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Philosophy
alumni explore career options
By Joe Licavoli
On-line Forty-Niner
Growing up, Erin
Noonan had always known that she wanted to go into law. But,
she never knew which major would be best to pursue the career
until she became a philosophy major.
Currently, Noonan
works as a research attorney at the Los Angeles Superior Court
in Norwalk. With a career in law she has incorporated the
skills of argumentation and critical thinking, she said.
"Generally, I think
the training in logic and critical thinking helps to form
and make arguments," Noonan said. "A lot of time attorneys
will argue the best position of their client which is not
always a winning position. The logic and argument lends itself
to law."
Noonan received
her bachelor's degree in philosophy from Cal State Long Beach
in 1995. She has fond memories of her time at CSULB, especially
the helpfulness of instructors as she was applying to law
school.
"The staff helped
me write letters of recommendation and they were very supportive,"
Noonan said.
Noonan obtained
her jurisdictional from Whittier College School of Law and
was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1998.
While attending
college, Noonan was working as a waitress and going to school.
When she graduated in May of 1995 she wasted no time enrolling
that fall in law school.
"When I was working
and going to school I just wanted to get school done," Noonan
said. "I have known a lot of people who take one or two classes
a semester and take a semester off which shows a lack of focus
and dedication. In law school there were only a few people
that had not been in school for a while."
Much like Noonan,
other philosophy alumni take the knowledge they gained and
adapt it in other areas of interest.
Philosophy department
professor and Chairwoman Julie Van Camp attributes the success
of alumni in the field of law to the skill of argumentation,
which is fostered in philosophy classes.
"Philosophy is
a good solid liberal arts education," Van Camp said. "Half
of CEOs are from a liberal arts education. Alumni go into
a lot of different fields and do well."
Outside of the
legal profession, many graduates of the philosophy department
become professors in the field, some of whom lecture at CSULB.
Thomas Keith, presently
a philosophy lecturer at CSULB, was bestowed with the Golden
Apple Award from the CSULB Alumni Association, according to
the philosophy department Web site. Keith graduated with a
bachelor's degree from CSULB in 1993 and received his doctorate
in philosophy from Claremont University in 2000.
In addition, Phildon
Huffaker, who received his master's degree in philosophy in
2000, is currently a lecturer in philosophy at CSULB and Long
Beach City College, according to the philosophy department
Web site.
The department
has also seen many of its alumni further their education after
earning a bachelor's degree at CSULB, which is needed to become
a professor, Van Camp said.
"We have a thriving
M.A. program and lot of students want to stay in the area,"
Van Camp said. "If someone wants to teach philosophy they
must have a M.A."
A degree in philosophy
can take a graduate into many different fields and in the
case of Erin Noonan it helped her to pursue her dream of going
into law.
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