Philosophy
Shannon Maloney had already earned a degree in mechanical engineering, but she returned to Lehigh University for a fifth year to complete a second major she knows will make her more employable:
Philosophy.
Yep, philosophy.
Though philosophy is routinely dismissed and disparaged - as useless as English, as dead as Latin, as diminished as library science - more college students are getting degrees in that field than ever before.
Though the overall figures remain small, the number of four-year graduates has grown 46 percent in a decade, surpassing the growth rates of much bigger programs such as psychology and history.
In an era in which chronic unemployment seems to demand hard skills, some students are turning to an ancient study that they say prepares them not for a job, but for the multiple jobs they expect to hold during their lifetimes.
"It's teaching me to see the big picture and to think about things in a different way," said Maloney, 22, of West Chester. "Not only can I do the math and figure out how to design something and build something, but I can see it in the context of a business plan."
To be sure, the giant majors of business, education, and engineering attract exponentially more students than philosophy, whose graduates account for about 1 percent of all bachelor's degrees in the United States. But at a time when some majors have faded to near-extinction, philosophy is showing gains.
Nationally, 12,444 students received degrees in philosophy or religious studies in 2008-09, the latest year for which federal figures are available, up from 8,506 in 1998-99. That 46 percent increase occurred during a period when the total number of four-year college graduates grew at a slower 33 percent.
During that span, the number of students earning social-science and history degrees went up 35 percent, psychology was up 28 percent, and education actually went down, falling 5 percent.
"The demise of philosophy, and, more generally, of the liberal arts, is grossly exaggerated," said Jeff Robbins, a professor of religion and philosophy at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa.
The word philosophy comes from the Greek philosophia, meaning "love of wisdom," and its study is defined as, well, even philosophers can't agree on an exact interpretation. Plato described it as "the science of the idea."
- Philosophy...looking For A Justification
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- Colleges/universities--proposed Changes
I am not so sure about this proposition. If simple vocational interests are desired then go to a proprietary school specializing in paralegal, HVAC, or similar programs...you don't need to study Thomas Hardy or Jean-Paul Sartre, But then there are...
- Universities And Umbrella Majors
"Nationally, the most popular major chosen by college students is business, according to statistics compiled in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Education." Is this really the material for higher education and better suited for specialized institutions....
- Higher Education--costly
The Boston Globe this morning reported that Massachusetts's schools of higher education have "...received nearly 15 percent more financial aid applications over the first half of 2008, compared to the same period last year...." This no doubt is indicative...
Philosophy
Philosophy: Not dead and may be beneficial...personally and economically
"Study of philosophy makes gains despite economy"
by
Jeff Gammage
October 15th, 2011
Philly.com
by
Jeff Gammage
October 15th, 2011
Philly.com
Shannon Maloney had already earned a degree in mechanical engineering, but she returned to Lehigh University for a fifth year to complete a second major she knows will make her more employable:
Philosophy.
Yep, philosophy.
Though philosophy is routinely dismissed and disparaged - as useless as English, as dead as Latin, as diminished as library science - more college students are getting degrees in that field than ever before.
Though the overall figures remain small, the number of four-year graduates has grown 46 percent in a decade, surpassing the growth rates of much bigger programs such as psychology and history.
In an era in which chronic unemployment seems to demand hard skills, some students are turning to an ancient study that they say prepares them not for a job, but for the multiple jobs they expect to hold during their lifetimes.
"It's teaching me to see the big picture and to think about things in a different way," said Maloney, 22, of West Chester. "Not only can I do the math and figure out how to design something and build something, but I can see it in the context of a business plan."
To be sure, the giant majors of business, education, and engineering attract exponentially more students than philosophy, whose graduates account for about 1 percent of all bachelor's degrees in the United States. But at a time when some majors have faded to near-extinction, philosophy is showing gains.
Nationally, 12,444 students received degrees in philosophy or religious studies in 2008-09, the latest year for which federal figures are available, up from 8,506 in 1998-99. That 46 percent increase occurred during a period when the total number of four-year college graduates grew at a slower 33 percent.
During that span, the number of students earning social-science and history degrees went up 35 percent, psychology was up 28 percent, and education actually went down, falling 5 percent.
"The demise of philosophy, and, more generally, of the liberal arts, is grossly exaggerated," said Jeff Robbins, a professor of religion and philosophy at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa.
The word philosophy comes from the Greek philosophia, meaning "love of wisdom," and its study is defined as, well, even philosophers can't agree on an exact interpretation. Plato described it as "the science of the idea."
- Philosophy...looking For A Justification
"Who Needs Philosophy? Colleges Defend the Humanities Despite High Costs, Dim Job Prospects" by Jon Marcus March 7th, 2013 Time Oregon State University President Ed Ray flinched when a stranger confronted him to say his daughter had just graduated from...
- End Of Physics Degree At Tennessee State University
Well, I suppose this is the smart thing to do and it does affect other programs. "TSU's dumping of physics degree came down to numbers" Program graduated only 23 in 10 years by Jennifer Brooks June 17th, 2011 tennessean.com For Tennessee State...
- Colleges/universities--proposed Changes
I am not so sure about this proposition. If simple vocational interests are desired then go to a proprietary school specializing in paralegal, HVAC, or similar programs...you don't need to study Thomas Hardy or Jean-Paul Sartre, But then there are...
- Universities And Umbrella Majors
"Nationally, the most popular major chosen by college students is business, according to statistics compiled in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Education." Is this really the material for higher education and better suited for specialized institutions....
- Higher Education--costly
The Boston Globe this morning reported that Massachusetts's schools of higher education have "...received nearly 15 percent more financial aid applications over the first half of 2008, compared to the same period last year...." This no doubt is indicative...