Take Whats Said About Liberal Arts Majors With a Grain of Salt

What Is a Liberal Arts College?

Written past Coursera • Updated on Apr 8, 2022

Liberal arts colleges differ from larger public universities and private institutions in a number of means.

A liberal arts higher is a four-year undergraduate establishment that takes a broader approach to education past focusing on the arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Instead of preparing students for a specific career, such as concern or computer science, a liberal arts curriculum encourages them to develop an appreciation for many subjects and do their critical thinking skills. As such, students can pursue many careers after graduating.

In this article, nosotros'll explore more than nigh liberal arts colleges, the types of subjects you can expect to study, and what yous can do with a liberal arts degree.

Liberal arts colleges

Liberal arts colleges base of operations their curriculum on some of the earliest education principles, which are meant to produce students capable of thinking critically most the globe effectually them. Kickoff used in the fourteenth century, "liberales artes" referred to the type of didactics available for gratuitous individuals at the time. It primarily involved subjects that stimulated the mind, like arithmetic, geometry, grammar, logic, and rhetoric.

These days, liberal arts degrees are designed to prepare students to solve problems, think critically, communicate well, and collaborate with others. Liberal arts colleges differ from larger public universities and private institutions. Some common characteristics include:

• Small size: Most liberal arts colleges have less than 5,000 students in omnipresence at any given time.

• Classroom interaction: Thank you to the reduced pupil population, classes tend to be smaller in order to foster open up discussion and spirited student-teacher interaction.

• Focus on undergraduates: Larger universities offer undergraduate and graduate degrees, but liberal arts colleges focus solely on undergraduate degrees.

• On-campus community: At that place are fewer part-time students and students who commute at liberal arts colleges. Instead, students tend to be full-time and live on campus.

• Emphasis on didactics: Unlike other institutions, where professors are expected to focus on inquiry and may teach a limited number of classes each semester, professors at liberal arts colleges focus on teaching first and research second.

What is a liberal arts degree?

When you nourish a four-year college or university to obtain your Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Available of Science (BS) caste, yous will spend at to the lowest degree the showtime 2 years working through general education requirements that are steeped in the liberal arts tradition. At first, yous will take a wide variety of classes unrelated to your major and then that you develop your critical faculties. From there, you will likely declare a major and begin working through that specific coursework.

When y'all attend a liberal arts college, there's a greater emphasis on the connections betwixt the different subjects yous written report. You will all the same declare a major, but even as you move into that coursework, y'all will continue focusing on your education in a way that ideally fosters your intellectual curiosity. You will likely graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Learn more: How to Get a Bachelor's Degree

Pop liberal arts majors

As with whatsoever bachelor'due south degree program, you lot volition cull a major for your liberal arts degree, simply you will as well be exposed to an array of other subjects—like the creative arts, history, literature, math, philosophy, psychology, science, and folklore—and then that you develop a more well-rounded instruction.

Several pop liberal arts degrees include a focus on:

• American studies

• Biology

• Creative writing

• History

• Philosophy

• Psychology

• Sociology

What can I do with a liberal arts degree?

With a liberal arts degree, you lot can develop a number of valuable workplace skills, like adaptability, communication, arrangement, time management, problem-solving, and teamwork. Unlike a major which prepares you to enter a specific career rails (call back marketing or data science), yous tin can explore many options with your liberal arts degree, using the broader skills you've adult to perform different types of piece of work.

Hither are simply a few types of work you tin explore with a liberal arts degree.

Public service

A small-scale campus with a sense of customs encourages liberal arts students to connect with others. It's not surprising, and so, that many liberal arts graduates opt for careers in public service. Areas of public service include social services, affairs, politics, and public policy.

Business organization

With splendid problem-solving skills and an ability to think critically, liberal arts graduates often seek jobs in business. Some potential career fields include business relationship management, customer relations, marketing, and sales.

Education

A liberal arts caste is meant to foster a love of noesis and learning, which is why some liberal arts graduates enjoy sharing that passion with others.

Writing

With skills in reading, writing, research, and advice, liberal arts graduates brand adept copywriters, content writers, editors, and journalists.

Entry-level jobs for liberal arts majors

To get a improve feel for what you lot can do with a liberal arts major, here are a few entry-level jobs and the liberal arts majors that may help y'all land them.

