What is Philosophy?

Philosophy is a liberal arts program that will improve your writing skills and sharpen your analytical abilities. It will also enable you to reason, think logically, and explore morality and ethics. Philosophy degree holders teach at the collegiate level, publish articles in scholarly journals, present findings at academic conferences, write book reviews, and serve as editors, journalists, and speech writers.

What do Philosophy degree holders do in the Army?

Some Philosophy degree holders teach at USMA, while others teach at the Army War College and at the Command and General Staff College. Philosophy degree holders have also served as speech writers for General officers and in agencies such as the Center for the Army Profession and Ethic. Perhaps most importantly, a degree in Philosophy will hone those critical thinking and oral and written communications skills that are so vital to Army officers, regardless of the command or staff billet in which they serve.

What kinds of Master's Degrees predominate in the field?

• Master of Arts in Philosophy

What kinds of professionals study in typical Philosophy programs?

Typically, students enrolled in Master's programs in Philosophy aspire to teach philosophy, logic, and ethics at the collegiate level.

Where should I apply?

Ask yourself the following as you consider prospective programs:

• Do my GRE scores (you'll need to take that exam) and undergraduate transcripts make me competitive? Can I get into this school?
• Do I think that I can complete the degree requirements in the time allotted by the Army?
• Does this program specialize in an area of study that interests me?
• Where is the school located? Is this location advantageous for my family and for me?
• How will this degree (and the quality of the program to which I am applying) best serve me going forward?

What are the top programs for Army officers?

According to national rankings, the top Philosophy programs are NYU, Rutgers, Princeton, Pitt, and Michigan. The key, however, is to find the program that is right for you. Top Philosophy Programs: see http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/overall.asp

What are some of the schools from which Army officers currently on active duty earned Master's degrees in Philosophy?

• Connecticut
• Georgetown
• Georgia State
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• St Louis
• SUNY Buffalo
• Texas
• Texas A&M
• Tufts
• Virginia
• Virginia Tech

Researching Potential Schools A wealth of information regarding graduate institutions is available online. Click on any of the icons below for more information: