EIU Department of Philosophy

Transformation

Transition times can be very difficult for students. What should I major in? What in the world will I do with a Philosophy degree? Philosophy at EIU loves to answer these questions! Major in something practical! Major in Philosophy! Critical thinking skills, problem-solving, organizational ability, and effective oral and written communication are important for professional success and signal the hallmarks of transferable skills offered by a Philosophy degree. Above, we concentrated on the achievements of those who chose to major in Philosophy. Below we see that Philosophy majors at EIU have wonderful success at transitioning to the next step on their journey:

• EIU Philosophy Department graduates achieved 100% placement in 2012-2013. Graduates were placed in programs in law, library and information science, and religious studies.

• All 2012-2013 EIU Philosophy Department graduates who applied to law schools were accepted and placed with some level of funding.

• Philosophy 2012-2013 graduates were accepted into law programs at University of Minnesota Law School (ranked 19th in the country), College of Law University of Wisconsin-Madison, Southern Illinois University School of Law, Carbondale, and DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois.

• One 2012-2013 EIU Philosophy Department graduate was accepted into University of Illinois Library and Information Science graduate program. The next semester she received an ALA (American Library Association) Spectrum Scholarship which not only waived her tuition, but paid a stipend as well. She was also one of six students selected as a 2013 Sylvia Murphy Williams Scholar. (All were recipients of the ALA Spectrum Scholarship)

• Philosophy graduates were not only successful in being placed in programs, but the variety of programs is significant: Law, Library and Information Science, and Religious Studies. Oddly, this past year we had no one transitioning to a graduate program in philosophy, but we certainly have in other years! In fact, Dr. Andrea Veltman, a 1998 EIU Philosophy graduate and currently Associate Professor of Philosophy at James Madison University, was chosen as the inaugural speaker for the 2010 Humanities Series on Meaningful Work.

• One 2012-2013 EIU Philosophy Department graduate and Religious Studies Minor was accepted into the Religious Studies graduate program in the department of Religious Studies at the University of Missouri, Columbia with a full tuition-waiver and assistantship.