My parents are Indian (well, that makes me Indian too, of course, but I was raised in the States). All cultural signs point to India. My dad was an engineer. He is very mathy and analytical. He’s always been insanely smart, though I didn’t recognize it until I was in my 30s. I grew up in a family where grades, school, and education were emphasized. My brother and I always did well and enjoyed things like the gifted program and Junior Great Books. I come from a family of readers, and other than me, everyone is mathy. My poor dad and brother just couldn’t understand why I was a clod with numbers. Nonetheless, no pressure. We excelled in school just because we knew we could and should. Learning, sparking creativity, and igniting curiosity were guiding values in my house. My dad wanted us to grow up be thinkers.
The best advice he ever gave me was to study liberal arts in college. “Don’t choose a profession when you’re just 18. You will find a major based on what you are good at and what you love. Take a variety of classes and see what makes you want to learn more. Take classes in subjects you didn’t know existed. Just get a liberal arts degree.” so said the lifelong engineer.
I won’t bore you with the list of courses I took in college at the University of Virginia. Suffice it to say I did a lot of writing, even more reading, and not a lot of test taking. Julian Bond, a founder of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and all around fixture in the civil rights movement, was my professor when I took History of the Civil Rights Movement (I ended up majoring in History.). Can you even imagine learning about this turning point in U.S. history from a key player of the times? Riveting. All these years later the experience sticks with me. Yet Pat McCrory, North Carolina’s new governor, believes that a class like mine is not worth funding at a state university because it doesn’t directly correlate to a getting a job.
Apparently Pat McCrory does not believe THINKING is a job-related skill.
Is McCrory’s vision of education one that is riddled with bubble-filling-in robotrons who answer C when in doubt and are incapable of original thought?
In my first real job after college I worked for a fortune 100 company. I took my history degree and got myself a job in, wait for it, finance. This was 1991, people. The economy had tanked, and jobs were scarce. Even in the thick competition, I got hired. Lest you think there was foul play or favors exchanged, you’d be wrong. I didn’t even know a soul in the city I had moved to for work. I worked with a cadre of finance and econ majors who chided me. Never mind that we were doing the same job, I could just read and write about it. In fact, when it came time to write a training manual about things like alternative minimum tax, sole proprietorships, and estate planning, whom do you think they tapped? Moi. Yup, that liberal arts degree even afforded me the opportunity to take French…and German…and Latin.
Are you still with me?
I have a liberal arts degree and have never been unemployed.
I worked in finance, advertising, marketing, and communications.
I am a writer.
I have had my own marketing consulting business for almost 10 years.
Join me in telling Governor Pat McCrory that liberal arts degrees are vital to our economy, not to mention our society. Liberal arts majors land higher paying jobs with greater growth potential than trade jobs. Liberal arts majors have a career, not a job. The subtle paradigm difference is important here. Liberal arts majors, with their great growth and income potential, contribute more in taxes to provide revenue to the state. McCrory is short-sighted and irresponsible in his take on higher education (something we should get used to, my friends). And if he wants to dismantle the public higher education system in the same manner Art Pope wants to dismantle public education, we’ll be spending the fruits of our 529 plan in another state.
We can never falter if we nurture a generation of thinkers. It is, after all, the thinkers who become the doers.
I think it’s the “liberal” in liberal arts that perhaps has McCrory reeling.
Leave a comment telling me your liberal arts major and what your career is. We’re going to share the whole thread with the governor’s office. #liberalarts
English literature major here (although literature major would be more accurate) with a nice side of history. I have worked in athletic departments, as a receptionist for a vet, as a teller and in management training at a bank, as a store manager, as a regional assistant for a major box store, as a photographer. My major gave me a strong foundation in interpreting information and being able to visualize multiple possibilities.
Unfortunately the number of liberal arts colleges is decreasing in favor of specific training. I don’t want my children to feel locked into a career by the time they are 19 or 20, but it seems that is the current trend.
