, and be able to generate clear and accurate expository accounts of other peoples' work/arguments.
- Explain information, ideas and opinions effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Probe for information by asking questions and listening, and engage in constructive conversations.
- Prepare interesting and informative reports and presentations for diverse audiences using current technology.
Problem Solving
- Identify and access a wide range of relevant information and resources.
- Learn, understand and critically interpret information and apply knowledge to new situations.
- Set priorities, meet deadlines and manage time, data and resources.
- Make well-reasoned decisions, think creatively, identify and consider all sides of an issue.
- Analyze and evaluate data to discuss, support and/or question ideas, opinions, reports, theories and proposals.