What Do I Do With A Philosophy Degree?
Ruminating upon what I will do with the degree from a course I chose, not because I knew what it entails, but simply because of how pleasant the name sounded in my ears, I decided to ask people who have been in the same situation long before me about their conclusions on what their philosophy degrees and knowledge would earn them outside the four walls of UI. All I got was;
Me: What do you intend doing with your Philosophy degree after school?
Senior A: I don't know, but actually "I can work anywhere."
Me: What do you want to be in the real world professionally, having studied Philosophy?
Senior B: I will get back to you later. (3 eternities later, senior B is still thinking)
Upon getting into the university, many students just like me are faced with these same ordeal of "What is next after I am done with Philosophy? What do I become in the real world?" without sufficient answers both from the internet and on-site. It becomes more painful when you are engaged in a discussion as;
Aunty Catherine: So Tomi, you said you are in UI, what course are you studying?
Tomi: I'm studying Philosophy ma
Aunty Catherine: What is that? What are they using it for? What will you become with that?
Tomi: (Goes blank for a while, then begins a metaphysically touching story about philosophy that Aunty Catherine cannot logically relate to, and does not in any way appeal to her epistemological reasoning of how Tomi will spend 4 years in the university studying a course that cannot make her a professional in any field.)
Most students in philosophy department today are victims of law and other departments' high cut off marks. Hence, they did not see themselves being students of philosophy. It is important not to dwell on your regrets about not making the cut offs of your desired course of study, but ask yourself the question; "So, how can I make meaning out of Philosophy now that I have found myself in it?"
After much research, and in regards to professionalism, it becomes obvious that Philosophy is a means to an end. It is the foundation upon which any profession or career can be built. For instance, beginning a career in Journalism with a mass communication degree is fine, but building the journalism career on a philosophical foundation is what makes you the best of the rest. Philosophy is the foundation, while Journalism (or any other profession) is the house you build on that foundation. This is so because, Philosophy provides you with the reasoning skills you need to reason strategically outside the box - which is one of the most sought after skills in every professional field.
How Do I Begin?
You have started with the foundation already, which is studying philosophy. How then do you build the house(your desired profession or career)? The answer is quite simple.
· Enrolling for professional courses and exams in your desired professional field is all you need to get absorbed into that field. While doing this, you get to understand the intricacies of the discipline. Coupling this learning and exams with the certification, resilience, hard work and patience will help you achieve great feats in that professional pursuit. You can enroll for these professional courses(ICAN, NIPR, ACCA, APCON and so on) while studying philosophy as an undergraduate. Otherwise, you can finish up with philosophy and get a second degree in that field or course of your choice while giving it a better shot than the first.
· Well, if you find lecturing appealing as a career or wish to continue the cycle of teaching students who will go to the internet just like you did, and keep asking the innocent search engine what they can do in Nigeria with a Philosophy degree, then Philosophy is just the best for you.
· In addition to this, if you can cope in the military sphere here in Nigeria, then the Nigerian Army is just the best place for you to use your Philosophy degree to work as a chaplain (if you find this fulfilling enough) and begin a career in the military.
· Best of all, if you have the opportunity of furthering your studies and even working overseas, then you are good to go.
Any of these 'ifs' could work for you. But graduating with a Philosophy degree without a plan of what to do after you leave school is the best way to plunge yourself into premium suffering and unemployment.
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