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Philosophy instructor education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a philosophy instructor. Philosophy instructors usually study philosophy, political science, or psychology. 42% of philosophy instructors hold a bachelor's degree, and 39% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 204 real philosophy instructor resumes to see exactly what philosophy instructor education sections show.
The most common colleges for philosophy instructors are the Liberty University and the Liberty University.
There are also many online philosophy instructor courses to help get the education required to be a philosophy instructor.
What education do you need to become a philosophy instructor?
What degree do you need to be a philosophy instructor?
- Bachelor's, 42%
- Master's, 39%
- Doctorate, 15%
- Associate, 4%
What should I major in to become a philosophy instructor?
- Philosophy, 49%
- Psychology, 4%
- Theology, 3%
- Other Majors, 38%
Most common colleges for philosophy instructors
| Philosophy instructor common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Liberty University | 7.89% |
| University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | 5.26% |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | 5.26% |
| Boston University | 5.26% |
| Duquesne University | 5.26% |
Best majors for philosophy instructors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philosophy | 48.6% |
| 2 | Political Science | 5.6% |
| 3 | Psychology | 4.2% |
| 4 | Theology | 3.5% |
| 5 | History | 3.5% |
Best colleges for philosophy instructors
The best colleges for philosophy instructors are Yale University, Duke University, and Emory University.
A philosophy instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for philosophy instructors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become philosophy instructors.
1. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
2. Emory University
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,306
Enrollment
6,975
3. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$53,430
Enrollment
5,963
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
5. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$53,391
Enrollment
8,568
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
7. Columbia International University
Columbia, SC • Private
In-state tuition
$23,690
Enrollment
526
8. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
10. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
20 best online courses for philosophy instructors
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1. Philosophy and the Sciences: Introduction to the Philosophy of Physical Sciences
What is the origin of our universe? What are dark matter and dark energy? This is the first part of the course 'Philosophy and the Sciences', dedicated to Philosophy of the Physical Sciences. Scientific research across the physical sciences has raised pressing questions for philosophers. The goal of this course is to introduce you to some of the main areas and topics at the key juncture between philosophy and the physical sciences. Each week we will introduce you to some of these important...
2. Philosophy, Science and Religion: Religion and Science
Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of others? Or, are they complementary or mutually supportive? As is typical of questions of such magnitude, the devil is in the details. For example, it is important to work out what is really distinctive...
3. Introduction to Moral Philosophy
Ethics! Normative, applied and meta...
4. Artificial Intelligence Ethics Certification
Understand the foundation of your moral code and how it can guide you through the most influential industry of our time...
5. Ancient Philosophy: Plato & His Predecessors
What is philosophy? How does it differ from science, religion, and other modes of human discourse? This course traces the origins of philosophy in the Western tradition in the thinkers of Ancient Greece. We begin with the Presocratic natural philosophers who were active in Ionia in the 6th century BCE and are also credited with being the first scientists. Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximines made bold proposals about the ultimate constituents of reality, while Heraclitus insisted that there is...
6. Introduction to Korean Philosophy and Culture
This course will give you the cultural and historical background to begin your journey into Korean philosophy, and there is no prerequisite knowledge on philosophy required. Anybody who either has an interest in Korean culture, maybe through K-Dramas or K-pop, or an interest in philosophy from a cross-cultural perspective, are all welcome. Despite the growing interest in Korean culture, there are few courses which explore the fascinating topic of Korean philosophy. On this course, you’ll be...
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8. Complete Ethical Hacking & Cyber Security Masterclass Course
In this complete ethical hacking & cyber security master class course you will learn ethical hacking from scratch...
9. Ancient Philosophy: Aristotle and His Successors
What is philosophy? How does it differ from science, religion, and other modes of human discourse? This course traces the origins of philosophy in the Western tradition in the thinkers of Ancient Greece. We begin with the Presocratic natural philosophers who were active in Ionia in the 6th century BCE and are also credited with being the first scientists. Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximines made bold proposals about the ultimate constituents of reality, while Heraclitus insisted that there is...