I (Barbara Garlock) majored in psychology and became a health law attorney.
My husband (Deo Garlock) majored in psychology and is an executive at MindLinc, which provides medical record software for psychiatric care and clinical research.
Of course liberal arts are valuable!!! It’s amazing to me that there is any question about this.
I graduated from a small, east coast liberal arts college (THE Wesleyan University) with a BA in Psychology and Sociology. At that time, most of my peers, also graduating in liberal arts were going on to law or med school directly from undergrad. I entered the work world instead, landing a job with a Fortune 100 company as a systems engineer–supporting large telecom companies pre-and post sales. The interview for the job included not only multiple conversations with sales managers, but a 3-hour aptitude test (had I known that, I would not have had my dad wait in his car for me). The sales manager told me that their best hires (this was before computer science was a major) were psychology and music majors because of their honed people skills! Fancy that!
Bottom line, I was hired and had a successful career, then went on to earn my MBA from that school on the Charles River, work 10 more years for a large hi-tech company, and ultimately run my own telecom business for the next 20 years.
My 3 daughters have all attended or are in college, and I have encouraged them to take a breadth of courses that will serve them well in problem-solving, communications skills, research and collaboration. So far, so good–each of them are successful in their own right.
Yes, exactly! What Ilina said!
I earned a dual BA from an Ivy league school in psychology and education. After teaching for eight years, I transitioned into corporate America where I later obtained an MBA and rose to senior executive VP positions in finance, breaking the glass ceiling as a first-hired woman into the executive suite. I managed hundreds of employees and was responsible for a billion dollars in revenue. Our most successful employees had strong communication skills. The details of our business could be trained but strong writing and speaking skills were essential ingredients. Having a strong liberal arts background enabled me to communicate effectively with a wide range of people from highly educated technical individuals to the window washer, as well as with our international affiliates. I believe my liberal arts butt would be considered quite successful by any standard.
And incidentally I am also very proud of my women’s study niece who was recently accepted into a prestigious medical school with a full ride plus a $22,000 a year teaching assistant stipend while she completes her studies in public health administration. Who knows, Governor McCrory, someday she may be running the State of North Carolina’s health administration ?
My experience was the opposite of the experience that Ilina had, I tried to learn things that were targeted towards a particular job and failed miserably. I ended up leaving school in my 3rd year, never to finish despite multiple attempts to restart that in later years. I regret _not_ going for a liberal arts degree, I would most likely have one.
The thing that should have gotten my attention, but didn’t was a lot like Ilina’s history class. I got to take “US Labor History” with a professor who had been a Union organizer in the days when people were killed trying to do it, he went on to a second career that was dual, Professor at Harvard and NLRB meditator. That one class still stands out as my very favorite learning experience.
My wife and I chose Raleigh to move to in large part because of the great universities in the area, they bring great things even if you don’t attend. Dismantling the core of that system that has a wide variety of learning going on would be a shame, and would make NC a less vital place.
I have a psychology degree from UNC. I also went to law school and now practice law in Raleigh. Without my liberal arts education, I would have never developed the analytic and communication skills necessary to practice law successfully. Anyone who does not understand the value of a liberal arts degree is not paying attention. Look at all the business leaders, professionals, religious leaders and political leaders who all studied liberal arts in undergrad. Where would they be without the skills they learned as part of their liberal arts education?
I hold a BA in English. I hold an MA in English. Building these degrees included plenty of studies pertaining to women and feminism. O my! I have a law degree, a natural next step after an English degree. I have worked as a college instructor, a governmental relations director, a campaign manager, and as an intellectuall property attorney and associate adjunct law professor. I work with entrepreneurs each and every day on branding.
And, most importantly, my education helped me to be a good and creative parent.
I was not a liberal arts major, but the courses that still influence my work in the sciences were Philosophy and Rhetoric. Thank goodness for the humanities.
