What can you do with a Philosophy degree from University of California, Berkeley?

First, some facts. Of the Philosophy graduates from University of California, Berkeley 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 14 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 59%, Philosophy graduates from University of California, Berkeley have a lower likelihood (-8%) 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.

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Also, after graduating, 57% 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 graduate.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Philosophy degree from University of California, Berkeley?
• What do Philosophy graduates from University of California, Berkeley do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Philosophy degree from University of California, Berkeley? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Philosophy degree from University of California, Berkeley?
• What are the best colleges for Philosophy?

View a random Philosophy graduate from University of California, Berkeley and our analysis:

Relevance score: 57% We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2020 from University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Founder + Executive Vice President The Latinx Student Association Jul 2020 - Aug 2020 As the Founder and Executive Vice President at The Latinx Student Association, this position may leverage some philosophical insights related to ethics and advocacy but does not directly require knowledge from a philosophy degree. Campaign Manager Bill Rawlings for Diamond Bar City Council Aug 2020 - Dec 2020 As Campaign Manager for Bill Rawlings, the job utilizes critical thinking, ethics, and persuasion, core elements of communication and ethics studied in philosophy, making it directly relevant. Campaign Manager Jim Gallagher for Chino Hills City Council Aug 2020 - Dec 2020 Similarly, as Campaign Manager for Jim Gallagher, the position requires substantial application of critical thinking and ethical considerations in political strategy, aligning well with a philosophy background. Senior Staff Assistant Alex Padilla for U.S. Senate Jul 2021 - Aug 2022 The role of Senior Staff Assistant for Alex Padilla involves navigating complex political issues, requiring analytical skills and ethical reasoning derived from philosophy, thus making it very relevant. Deputy Political Director Alex Padilla for U.S. Senate Aug 2022 - Jan 2023 As Deputy Political Director for the same senator, the job necessitates high-level critical thinking and ethical analysis in political contexts, making it directly connected to the philosophical training. Co-Owner URSA Local Strategies LLC Jul 2022 - Present Co-owning URSA Local Strategies LLC may involve strategic thinking that could be informed by philosophical principles, but it does not centrally rely on philosophy knowledge as core qualifications. PACER California School Boards Association Apr 2023 - Present The PACER position at the California School Boards Association likely involves more administrative and organizational skills rather than philosophical analysis, making it irrelevant to the philosophy degree. ABOUT I am a dedicated political professional with 5 years of experience in campaign management and office operations. Passionate about equity, under the law, and public policy. Striving to uplift underserved communities.

What jobs can you get with a Philosophy degree from University of California, Berkeley?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Co-Owner
• Campaign Manager
• Adjunct Professor
• Psychiatry Resident
• Legal Assistant
• Summer Associate
• Legal Intern
• Legal Fellow
• Assistant Public Defender
• Afterschool Program Leader

When looking at the jobs held by Philosophy graduates from UC Berkeley, it seems like there’s a mixed bag of roles, some of which definitely tie back to their studies, while others feel like they could be filled by pretty much anyone. A lot of them have ventured into fields like education, law, and political consulting, where critical thinking, ethics, and strong communication skills are key. Jobs such as legislative assistants, legal interns, and academic positions in philosophy illustrate how the training in analytical reasoning and persuasive argument can be directly applied in the real world. Whatever the specific role, these positions all demand a level of critical thinking that definitely resonates with a Philosophy background.

On the flip side, many graduates also took on jobs that seem less connected to Philosophy, such as retail management, bartending, or even working in warehouses. In these cases, the day-to-day tasks don't necessarily call upon philosophical expertise; skills from a Philosophy degree may not play much of a role. So, while there are a bunch of awesome opportunities that capitalize on what they learned, there are also plenty of cases where folks end up in jobs that could have been done by anyone, regardless of their academic background. Overall, it's cool to see a blend of roles that either leverage their philosophical skills or just use some of the general competencies gained during their studies.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Philosophy graduates (this is across all Philosophy graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Berkeley):

What kind of career trajectories do Philosophy graduates from University of California, Berkeley have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

The career trajectories of Philosophy graduates from UC Berkeley show a pretty diverse path. Right after graduation, many of them land jobs that seem to stray from their philosophical foundations. For example, roles like bartending, working in retail, or even teaching and tutoring at schools pop up, which might not directly relate to what they studied. However, there are also some who dive straight into fields where they can utilize their critical thinking skills, such as in consulting or as legislative assistants. It seems like many start with more general roles, likely to pay the bills while they figure out their next steps and explore their options.

Fast forward five to ten years down the road, and a noticeable shift starts to happen. A good number of these grads end up in more specialized fields, often gravitating towards law, healthcare, and education. We've got folks transitioning into roles like attorneys or public defenders, which really shows how a background in philosophy can help in understanding complex legal concepts. Others take their critical thinking skills to non-profit sectors or academia, even becoming adjunct professors. While the initial return on investment of their degree might seem shaky with those first jobs, it looks like those who stick it out often find a way to turn their philosophy background into something impactful and relevant later on. It’s definitely a mixed bag, but overall, it seems like the persistence pays off in varied and meaningful careers for many graduates!

How hard is a Philosophy degree from University of California, Berkeley?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy at UC Berkeley is pretty challenging, but it also has its rewarding moments. Philosophy deals with some heavy concepts like ethics, metaphysics, and logical reasoning that can really push you to think critically and question your assumptions. The coursework often involves a lot of reading dense texts and writing essays that require deep analysis, which can be tough for some. It’s a bit more demanding than an average degree since discussions can get pretty intense and you’re expected to engage with complex ideas regularly. But if you enjoy diving into thought-provoking topics and can handle the workload, it can be a very fulfilling experience!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Philosophy.

Do Philosophy graduates from University of California, Berkeley tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Philosophy grads from UC Berkeley, it seems their financial situations really vary. Some of them have taken on roles that likely pay decently, like working at Google or becoming a Project Manager at CBS, which probably nets a solid income. On the flip side, others started off with more lower-paying gigs like bartending or working as an afterschool program leader, which don't typically bring in the big bucks. In the medical and legal fields, we see some with good prospects, like the Psychiatry Resident and those moving into law, which can definitely lead to higher earnings later on. So, overall, while some seem to be on track to make decent money, others are probably still grinding it out or just starting to climb up the financial ladder. It’s a mixed bag, for sure!

What buzzwords do Philosophy graduates use to describe themselves?

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 (this is across all Philosophy graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Berkeley). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Philosophy?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Philosophy (ordered by the average relevance score of their Philosophy graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
University of California, Berkeley	59	14