10. Question Reality! Science, philosophy, a search for meaning
How much can we know of the physical world? Can we know everything? Or are there fundamental limits to how much we can explain? If there are limits, to what extent can we explain the nature of physical reality? RealityX investigates the limits of knowledge and what we can and cannot know of the world and ourselves.\n\nWe will trace the evolution of ideas about the nature of reality in philosophy and the natural sciences through the ages. Starting with the philosophers of Ancient Greece and...
11. Full Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing Course Ethical
Ethical Hacking, Penetration testing, Web hacking, Bug bounty, Metasploit, Security, more to be certified ethical hacker...
12. Full Ethical Hacking Course
Learn all about ethical hacking and penetration testing...
13. Teach English Now! Lesson Design and Assessment
Learners will be introduced to designing lesson plans based on principles and knowledge of learning objectives, assessment plans, methods, materials, and learning activities. Learners will find and prepare appropriate teaching materials through careful analysis, adaptation and creation of professional resources. Learners will also reflect on the cohesion between lesson design and teaching philosophies...
14. Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
This course deals with the problems created, aggravated or transformed by AI. It is intended to give students a chance to reflect on the ethical, social, and cultural impact of AI by focusing on the issues faced by and brought about by professionals in AI but also by citizens, institutions and societies. The course addresses these topics by means of case studies and examples analyzed in the light of the main ethical frameworks...
15. The Complete Ethical Hacking Course
Protect yourself from hackers & cyberattacks. Learn penetration testing + build security and coding tools with Python...
16. Microsoft Excel Logic Theory and If Functions (Intermediate)
Learn the beauty of Logic Functions so that Excel does the hard work of sorting your data for you!...
17. Ethical Leadership
Welcome to the Specialization in Ethical Leadership! Over the course of a few months, we aim to help you understand how to “Grow the Good in Business” through leadership centered in personal integrity, conviction, and values. Corporate culture is often criticized for valuing short-term gains over long-term growth and concern for others. At Notre Dame, our approach integrates ethical, social, and environmental issues into traditional business courses. Our aim is to equip you with...
18. LEARN ETHICAL HACKING AND PENETRATION TESTING 5 COURSES PACK
5 Courses pack to Make You Expertise in Ethical Hacking from basics to advanced levels of Web & mobile apps pen-testing...
19. Hacking in Practice: Intensive Ethical Hacking MEGA Course
2022 Edition! Practical Ethical Hacking Techniques. The most intensive ethical hacking course. Over 27+ HOURS OF VIDEO...
20. The Complete Ethical Hacking Course: Beginner to Advanced!
Learn how to do ethical hacking, penetration testing, web testing, and wifi hacking using kali linux!...
Top 10 most affordable universities for philosophy instructors
The most affordable schools for philosophy instructors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, hunter college of the city university of new york, and luther rice college and seminary.
If the best universities for philosophy instructors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for philosophy instructors.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
3. Luther Rice College and Seminary
Lithonia, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,616
Cost of attendance
8,720
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
6. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
7. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
8. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
9. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
10. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for philosophy instructors
The hardest universities for philosophy instructors to get into are Yale University, Duke University, and Emory University.
Some great schools for philosophy instructors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for philosophy instructors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
2. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
3. Emory University
Atlanta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,449
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
6. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
Admissions rate
18%
SAT average
1,502
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
9. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
10. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for philosophy instructors
The easiest schools for philosophy instructors to get into are Wayland Baptist University, nyack college, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a philosophy instructor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for philosophy instructors.
1. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
2. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
5. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
6. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
7. Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA • Private
Admissions rate
95%
SAT average
980
8. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
9. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
10. Rochester University
Rochester Hills, MI • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,002
Average philosophy instructor salary by education level
| Philosophy instructor education level | Philosophy instructor salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $66,254 |
| Doctorate Degree | $85,993 |
Philosophy instructor education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025