Train Your Mind for Leadership and Innovation

The value of a philosophy degree lies in its unmatched ability to cultivate versatile, high-level cognitive skills that are increasingly prized in a rapidly shifting job market. 

  • As a philosophy student, you'll explore life’s big questions and develop a "mental agility" that allows you to master new subjects quickly and think critically about information from any source. 
  • You learn to identify hidden biases, distill and analyze complex systems and communicate difficult ideas with precision and elegance. These are the core competencies required for leadership roles in law, healthcare, technology, public policy, business, intelligence agencies, government and more. 
  • At UMass Lowell, we bridge the gap between abstract theory and practical application, showing you how philosophical training can solve problems. In an age of automation and artificial intelligence, the human capacity for ethical reasoning and creative problem-solving is your greatest competitive advantage. This is why choosing philosophy means becoming a thinker who can adapt to any professional landscape.  

Value of Philosophy

While philosophy is highly theoretical, it can be very practical in its use. 

There are many arguments about the intrinsic value of philosophy. The fact is that philosophy has been around for a long time with unmatched staying power. Check out the non-economic arguments for philosophy and its relationship to civic engagement.

Back in 2018, Angira Patel discussed the value of philosophy prior to her medical degree. She made the case for how studying with humanities degrees makes for better medical doctors. 

Historically, it is well known that philosophy students perform exceptionally well on several standardized tests, including GMATs for graduate school in management and business, LSATS for law school and GREs for graduate school.

As this 2023 article shows, philosophy matters to "Scientists, Businesspeople, Attorneys, Physicians, Clergy, Artists, Influencers, Activists, War Heroes, and Citizens of a Democracy." 

Most, if not all, disciplines have philosophical origins. 'Ph.D.' means 'Philosophy Doctorate,' so those who complete Ph.D.-level degrees in biology or art engage with philosophical aspects of their disciplines. This is why many philosophy courses (such as philosophy of biology, philosophy of art, philosophy of law, philosophy of religion, philosophy of medicine and others) complement several professional goals. They engage with theoretical foundations in an advanced manner. Many disciplines descend from the domain of philosophy, leading people like Isaac Newton to be classified as “natural philosophers” and leaving us with Ph.D. degrees today referring to those who are doctors (experts) in the philosophy of their respective fields. 

A large study in 2025 shows that students who are more intellectually rigorous tend to study philosophy, and that philosophy majors tend to outperform on tests of verbal and logical reasoning.

“I decided to pursue philosophy because I wanted to be confident that my education would be practical."
— Barnard, '25

Professional & Personal Benefits

  • Many students report that a philosophy major helps to distinguish them professionally when applying for careers. 
  • Philosophy helps you think clearly about big questions and understand different perspectives. You’ll build skills to make thoughtful decisions in your life and future career.