Christian Philosophy Colleges

By Calli Wolfenden, Staff Writer
 

Philosophy is the art of thinking, and the practice of many of the great men who have shaped the way that we reason and rationalize, like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Though we may not gather around great thinkers and hold discussions now as we did then, we do we still see the applications of philosophy on a daily basis. Speeches, government forums, debates, and even the classroom that employs Socratic discussions are all modern examples of philosophy. To a degree, we all practice philosophy; the pursuit of a philosophy degree is meant to sharpen our skills and strengthen not what we think, but how we think.

Choosing to major in philosophy at a Christian college adds immense depth to the rationality taught by including the One who created it. At a Christian college, you can explore faith and reason and realize that they are of the same vein. God is not just the creator of logic and thinking, but the conclusion to which all truth and logic come to. Why? Because truth belongs to God, and the exploration of thought and rationality hinge on truth. Pursuing a philosophy degree at a Christian college allows you to dive deeper into your faith, into the Lord, and by proxy into true wisdom and philosophical thinking.

List of potential careers for someone who chooses to major in philosophy:

• Lawyer: Lawyers represent an individual or party/group in criminal cases, either as a defense lawyer or prosecutor. Defense lawyers protect the rights of the accused and attempt to prove them innocent or lessen the charges. Prosecutors seek to prove guilt and seek justice for the victims or affected party. They advise clients, present evidence, argue in court, and may also negotiate plea deals for clients. Their role is vital in the pursuit of justice and ensuring the process is conducted fairly.
• Human Resources Specialist: A human resources manager oversees the employees in a workforce, ensuring that HR policies and labor laws are complied with. They also serve a function of peacekeeping, as one of their primary functions is conflict-resolution and fostering a positive work environment. Typically, they also handle onboarding, training, and hiring of new employees.
• Philosophy Professor: Philosophy Professors teach philosophy at the college or post graduate level. Their area of study focuses on developing critical thinking, logic, reasoning, and writing skills. Their classes may focus on discussion and writing assignments to sharpen these skills. While teaching, they may also conduct research, publish scholarly work, and attend conferences related to their area of expertise. This profession will require them to have extended education beyond a bachelor’s degree.
• Writer: A writer works with written word, creating stories or composing works of fiction, non-fiction, journalism, novels, and much more. They take ideas, characters, and events, real or fake, and tell a story through description and other literary devices, meant to engage readers and entertain, inform, or persuade. Their work spans many different fields, including literature, history, business, communications, and politics.
• Journalist: A journalist’s main job is to inform the public about current events or trends as accurately as possible. They do this by conducting interviews, research, and investigations and compiling the accounts and presenting them as objectively as possible. They must adhere to ethical standards and verify their sources of information. Their work may be presented in a variety of mediums, such as newspapers, radio, or television, among others.
• Social Worker: Social workers provide help to families and communities as they deal with issues that arise in their everyday lives, such as health, mental illness, poverty, and more. They can provide therapy to individuals, families, or groups, and assess the difficulties facing clients. Their goal is to improve the well-being of their clients and provide strategies that help them cope with and overcome issues. They may be employed at hospitals, social service agencies, or schools.

Placement rates for the philosophy degree are tough to pin down. However, unemployment rates sit around 3.2%, which is lower than the national average, according to Forbes. The philosophy degree, often viewed as an unnecessary degree, actually opens doors to many other careers and further education. Philosophy sharpens students’ minds and reasoning abilities, which strengthens the skills that are central to so many professions. Because of this, it’s hard to pin down “placement rates,” as the kind of careers and jobs philosophy students end up in are extremely varied. The average annual salary for those who choose to major in philosophy is around $48,751, but that encompasses a wide variety of potential jobs and salaries. So, with so much opportunity and potential surrounding the philosophy degree, what can you do while in college to give yourself the best chance of success?

The first thing to do is build your education around your career goals. A philosophy degree offers so much application to many potential career fields, but you’ll still want to include classes or a minor that is directly related to the career or graduate degree you want. If you want to go into law, for example, you may want to take a lot of writing courses with your philosophy degree, to prepare you for your graduate studies. If you want to work in the government, then perhaps minor in political science or government. Tailor your education in combination with your philosophy degree, and you’ll build yourself up as an ideal candidate with the tools to stand out from the crowd.

Use the career services at your school heavily and prioritize experience that is relevant to your desired career goals. Internships, volunteer work, or (if you’re lucky) paid jobs are all great experience builders that show future employers that you’ve put in the time to learn the basics already. Focus on opportunities that will teach you relevant skills and industry know-how; things that you can take into a job interview to show your experience. Be intentional about asking questions, networking, and making contacts that can come in handy when you need references or the inside scoop on potential job openings.

Keep a portfolio of any work that you do for your internships, extracurriculars, or any particularly impressive papers that showcase your style and reasoning. These are incredibly helpful resources that give potential employers insight into your strengths, skills, and the way that you think and communicate information. A portfolio over your time in college and internships can also show how you improved and learned new things, showing that you can be teachable and adapt to new concepts. These are important factors for potential employers.

Philosophy is a “thinking-intensive” degree, meaning that having the “right” answers is secondary to the process that brings you to them. That said, critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving skills are a must. A philosophy degree and many of the careers that stem from it involve heavy reading and reflection/response, so discipline and persistence are needed to diligently stick with the text and reread it as needed. Strong communication skills are a must, both in writing and speaking, as essays and debate are common parts of a philosophy degree and many careers that come from it. Flexibility and the ability to keep an open mind are par for the course, as you’ll be introduced to perspectives you are unfamiliar with or disagree with, but as you’re introduced to new evidence and arguments, you may find that there is merit to them. Someone with a combination of these characteristics would be well suited to a career with a philosophy degree, whether that is in government, communications, or even ministry.

Work Cited:

• “How Much Money Can You Make with a Philosophy Degree?” CareerExplorer, www.careerexplorer.com/degrees/philosophy-degree/salary/. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
• McDarrah, Theodore. “Why Philosophy Degrees Set Graduates up for Success.” Forbes, 23 May 2025, www.forbes.com/sites/teddymcdarrah/2025/05/23/why-philosophy-degrees-set-graduates-up-for-success/.

By Calli Wolfenden, Staff Writer
 

Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (NIV)

Colossians 2:2-3
“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (NIV)

A philosophy degree is great preparation for church leaders, pastors, and missionaries alike. Philosophy builds your critical thinking, reasoning, and argumentative skills, which gives you a great base for researching and forming sermons that address different topics and perspectives. The logic and reasoning skills that are applied by someone with a philosophy degree can be beneficial in walking congregations or listeners through Bible studies, sermons, or difficult topics in a way that is easy to understand and follow.

Whether these skills are applied in your local community, church, or abroad as a missionary, they are valuable for teaching, preaching, counseling, discussion, and evangelism. Possible ministry roles for someone who chooses to major in philosophy include pastor, missionary, youth pastor, evangelist, biblical counselor, Bible study leader, and much more. There is abundant opportunity in ministry for someone with a philosophy degree.

There are many open doors for those whose minds have been sharpened through the study of a philosophy degree, both in culture and ministry. If you are a critical thinker, disciplined, have strong communication skills and are passionate about reading and reflecting, then perhaps the Lord is calling you to pursue a philosophy degree!