John Palmer, undergraduate coordinator for UF's Department of Philosophy, said philosophy courses teach students to critically examine issues and write more clearly and persuasively - two skills that challenging jobs require.

Philosophy's growing popularity at UF is part of a nationwide trend.

Today, universities around the country offer 817 philosophy programs - up from 765 a decade ago, according to a New York Times report.

But there's more to philosophy than job preparation, Palmer said.

"Philosophy teaches you how to think," he said. "It's about thinking about fundamental questions that young people start to think about as they begin to shape their own lives."

This year, UF's philosophy department has 161 undergraduate philosophy majors and 62 minors - the most students the program has ever accommodated, Palmer said.

The program had 144 majors and 49 minors in 2005.

He said students often realize they want to major in philosophy after taking an introductory course on the subject.

"You're having a more quality experience than you have in a lot of other courses," he said. "They feel like they're coming out of these courses having really learned something."

Alexandrea Hitson, a philosophy senior, said she was originally an economics major but decided to double major after taking an introductory philosophy class.

"It was so interesting," Hitson said. "I loved it."

She said the most valuable lesson she's taken from the philosophy program is the importance of argument.

"Everything can be debated," she said. "There's not a sure answer for everything."

Andrew Goodwin, a philosophy senior, said he thinks students have migrated to philosophy because they're unhappy with the direction the country is going, in light of the recent economic downturn and war in Iraq.

"I think it's the exposure to a different way of looking at pretty much anything in the world," Goodwin said. "It makes you question that which you take for granted."

Joe Licata, president of UF's Undergraduate Philosophy Society, said an increased student interest in philosophy is also evident in the club.

About 50 people attend the philosophy group's meetings regularly, a two-fold increase from last year, Licata said.

"A lot of people go into philosophy not knowing what they're going to get out of it," he said.

But once they realize they enjoy it, they spread the word, and more people join.

"I think people find that philosophy helps them in pretty much every skill you can learn," he said. "Anything that you want to do, as out-there as being a cook or anything else, you have a greater appreciation for the details about whatever it is that you're doing."