Is maths and philosophy just as employable as a maths degree?
I've been worried about this for some time now and I've already firmed Bristol for MSci Maths and philosophy but I am worried that maths and philosophy is less respected or employable than a standalone maths degree. I picked the Msci because afterwards I could still study at postgraduate level in astrophysics (hopefully). Do you have any suggestions?
Original post by Nat4695
One more thing, I’m pretty sure once you get on the course it is possible to switch from maths and philosophy to just maths if you really don’t like it
Employers don't care what you studied in most cases. I can't imagine any roles where specifically a maths degree would make a difference relative to a maths and philosophy degree. The roles where a specific degree is needed will usually be due to professional accreditation (e.g. engineering roles requiring an accredited engineering degree, healthcare professions etc). Roles which require a more specific background are usually less specific about how that is met, e.g. roles requiring a "numerate" degree would usually accept e.g. maths, CS, engineering, physics, etc, and their various joint honours courses. Unless the maths content was less than half the degree material I doubt there would be any issue.
Original post by artful_lounger
Employers don't care what you studied in most cases. I can't imagine any roles where specifically a maths degree would make a difference relative to a maths and philosophy degree. The roles where a specific degree is needed will usually be due to professional accreditation (e.g. engineering roles requiring an accredited engineering degree, healthcare professions etc). Roles which require a more specific background are usually less specific about how that is met, e.g. roles requiring a "numerate" degree would usually accept e.g. maths, CS, engineering, physics, etc, and their various joint honours courses. Unless the maths content was less than half the degree material I doubt there would be any issue.
Original post by chadiwick
The course is not accredited but the maths degree is, do you think no accreditation will have a significant impact on graduate prospects? If I studied a postgraduate degree would the lack of accreditation not matter? Thank you for replying to me I really needed advice from people who won't really sugarcoat it
Engineer is a profession which has professional accreditation. Same for doctors and nurses etc.
Doing whatever after a maths degree does not require any specific accreditation.
Original post by chadiwick
I've been worried about this for some time now and I've already firmed Bristol for MSci Maths and philosophy but I am worried that maths and philosophy is less respected or employable than a standalone maths degree. I picked the Msci because afterwards I could still study at postgraduate level in astrophysics (hopefully). Do you have any suggestions?
By doing a joint degree in subjects that do not overlap in the context of your future plans, ie astrophysics, which is not enhanced by the philosophy element, you are possibly making yourself less competitive. You need to make very sure that the maths modules you do are sufficient and relevant to astrophysics, because people who have done a full maths degree will likely have a broader maths baseline.
Employers wont care unless they have specialist maths or philosophy needs and you haven't done the modules (very unlikely).
Original post by chadiwick
I've been worried about this for some time now and I've already firmed Bristol for MSci Maths and philosophy but I am worried that maths and philosophy is less respected or employable than a standalone maths degree. I picked the Msci because afterwards I could still study at postgraduate level in astrophysics (hopefully). Do you have any suggestions?
I am currently in my third year of a maths and philosophy degree. Some of the people who started maths and philosophy have since dropped one subject and gone on to do maths or philosophy. This may be an option for you, but check with the university first.
On my degree, I do 60 credits of maths a year and 60 credits of philosophy.
If you do just maths, you will cover more mathematics than someone who does maths and philosophy. At University of Sheffield, you would twice as much maths. However, the modules I do still provide a strong foundation of the core maths topics and have allowed me to do specific modules in my third year that are not just pure maths.
Doing Philosophy adds lots of extra skills you don't necessarily get from a maths degree, such as essay writing, research, debating skills. Obviously this does depend on what modules you do and how they are assessed. By showing that you have these types of skills you may make yourself more employable, as you have a wide range of soft skills as well as numerical and logic skills.
It does depend on what you are applying for and what they are looking for though.
Have you considered emailing the university to ask, or discussing this with your school?
Hope this is helpful, let me know if you have more questions.
