Guess Again: Philosophy Can Be a Lucrative Major

What do Carly Fiorina and Lachlan Murdoch have in common? Sure, they're both extremely successful businesspeople that have made headline news in their respective industries, but--here's the kicker--they were also both philosophy majors in college.

Lachlan Murdoch is a media mogul and Carly Fiorina was considered the most powerful female executive while she held the title of CEO at Hewlett Packard, a hi-tech powerhouse. You'll probably find the fact that both of these extremely successful businesspeople were philosophy majors in college pretty darn surprising.

Many parents and guidance counselors wince when a student tells them they want to major in philosophy. preferring those who say economics or computer science. While it is true that understanding the great thinkers throughout history won't give you practical experience in corporate finance or writing computer code, studying philosophy can teach you how to think more effectively so that when it comes time to apply your brain to a career, you'll be a step ahead of the competition.

There are a number of ways to study philosophy. The most common is to earn a college degree in philosophy at a four-year undergraduate university. Another possibility is to enroll in an online degree program in philosophy at a distance learning institution. This option has become very appealing to those that want a philosophy background, but can't go back to school full-time because of career or family responsibilities. Online degree programs are specifically designed to help working professionals balance their professional work with their schoolwork.

So don't let anyone tell you that getting a college degree in philosophy is impractical. You have a lot of people on your side, including Woody Allen, Supreme Court Justice David Souter, John Elway, and the late Martin Luther King--all philosophy majors.

About the Author
Kirk Bangstad is a singer living in Chicago, IL. Having received his B.A. in Government at Harvard, Kirk previously worked as a management consultant.