BA in English Literature (with a minor in creative writing-poetry) and an MA in Renaissance Drama (emphasis Shakespeare) have been: a marketing and volunteer coordinator at a non-profit visual arts association, an adjunct faculty member teaching English composition, an advocate for family engagement in education, a writer and contributing editor for a nationally recognized website, a volunteer for the United Nations Foundation Shot@Life program, and a group leader for RESULTS (working on poverty awareness and elimination), and was recognized by the White House as a Champion of Change (one of just over 500 Americans to be recognized). I have a liberal arts education and I continue to contribute to my society and make a difference every day.
It’s not the degree behind your name that determines your life’s path, it’s what burns in your soul that determines your destiny.
I have a BS degree from Emerson College in Communications, and a law degree. I started college as a creative writing major, and remember taking classes in art history, visual arts, philosophy and public speaking. I would not trade my educational experience for anything and what it reinforced was that I was put on this earth to make our world a better place and to serve my community. I have dedicated my legal career to working for indigent and disadvantaged populations, and making sure their rights are protected. I can’t wait until our son is able to experience the same thing and be surrounded by a diverse community who wants to think, absorb and learn. Shame on McCrory and his ass backwards rhetoric.
I have an undergraduate degree in speech, drama, & a minor in English (education major, but numbers of students used speech (now called Communications) to work in all kinds of fields. Many go on to law school, marketing, public relations, the list is endless. I went on to get a masters degrees in school administration, communication, & reading ed. Now a dissertation away from a doctorate in Ed Leadership. I just concluded a 29 year career as a teacher (speech, English, drama, reading) and school administrator (over 20 yrs — all 3 levels–elem, middle, high school).
I have used everything I studied and especially the liberal arts!
I have a liberal arts degree. And I have job. I’ve always had a job. A liberal arts degree hasn’t prevented me from pursuing or getting a job. In fact, it’s made me highly marketable. But perhaps more importantly, it’s made me a better person and citizen. My liberal arts degree broadened my understanding and appreciation of other people and cultures, world history, U.S. history, other religions and philosophies, racial injustice, geological and geographical wonders, social mores, current and ancient diseases, great literature, abstract reasoning and thinking, communication skills, political theories and insights, macro and microeconomics, and even theatrical production skills.
Because of my liberal arts background, I can think for myself whether or not an idea deserves merit or the trash heap. Because of my liberal arts background, I can think independently and know when somebody is trying to influence me with disinformation or vacuous hyperbole. Because of my liberal arts background, I can generate 100 new, creative ideas — one of which may be the next Big Idea that might generate thousands of high-paying jobs in North Carolina and beyond. And because of my liberal arts degree, I can clearly articulate what I think, believe, feel and say.
The world will always need plumbers, electricians, ironworkers and engineers. But it’s creative thinkers that often solve problems large and small, and one place (but not the only place) is to find them in the hallowed halls of liberal arts.
Great post. My degree is a Bachelor of Arts from UNC from the Radio, Television, and Motion Picture Department which is now part of Journalism, and doesn’t exist. I agree that liberal arts provides so much.
Leigh
My bachelor of arts degree is in English. And like Ilina, I’m a writer — a SKILL I honed and developed through my course studies. I have worked in the nonprofit sector, as well as finance, real estate, utilities, and education. Gov. McCrory, critical thinking is already being stripped away from the K-12 curriculum; don’t make the same mistake at the college level.
I have to confess: my degree is in Accounting (U. of South Florida, College of Business Administration), so I should stay out of this conversation. But I took as many non-business electives as I could squeeze into my schedule during my college years, including English, music, history, and world geography, to compensate. The business degree was training; the electives are education, and they’re NOT necessarily synonymous. Great post, Ilina!
I’m one of those “unemployable” liberal arts majors, too, from a public university, no less (NCSU class of ’98, BA in English.) Like you, Ilina, I went straight from college into the Finance industry. I spent 10 successful years working for two different Fortune 500 companies in various capacities, including time as a Finance Analyst (pretty technical stuff for a liberal arts major, eh?)
How in the world did I manage that with a sorry old English degree? I succeeded in that role and many others because my liberal arts degree taught me to be flexible, open to learning, and incredibly inquisitive- in other words, the critical thinking and problem solving skills that are often missing in our current curriculums due to the focus on standardized testing.
I learned those skills studying many different disciplines, not just one or two technical subjects. Those skills enabled me to become very comfortable with the challenge of learning new information. The ability to take on a completely new subject with enthusiasm won me the respect of my peers and bosses and helped me climb the corporate ladder. It was a great background for my current role as a homeschooling parent. It will also be invaluable as I tackle a new role as an entrepreneur this year. And *that’s* what I learned from my liberal arts degree.
Thank you for this excellent post, Ilina!
I have a liberal arts degree and two Masters degrees both in the liberal arts–a communications degree and a divinity degree. I am now a speaker, writer and minister. It is a high quality of life and services others as well.
I have an English degree from UNC-CH. I copyedit the marketing materials for a large software company. It doesn’t matter how great the software is if nobody buys it. I agree whole heartedly that STEM jobs are vital for the future. However, there have to be someone who can write to tell the story of that software, that cell phone, that vaccine, etc, so people will buy it and will know how to use it.
Also, there two classes outside of my major that stuck with me for 25+ years: Philosophical Issues in Feminism and History of Judiasm. Each made me view my world differently. I would have never taken these classes had they not filled two of my requirements for my BA. Did they get me a job? No. Am I better off for having taken them? You bet.
I was a Political Science Major at a famous liberal arts university. I’m pretty darn successful. I took everything from Religious History of South Africa to the life and mind of George F Kennan to Econ to Bio. After college, when I needed it, I took accounting. In grad school, I learned statistics, economics and management. But the critical thinking skills I learned in undergrad have been my best friend in work and life. To me, it’s less important what you study than HOW you learn and study. Life without curiosity is dull and unrewarding- but a society without curiosity, history, enquiry, and yes, even knowledge of semiotics- is regressive and won’t make us into the country we need to be!
My undergraduate degree is in Spanish. I have worked in mental health and juvenile corrections. I am now a freelance writer. It is my graduate degree in Student Affairs that has taught me the value of higher education in general. It teaches critical thinking, leadership and interpersonal skills. A college degree also aids in identity development. No degree is ever wasted. Any amount of higher education in any subject area is beneficial and increases a person’s employability.
Degree in English from UNC-CH cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, ballet dancer – sounds like a complete waste, correct?
No! MBA next. Long time career in fundraising for Duke and UNC-CH. Now public speaker, consultant, published author, popular blogger in fundraising sphere, having a ball.
My undergraduate liberal arts degree gave me the right start that I needed.
Got my history MA and PhD from UNC-CH. Since then I’ve been a teacher, writer and museum curator. Over the years, I’ve been regularly recruited for jobs around the state and around the country. I’ve tried to use my skills to help North Carolinians understand each other and their different histories, to overcome the challenges of the past and build a better future. Of course, that has included some hard-nosed analytical critiques of our state’s past and present, as well as of some of the more problematic “solutions” that current leaders have proposed to deal with present-day challenges (such as the expanding madness of high-stakes testing). I suspect some folks don’t care for liberal arts because they don’t like the hard truths that are exposed by the analytical skills liberal arts majors learn.
I majored in English, minored in Women’s Studies, and I took a wide range of liberal arts and science classes in college. The courses I took were rigorous and challenging. Before I graduated from law school, I had secured a job at one of the top law firms in the country. In addition to practicing law for many years, I have worked for the federal and state government. I now run a non-profit organization. My liberal arts education prepared me to tackle problems creatively, to write effectively, and to analyze complex problems. Students who secure admission to one of NC’s colleges or universities should be able to decide for themselves their course of study.
A degree in Media Production from UNC Chapel Hill served me well as I have gone from Sierra Club fundraiser to Director of Digital Media for a national sports startup to the Director of Engagement at a promising, thriving firm here in Raleigh.
The following quote is worth noting:
“It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough—it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that makes our heart sing…” – Steve Jobs
I was a music major at a liberal arts college. I have a MA in ethnomusicology. I have worked in the non-profit sector for my whole life, and I have never been unemployed.
I have an undergraduate degree in American Studies and a graduate degree in Liberal Studies. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked, “What are you going to do with that degree?” The question comes from people like Pat McCrory who don’t understand the value of a liberal arts education. The problem now is that Pat McCrory seems to think “getting a job and contributing to the economy and to society” isn’t the answer to the question.
Since graduating with that American Studies degree in 1994 (where I also took many courses covering the Civil Rights Movement and Southern History) I’ve worked almost continually in many roles including financial analysis, project management, technical support management, director of an IT department, and in my current role directing all strategic operations for a large department at a major university.
I mentioned that I worked almost continually since 1994. There were a few months after the dot-com bubble burst where I was unemployed after layoffs hit many Triangle companies hard. But I was able to recover quickly, finding a job within a few months, when many others could not. When I did find a new job, it wasn’t because of my technical skills – thousands of people in my same situation had those – it was because of what I learned as a liberal arts major.
My liberal arts education taught me how to synthesize data from various sources in ways that people with only a technical education may overlook. It’s this ability to analyze issues, to gather multiple viewpoints, and to find new solutions to problems that makes me, and other liberal arts graduates, valuable to the economy. In fact, I have hired many people for technical roles in IT support and application development. All of my successful hires had backgrounds where they were exposed to diverse experiences and thought. In many cases this was gained through study towards degrees in English, Music, Interactive Media, Women’s Studies, and Biology. These are not educational experiences normally associated with the technical roles these people held, but these are the people understand that the people who will the technology they support and create is more important than the technology itself.
Without the ability to fully understand the issues, to think of new solutions, and to create opportunities where none previously existed we won’t succeed in our individual professional careers, we won’t fully contribute to local or national economic success, and we certainly won’t contribute to a society that seeks justice and equality for everyone. A liberal arts education gives us the ability to do just these things and so much more. So don’t ask me what I’m going to do with my liberal arts education, ask me what I’m going to do next.
I have BA and DDS degrees from UNC and now have a thriving dental practice in Raleigh. In my undergraduate years I learned to think, write and see the world in shades of gray. In dental school I acquired specialized skills. There is no question that both degrees were equally important to my success in running a business and being a good practitioner.
I was a neuroscience and behavior major at a liberal arts college. It was hard work, I spent a lot of time in labs but my career has taken me into careers that involved business, customer service, marketing, writing, and tech. (Specifically, college admission/higher ed and now I am a community manager at a social media company.) I was taught how to read correctly, write well, speak in public, argue my point and problem solve — all at a liberal arts college. And I was taught that I don’t fit into one category (science only) but that I am marketable in many ways, thanks to my extraordinary liberal arts foundation. My education was not linear and neither am I.
I have a bachelor’s in English literature and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Duke. I have always been gainfully employed. I have worked in publishing, public relations, and public health. I currently have an interesting and challenging job as a health program coordinator for a nonprofit. I am forever grateful for my liberal arts degrees. They have taught me how to think critically, to read and write persuasively and well, to conduct research, speak in public, to ask questions and seek creative solutions to problems. A liberal arts degree offers so much more than just the narrow “career preparation” that so many degrees offer today. It helps you to become an independent thinker – so necessary in this world. I will encourage my children to pursue degrees that are not narrowly focused on a career, if they so desire. I am saddened when I see a college degree marketed only as something to get you a job. It can and should be so much more.
I have liberal arts degree and am an Attorney
BA in Philosophy/Poly Sci. Best thing to teach critical thinking decision making skills. Had many different jobs. My skills are in high demand. Became an Attorney and work as General Counsel for a national Title Insurance Company
I got a journalism degree with a double major in U.S. history. While I suppose journalism technically isn’t a liberal arts degree, the journalism track at UNC was heavy on liberal arts courses.
I got a job three days after graduation, and I have been employed for 17 years.
While my journalism classes at UNC were stellar, the ironic thing is that many of the specific job skills I learned in those professional courses are now obsolete. However, much of what I learned in liberal arts classes will never be obsolete.
Great post! I graduated from Meredith in 1999 with a degree in English, and I work in IT as a web developer. It turns out that programming languages have grammar, syntax and rules just like spoken language; for someone who understands language, programming is a natural fit! My former boss hired me because he has a history degree and understands the value of a liberal arts education. He knew that I could teach myself what I needed to know to do my job; the writing, communication, and critical thinking skills that come with a liberal arts degree would be much more difficult to teach someone who didn’t have them. I’ve worked at NC State for 13 years and have held a variety of positions in my organization. I do a little marketing. I started our social media initiatives and write on our blog. I lead project teams and mine data. In short, my liberal arts degree has given me a nimble brain that has allowed me to do so much.
I’m not knocking engineering, computer science or other, more specialized degrees, but it’s so frustrating that a liberal arts education is so misunderstood. I have seen SO many studies and articles lamenting that employers can’t find employees with critical thinking and writing skills, skills they need desperately, skills that the liberal arts degree develops.
I would ask Gov. McCrory this: Let’s say you do revamp university metrics on how many “butts” find jobs. What’s your plan to ensure those “butts” have jobs to get? No amount of education can get you a job if there is no job out there.
I agree 100% with your post. I was also appalled by the governor’s comments. With my son going to college the year after next, this is particularly concerning to me.
I also have a liberal arts degree, and it’s served me well. When you are trained for a job and that job goes away or becomes obsolete, what do you have?
We have been taught to think, adapt, research, study, and teach ourselves what we need to know in whatever situation we’re in. I’ve also been in the non-profit and corporate worlds, and now I am working from home. I am confident that I can teach myself anything I need to learn.
College opened up a new world to me, and I’ve been continually learning ever since. I want the same for my son, not a university system where the only classes are “job training” classes. I can’t even imagine such a thing. College is where you hear new ideas and explore subjects you didn’t even know you were interested in. It saddens me that anyone thinks of it as a place to go for job training alone. I am going to start ranting–better stop, but thanks for the post and the comments are wonderful. I’d love the governor to read them!
Great post, Ilina. Higher ed North Carolina–style caught my attention back in the early 1980s, when I came up from Atlanta to attend summer school at Duke TIP at ages 12 and 13. My top choices for college, from then on, were UNC-CH and Duke, and I ended up at Duke (always my dream school).
My liberal arts degrees (two B.A.’s, in English and French, and a master’s in, yes, liberal arts!) scored me a chief editorial position with a magazine publisher. Because I’d learned to absorb and work with vast amouts of information at once, I moved up quickly and helped a small NC business grow and employ more and more people. Eventually I was the launch editor for a new magazine that’s brought in millions of dollars in profits and employed scores of North Carolinians with professional salaries and benefits. If that’s not “job training,” Gov. McCrory, I’d be interested in knowing what is.
My husband and I want our daughters to receive the same kind of wide-reaching, thoughtful education. (“Educate” has the Latin roots “to lead out of,” meaning you’re taught to absorb, analyze, and come to your own conclusions and applications…but, then, you wouldn’t get Latin roots in training programs, would you?) If they can do so in North Carolina, that’s great. If not, they’ll go out of state, and end up with careers that benefit other states.
We’re educating our future right now, and the liberal arts must part of a strong future.
I majored at English at Duke University. I have worked as a journalist, a grant writer, CEO of my own small company, and now a director of marketing and communications. I agree that anyone pursuing a liberal arts degree should think about on-the-job experience (in my case, it was working at the college newspaper, which helped me get my first job out of college). Unfortunately, industries (like newspapers) come and go. What CEOs want to see is individuals who can problem-solve, who can analyze and synthesize information, who can communicate well, and who can learn on the job. A liberal arts degree can help a person do all those things.
I should add that law schools are churning out law grads all over the country who can’t find jobs. There is a glut of lawyers. Should we close all the state-sponsored law schools?
I got a BS in Design. I’ve worked as an intern architect, a photography studio assistant, and in print production for an ad agency.
I have a liberal arts degree from UNC — majors in History (Medieval Studies) and Geography. I have worked in publishing/sales for years and now work for a software company in the publishing space.
I have both with degrees in History and Geology. My geology degree was largely useless when I graduated. My Liberal Arts education has been essential in my 30 year career as an antiques and art dealer and appraiser.
How can one engage in the world, understand what’s going on in the news or better yet, understand the political stuff that is shared by politicians running for office. Talk about an uninformed public!!!
Does the Governor really want to educate automatons and not thinkers? Just think, oh whoops can’t do that, we would be in the position to challenge ideas, create new ones or think creatively to solve problems that don’t require an engineering degree.
I agree with the blogger’s dad that an 18 year old really isn’t equipped to ascertain what he or she ‘thinks’ (there goes that word) he or she wants to do for the next 50 years. Some are capable off making the right call and others aren’t.
I love the education that my parents paid for both out of pocket and through their tax dollars. While no education curriculum is perfect, we need choices and not a single serve entree that is supposed to serve everyone.
Liberal Arts major hear and proud of it – double major actually. Dramatic Arts and Communication Studies. Drama helped me find my voice, my courage. My MBA helped me hone my analytical side. Without the first I would have never had the courage to get my MBA.
There’s an article at Inside Higher Ed that’s worth reading – http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2013/02/04/college-leaders-need-reframe-discussion-value-essay
Here’s the relevant point, “employers are much less interested in undergraduate major than they are in oral and written communication skills, critical thinking and analytical reasoning, the ability to analyze and solve complex problems, quantitative literacy, the ability to collaborate and to work in diverse groups, the capacity for ethical decision making and for creativity and innovation.”
That’s what liberal arts education gives us.
I am proud of my liberal arts degree and it has helped me go through many changes in my career and I have always been able to support myself and my children because my degree gave me a broad based education that made me flexible in searching for employment. I was a biology major who worked in the health field and I ended up with a successful marketing career in tech companies. It is disgraceful to say that people don’t need a liberal arts degree. One problem with some political leaders is that they have not sense of history – they need to study history to help us face the future.
Really? Liberal arts not important to getting a job?? As someone with a B.A. in Psychology and an M.S. in Child Development, I can proudly say I have never been unemployed since graduating (over 30 years ago). I earned my first “real” job simply because a master’s degree was required and, although I had little experience, I was hired because of the degree. I was and remain eternally grateful for that chance and believe I brought much to the position and all other positions I have had because of those broad college experiences. As an employer of staff, I know that I looked for a liberal arts education in potential employees. Those employees typically had good critical thinking skills, the ability to see the big picture and a depth and breadth that others did not. I agree college is not for everyone but college is one of those best opportunities we have to be in a rich learning environment that challenges us and exposes us to many different fields of study, types of people and attitudes. Really, Mr. McCrory?
I guess this is a sincere major article berth.Thanks Again. Real Major.
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Thanks for the Article. I going back to school, for a liberal arts degree. I do not care what it is labeled, I am excited because the courses needed for this degree are actual things that I am interested in. Our world is getting more and more depleted with thinkers. This contributes to societies issues today. People are not thinking. They are putting themselves into a box with one trade, closing the lid. It is my perception that if Liberal Arts were named anything else it would get more respect. We are people and this world is made up with people, without being able to hold a conversation with others on areas and opinions more than five minutes growth becomes impossible.
Thank you for the article, I am going to be graduating next year with a liberal arts degree and recently been freaked out by the amount of negative articles online about liberal arts majors
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Thank you for this, Ilina. Your engineer father is indeed wise.