Lizzie (BSc Mathematics and Philosophy - University of Sheffield)
Original post by chadiwick
Thank you so much! I just wanted some confirmation that I made the right choice as philosophy when put with maths really interests me 🙂
So yes you can transfer to single honours maths, albeit with some restrictions. Because you will not be taking any Statistics/Probability on Year 1, you (Philo+Math) will not be allowed to take year 2/3 modules that have either as a prerequisite. Now, if you want to do Stats and Finance-related modules, I suggest that you ask for a transfer within the first two weeks of Year 1 (this is possible but not guaranteed) instead of transferring to Year 2.
Hth.
Original post by cashless
I started in Bristol with BSc Economics and Mathematics and after realising on Year 1 that Economics isn't my thing, I was given the option to transfer to single honours BSc Maths, with the condition that I pass all my year 1 modules and get a 60% in Real Analysis, so the only real hurdle there is getting a 2:1 mark in Analysis.
So yes you can transfer to single honours maths, albeit with some restrictions. Because you will not be taking any Statistics/Probability on Year 1, you (Philo+Math) will not be allowed to take year 2/3 modules that have either as a prerequisite. Now, if you want to do Stats and Finance-related modules, I suggest that you ask for a transfer within the first two weeks of Year 1 (this is possible but not guaranteed) instead of transferring to Year 2.
Hth.
So yes you can transfer to single honours maths, albeit with some restrictions. Because you will not be taking any Statistics/Probability on Year 1, you (Philo+Math) will not be allowed to take year 2/3 modules that have either as a prerequisite. Now, if you want to do Stats and Finance-related modules, I suggest that you ask for a transfer within the first two weeks of Year 1 (this is possible but not guaranteed) instead of transferring to Year 2.
Hth.
Original post by threeportdrift
You could 'still study at postgraduate level in astrophysics' with a BSc, in fact it would be easier and cheaper to do so.
By doing a joint degree in subjects that do not overlap in the context of your future plans, ie astrophysics, which is not enhanced by the philosophy element, you are possibly making yourself less competitive. You need to make very sure that the maths modules you do are sufficient and relevant to astrophysics, because people who have done a full maths degree will likely have a broader maths baseline.
Employers wont care unless they have specialist maths or philosophy needs and you haven't done the modules (very unlikely).
By doing a joint degree in subjects that do not overlap in the context of your future plans, ie astrophysics, which is not enhanced by the philosophy element, you are possibly making yourself less competitive. You need to make very sure that the maths modules you do are sufficient and relevant to astrophysics, because people who have done a full maths degree will likely have a broader maths baseline.
Employers wont care unless they have specialist maths or philosophy needs and you haven't done the modules (very unlikely).
Original post by chadiwick
Hi would you be able to explain what you mean by being able to do it with just a bsc? Would the integrated masters not benefit me at all?
(edited 1 month ago)
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- doing philosophy and theology- not sure where it leads
- non-'useless' degrees i can do from essay based subjects at a level?
- Is it difficult for graduates of university of St Andrews to find a job?
- I cant chose between philosophy BA or economics BSC
- PPE BA or BSc ??
- Politics and Economics at LSE vs pure Economics at Edinburgh
- Ucl program transfer
- Bristol vs. St. Andrews?
- a level maths, econ and cs
- ..
- Do NOT study Arts and Sciences (BASc)at UCL
- can't decide on uni course
- York PPE vs Durham Philosophy & Politics
- How hard is it to swap degrees from maths to maths and philospophy?
- Which A levels lead to the best jobs?
- Would this A Level combination be okay?
- Maths and Philosophy?
- What are alternatives for medicine
- Economics VS PPE
- Taking Philosophy A level alongside Maths, Further Maths & Compsci
Latest
Trending
Last reply 3 weeks ago
71 on the MAT, rejected for interview by both Oxford and Imperial.Trending
Last reply 3 weeks ago
71 on the MAT, rejected for interview by both Oxford and Imperial.