• Business acquaintance: economic science, psychology, sociology

• Events planner: communications, psychology, sociology

• Museum technician: fine art history, classics, history, languages

• HR coordinator: psychology, sociology, communications

• Political reporter: American studies, history, political scientific discipline

• Marketing specialist: communications, creative writing, psychology

• Public relations specialist: communications, sociology

Should I attend a liberal arts college?

Your conclusion to nourish a liberal arts higher will likely depend on what kind of teaching you're seeking and what kind of career you hope to have.

Reasons why a liberal arts higher might be best for y'all

Fourth dimension to explore: A liberal arts college makes a great option if you have a general idea of what y'all want to study but oasis't decided yet. Because this blazon of education exposes y'all to a broad base of subjects, you might gain a ameliorate understanding of potential career paths.

Foster connections: This type of higher as well works well if y'all enjoy getting to know your boyfriend classmates and professors. On-campus living and modest class size encourage a tight-knit college community.

Develop a wide array of skills: A liberal arts college isn't actually designed for students who want to pursue one specific outcome after graduation. Thanks to the accent on an interdisciplinary focus and general noesis, y'all tin utilise your well-rounded options to explore a number of paths.

Reasons why some other higher ed setting might be best for you

Technical fields: A liberal arts college may not be the best option if you're prepare on a technical field. You might non acquire specific skills with this type of curriculum nor proceeds whatever easily-on experience like you might in a vocational school or professional plan.

Big lecture classes: If you enjoy the feeling of anonymity that big classes can produce, yous may be ameliorate off going to a four-year public university or a private university. During your first  2 years, especially, many of your full general ed classes may involve larger class settings.

Flexible scheduling or self-paced options: Because of the minor class size and emphasis on in-person learning, you may notice less flexibility or self-paced options when information technology comes to taking classes than you might from an online degree program.

Fraternities and sororities: If yous're interested in joining a fraternity or sorority, y'all may not find them at many liberal arts colleges, though there are many other student groups available to join.

Examples of liberal arts colleges

If you're interested in a liberal arts higher, yous can notice them spread across the US. Here are a few examples of some of the top liberal arts colleges in the land:

• Amherst College (Amherst, Massachusetts)

• Carleton Higher (Northfield, Minnesota)

• Dartmouth College (Hanover, New Hampshire)

• Middlebury College (Middlebury, Vermont)

• Morehouse Higher (Atlanta, Georgia)

• Pomona College (Claremont, California)

• Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, Pennsylvania)

• U.s.a. Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland)

Want to learn more near a liberal arts educational activity? You can take costless classes from Morehouse College and Dartmouth Higher on Coursera. Explore topics like Activism in Sports Culture and Energy Justice.

How to employ to a liberal arts college

The steps involved in applying to a liberal arts college are similar to those involved in applying to nearly 4-year schools. You volition likely need to:

• Take a college archway exam like the Act or Sat.

• Complete your college application.

• Write your required personal statement.

• Assemble the necessary letters of recommendation.

• Request and submit your high school transcripts.

• Attach your payment to application packages.

• Submit all of your materials before the deadline (found on each college's website).

Learn more: Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for College

What to know before applying to a liberal arts higher

Liberal arts colleges oft accept a second wait at well-rounded applicants. To diversify your interests in high schoolhouse, participate in a sport or join a club. Explore the arts by taking a grade in painting, sculpture, drama, or dance, or bring together the yearbook or the school paper. Lastly, performing volunteer work can transport a strong signal to admissions committees. Get involved with your community by volunteering at a local beast shelter, rest home, or food bank.

The selection committees at liberal arts colleges also value academic performance, so it's improve to keep your grades high throughout high school. Earlier you begin studying for your higher entrance exam, research which examination is best suited to y'all and give yourself enough of time to fix.

Next steps

To explore more about a liberal arts educational activity, get a feel for what some of your classes might be like. Check out various arts and humanities courses offered on Coursera by globe-class colleges and universities. Many are free to enroll in, and cover a broad variety of subject matter so you can acquire more well-nigh your interests—or discover new ones.

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Written by Coursera • Updated on Apr 8, 2022

This content has been fabricated available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to carry additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued run into their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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Source: https://www.coursera.org/articles/what-is-a-liberal-arts-college

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