In Support of a Liberal Arts Education

I so often hear my friends saying things like, "I told my son to get a degree in business; I want him to be able to support himself after college!" or "She's majoring in German; I don't know how she'll ever get a job!"
I, on the other hand, encourage my children to study liberal arts in college. I believe the liberal arts education prepares a person for a career in any field, and prepares him or her so well that he or she will advance more quickly than a student who has studied only one narrow field in college. A liberal arts degree, composed of courses in foreign language, literature, science, history, geography, anthropology/sociology, economics, the arts and math, teaches the student HOW TO LEARN, TO THINK AND TO COMMUNICATE. Those skills translate to any job or profession!

Reading literature (fiction)gives people perspective, empathy and understanding of others whose life experience may be dramatically different in many ways than the reader's. Writing essays teaches basic writing skills, including word choice/vocabulary, proper grammer, spelling and punctuation, and organization of thoughts and ideas. Learning a foreign language reinforces these skills and adds knowledge of other cultures. Knowledge of history permits one to understand more thoroughly the impact and meaning of current events: How did this happen? Has it ever happened before? Why? How was it handled? What was the result? What lessons can be learned? How significant is this event? How can we evaluate a person's ideas if we have nothing to compare them to? How can we find solutions if we don't know the causes of problems?

Who would argue that science helps anyone better understand how the world works, cause and effect, measurement, investigation, evaluation, resourcefulness, documentation, and statistics, among other things. Most adults don't use math beyond multiplication and division on a daily basis, but understanding logic, linear thinking, spacial perception, abstract relationships and quantification enhances one's life experience and global understanding in ways too many to describe.

In most liberal arts classes, the work consists of a great deal of reading, writing, and discussing ideas. Creativity is fostered. Giving birth to an insight or idea is immensely satisfying and having the ability to express one's self, verbally and in writing, and to communicate one's knowledge and ideas is essential to effectiveness in any chosen career. Liberal arts students get plenty of practice coming up with creative ideas and insights, presenting them, and defending them; with such repetition comes capability and confidence.

In my opinion, a business degree is the equivalent of trade school. It's simply not a broad education. I hope my children will become truly well-educated in college, and then pursue their careers or vocational training in graduate school.