Philosophy Major Opens Many Doors

Philosophy Degree Gives Graduates Skills Organizations Value 

When Michael Binck ’20 applied for an internship at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) he checked all the boxes you’d expect from a good candidate — and one that you wouldn’t expect. Like others, he was well prepared, well dressed, fully engaged and confident. But in a sea of business majors, one thing stood out about Binck: his philosophy major.

“As part of my thesis, I’m arguing for the ethical use of artificial intelligence in business,” said Binck, whose second major is accounting. “My interest in this topic helped my supervisors see that I’d be able to tackle the company’s work from a different angle than other candidates could.”

The Shelton, Connecticut, resident says he hopes to find work as a technology advisor at a firm like PwC after graduating from Stonehill. And he fully expects to draw on both his majors.

“I want to help companies decide how to implement various technologies,” he said. “As part of this work, I have to be able to craft solid arguments and distill complex information into something digestible. I’ve learned how to do that as a philosophy student. The underlying skills this major teaches are priceless.”

A New Way of Thinking

Through curricula that explore the history and principles of philosophy, students are prepared for careers or graduate study in virtually any field — from business and law to education and social service. Stonehill’s philosophy program seeks to help students examine the human experience, while also teaching them how to write persuasively, devise creative solutions to complex problems, and process information critically and objectively.

“We aren’t just teaching students content, but also a way of thinking. The broad skills they learn are flexible enough to be employed in many different domains,” said Professor Brendan O’Sullivan, philosophy department chair.

Fostering Leadership and Advocacy

As a result, graduates of the program have found employment in prominent organizations that include Boston Children’s Hospital, Liberty Mutual and the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General. They have also been accepted to a number of highly competitive graduate programs at institutions such as Boston College, Boston University and University of Connecticut.

Nicholas Sangiovanni ’18 is a perfect example. He double-majored in philosophy and English at Stonehill and is now a second-year student at Boston University School of Law.