THE LIBERAL ARTS LEVERAGE
For any well-meaning parent unfamiliar with the benefits of a liberal arts education, one of the most disconcerting words that could come from their college-aged child’s mouth might be ¨I’ve decided to become an English major¨ or “I’ve decided to become a History major.” Often, the next question from parents is “What are you going to do with that?”
Parents who send their children off to college in the hopes that an undergraduate education will help fast track their child to a lucrative and successful professional career may balk at or worry over the prospect of their child declaring a humanities concentration, or any other liberal arts major. This is in large part due to the belief that a liberal arts education has no value, or if it does it is less clearly defined.
Let’s fill in those blanks.
I remember the common question I received when I told my family about my decision to declare a Sociology major with an Africana studies minor. The question was “well what are you going to do with that?¨ While my overall career plan was not very well fleshed out at the time, what I did know for sure was that I was in love with the subject content of these two disciplines and knew that the interest I had in my studies would propel me through my college journey, and hopefully land me in a career that I was equally passionate to pursue.
For those of you who are still hesitant about the benefits of a liberal arts education and a non-professional major, read on. Don’t give up on me yet:) I am going to uncover how a liberal arts degree can serve your child tremendously well during and after college:
Professional Success
One of the biggest critiques of a liberal arts degree is that it does not prepare students for professional life and it leaves students floundering in the job market with little knowledge and minimal skills for career success and livable income. While it is true that a degree in history or cultural studies may not have a distinct professional track like that of biology, neuroscience, engineering a post-graduate degree in law, a liberal arts education can without a doubt prepare students for a wide array of careers.
Studies have noted that liberal arts majors are likely to graduate from college with an average of 1 more year of professional experience than their peers who have more research-based, pre professional majors. This is due primarily to the fact that students in the liberal arts are engrossed in curriculums where the skills learned are transferable to organizations. Liberal arts students are typically studying subjects that require skillsets that are highly valued in a wide variety of industries, industries that are often seeking talented people to fill entry-level positions. A liberal arts background prepares students to uniquely contribute to these work experiences part time during the school year and throughout summer internships.
This increased professional exposure is also highly attractive and competitive on the post-grad job market. The widely transferable ¨soft skills¨ that are acquired is also a benefit of a liberal arts education. These skills include the ability to write and conduct scholarly research, think critically, be creative, efficiently solve problems, communicate well with others and in teams, and demonstrate global awareness are all useful in every career field; not to mention, these skills are increasingly becoming requirements for job seekers.
Well Rounded Learning Experience
While landing a great job after graduation is certainly a goal for college students, it is not the only important thing a student can glean from their collegiate education.
A liberal arts education affords students a fully well rounded learning experience which in turn can help them develop into well rounded individuals. A liberal arts degree means that students have explored a variety of different ideas – both abstract and conceptual – which have given them a clear understanding of not just the subject matter they gained mastery over, but also the wider world in general. The discussion based nature of many liberal arts classes allows students to share their opinions with their peers and professors, which helps students to develop both a greater sense of confidence as well as the ability to be open and receptive to ideas that are different from their own.
Perhaps most importantly, earning a liberal arts degree often means that a student has acquired a deep understanding of a subject that they are passionate about pursuing. While many undergraduate students who study science and business surely love their work, there is something uniquely intellectual about learning for the sake of learning. At the same time, students in the liberal arts and humanities often have such a vested interest in their field of study that they continue to seek out opportunities to learn more about their field, even after leaving college. This makes liberal arts students not just highly knowledgeable individuals but also very interesting dinner party guests as well!
Attending college is an extremely unique milestone. It is one of the few experiences where an individual can spend a substantial amount of time learning about a subject that resonates deep interest. While these four or five years should also be spent preparing for the future, it is also equally important that students live in the moment. An undergraduate education is an opportunity to explore a field of study that will bring your child happiness and a wider worldview–even if the subject matter is considered unconventional, it still has value. More on this later in part II of The Liberal Arts Leverage.
Keep in mind that certain pre-professional tracks are not majors in themselves. Students who are interested in medicine or law for example can be on a “pre-med” or “pre-law” track and still be a humanities/liberal arts major. Do quality research on the programs available at the school your child is interested in or already attending. Use that information to tailor an academic experience that suits your child’s interests, passions and needs.
Written by Tamar Davis