First, some facts. Of the Philosophy And Religious Studies graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 51 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 46%, Philosophy And Religious Studies graduates have a substantially lower likelihood (-21%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 45% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Philosophy And Religious Studies graduate.
See the details:
Relevance score: 47%We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2011 from Doane University with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy And Religious Studies. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONIndependent ContractorTemp Agency Jan 2011 - Feb 2012 Sales Associate Tandy Leather Factory Feb 2012 - Mar 2012 Leave Specialist Reed Group Jul 2013 - Aug 2015 Front Desk Staff Pediatric Hospital Aug 2015 - Sep 2016 Office Manager Global Co-working Jul 2018 - Jun 2020 Administrative Assistant The Good Foundation Oct 2016 - Present Administrative Assistant Global Refuge International Oct 2016 - Present ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
Looking at the diverse job paths taken by individuals with degrees in Philosophy and Religious Studies, it’s quite interesting to see a mixture of roles that range from very relevant to completely unrelated jobs. A significant number of graduates have found their way into roles in operations, management, and customer service, such as store managers, account executives, and various positions in human resources. Although these roles may not require the specific knowledge inherent to Philosophy and Religious Studies, they often call for skills developed during the degree, like critical thinking and ethical reasoning. This suggests that while the jobs might not seem directly aligned with their studies, the softer skills gained through their education can still be quite transferable and applicable in various work environments.
On the other hand, there are several roles that strategically utilize their backgrounds in Philosopy and Religious Studies. Examples include positions like Chaplain, Pastoral Intern, and Lecturer, which heavily rely on understanding philosophical and theological concepts. Such roles often provide opportunities for individuals to apply their academic backgrounds in meaningful ways, allowing them to engage with others on issues of morality, ethics, and spirituality. This is in stark contrast to the numerous positions in logistics or retail management where philosophical knowledge may not find much relevance at all. Overall, while it appears that many Philosophy and Religious Studies graduates find themselves in roles that do not require their specific degree knowledge, those who do pursue relevant positions often lead fulfilling careers that align closely with their educational foundations.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Philosophy And Religious Studies graduates:
When looking at the career trajectories of people who studied Philosophy and Religious Studies, it becomes pretty clear that there’s a lot of variation in what they end up doing after graduation. For many of these graduates, especially in the early years right out of college, the first jobs tend to be in roles that may not seem directly related to their field of study. For example, various graduates took on positions in operations, education, or even clinical research. These initial roles often mark a transition phase where graduates are still figuring out how to leverage their philosophical and religious studies background in a practical way in the job market.
After five or ten years, however, we start to see a more diverse mix of career paths. Some of these graduates have made significant strides in their fields, especially in academia, education, or roles that involve some level of ethics or public service, like chaplaincy or policy research. Others have gone on to become successful in management or specialized roles in sectors like healthcare, law, or nonprofit work. However, it’s also apparent that a considerable number have taken jobs unrelated to their degree—think retail, administrative roles, or even positions entirely outside the realm of philosophy and religious studies. This suggests that while the degree provides valuable skills, the job market can necessitate a more adaptable approach, leading to those seemingly unrelated jobs.
Overall, it's honest to say that the career landscape for Philosophy and Religious Studies graduates shows both successful applications of their education and a fair number of graduates struggling in less relevant careers. The degree clearly has potential for fulfilling careers, especially in roles that value critical thinking and ethical reasoning, but many may find themselves in jobs that don’t utilize their training as they anticipated. It’s a mixed bag: while some shine in niches they create for themselves, others drift into roles that feel a world away from the deep thoughts they engaged with throughout their studies.
A Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies can be a mixed bag when it comes to difficulty—it really depends on your interests and strengths. If you love diving deep into complex ideas, analyzing texts, and having mind-bending discussions about existence, morality, and belief systems, you might find it pretty engaging and manageable. But if you’re not into heavy reading, abstract thinking, or writing analytical papers, it could feel a bit challenging. Overall, it’s not necessarily harder or easier than average; it just requires a different mindset and a passion for exploring big questions. If you come in with an open mind and curiosity, you might find it rewarding and not as tough as some other degrees out there!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Philosophy And Religious Studies.
Looking at the job paths of these Philosophy and Religious Studies graduates, it seems that several of them have landed roles that could potentially be lucrative, especially those in healthcare, management, and technical fields. For example, the graduate from Colgate University moved from clinical research to a registered nurse role, a position that generally offers decent pay. Similarly, the graduate from California State University-Dominguez Hills has climbed the ranks in finance and automotive sales, which can also be quite rewarding. However, some others, like the graduates who took on more entry-level or non-profit roles, seem to be in positions that might not pay as well. Their earnings could vary widely, but there's a chance they might be making less than they could in more lucrative fields.
Overall, it looks like a mixed bag. While some grads are experiencing upward mobility in solid-paying jobs, others may find themselves in less financially rewarding positions. If you're aiming for a higher salary after college, you'll want to strategically target fields that offer better compensation and consider gaining experience in those areas through internships or networking. It's all about aligning your degree with the right career opportunities!
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Philosophy And Religious Studies. This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Philosophy And Religious Studies (ordered by the average relevance score of their Philosophy And Religious Studies graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates: