Liberal education

A liberal education includes a study of several disciplines and exposes students to a wide base of knowledge. Students are required to take a number of courses that are unrelated to the student's major. Courses related to the major are studied at a more in-depth level that the other required courses. A liberal education produces well-rounded students. Critics of liberal arts, however, note that employment rates of recent graduates are often far lower than those of individuals who receive technical and job-specific training.

Background

A liberal education includes studies of the creative arts, history, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences and develops and enhances a student's ability to think. A liberal education focuses on critical thinking. This type of thinking enables students to question and to recognize biases, emotional appeals, and logical fallacies. Students enrolled in liberal education courses learn how to conduct proper research and identify credible sources. They are taught how to find information as well as how to properly use it.

Multiple framing is another important component of a liberal education. Multiple framing means to view an issue from several perspectives. This helps students see the world through the eyes of others and aids them in becoming open-minded to the experiences of many people. Understanding others' perspectives encourages the student to be tolerant and sensitive to the plights and struggles of others. Nineteenth century philosopher John Stuart Mill regarded multiple framing as many-sidedness, which he saw as the core principal of a liberal education.

A liberal education also includes self-exploration. Students question their identity, their place in the world, and what they want from and for the world. Through courses such as philosophy, students discuss and question concepts including morality, virtue, and ethics.

Overview

Liberal education fell out of favor in the twenty-first century, in particular following the recession of 2008, which severely affected the job market and economy. More people have begun to develop and hone specific skills needed in the workplace, and often view degrees in the liberal arts as less marketable.

Fewer students have been studying and attaining bachelor's degrees in the liberal arts. In the United States, more than half of American college students took part in two-year degree programs, according to a 2011 – 2012 study. Most of the 48 percent of students enrolled in four-year programs studied health and business-related fields. Only a third of those finishing bachelor's degree programs received a degree in a liberal arts field. This is in stark contrast to 1970, when 50 percent of students who achieved four-year degrees earned their degrees in the liberal arts.

Legislators in several states, including Texas and North Carolina, have discussed defunding public colleges and universities with liberal arts programs, possibly by basing funding decisions on post-graduate employment figures rather than on how many students are enrolled in the schools. Wisconsin has also discussed cutting funding for any degree program that will not directly result in a job in a related field after graduation.

Career-focused programs require less time and money than a liberal arts education. In many cases, students do not even need to take loans or seek financial assistance. Some of these career-focused programs can be completed in less than a year. While liberal arts programs include a variety of subjects, career programs are narrow. They train students in one specialized field, which is why they are far less time consuming. Graduates of these career-focused programs usually find a job more quickly.

Many people spend years repaying student loans after they receive their diplomas. Some question whether the cost of a liberal education is worthwhile. A 2011 study found that half of Americans younger than twenty-five with bachelor's degrees were unemployed or underemployed, meaning they were working in a job that did not require their level of education, such as food service jobs.

Proponents of liberal education argue that it enables students to listen to and understand views with which they do not agree, as it encourages students to be open-minded. Studies of history and other disciplines empower students to question instead of being manipulated. These students are given the tools, such as the studies of ethics, they need to become well-informed citizens who will use knowledge and research to make wise and good decisions. They understand how political and economic structures affect them. These students have taken history courses, regardless of their major course of study. History studies allow students to understand events of the past and the political climates that caused them.

A liberal education is helpful to those who attend law school or enroll in graduate degree programs. The liberal arts are useful in fields such as law, journalism, and education. Liberal arts degree holders are positioned to adapt more quickly to changing employment conditions and a variety of fields. Writing, for example, is a skill that is necessary and valuable in many industries and positions. Entrepreneurs may find a liberal education helps them view problems, and find solutions, through a variety of perspectives.

Though many liberal arts graduates earn less in entry-level positions than those with other types of education, they are usually earning more within ten to twenty years. Technical skills often require retraining, as some forms of technology become obsolete. This retraining can cost more money. Ever-evolving technology is constantly changing the job market, as well as the skills needed to fill available positions. However, liberal education endows a student with a variety of skills that will be useful throughout the student's lifetime.

Critical thinking, literacy skills, and problem-solving, all of which are parts of liberal education, are valued in every line of employment. Communication, both written and oral, is another important part of a liberal education that is also required for many jobs. Because of communication skills, these students will often have well-written résumés, which can attract prospective employers. Graduates' jobs may change, as people rarely remain in one place of employment or even in the same line of work throughout their lives. Their interdisciplinary knowledge will give them value in a variety of fields and enable them to work in many jobs.

Many students with liberal arts degrees also better enjoy their leisure time. Because of their education, they often have a deeper appreciation of art, music, and literature. They understand historical references in films and books that others may not.

Bibliography

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