As we have seen, liberal arts degree programs offer a wide variety of subjects that can be tied together under one common theme: knowledge. These are typically not focused on specific industries or careers, but instead aim to teach students how to get “good” at knowing lots of things. This is valuable in itself as you know what kinds of lessons exist outside of school, what holidays will be celebrated, and what songs are popular.
Students who graduate with an art major may learn about different styles and techniques of painting, those with a music education certificate can hone their skills teaching elementary grade classes or coaching a sports team, and those with a business administration degree can pick up pointers for running your own organization.
These non-technical skills are just as important if not more so than technical ones like learning how to fix cars or design computer software. After all, being able to identify artistically good paintings or understand basic accounting principles isn’t going to help you run a garage, start a band, or manage a office!
Liberal arts degrees also emphasize studying literature, history, and philosophy, which can provide insight into the reasons why people do what they do and ways to apply these concepts to your life.
Furthermore, studies show that individuals with higher levels of literacy and educational understanding are happier than others. It seems that no matter what career you choose, educating yourself beyond the classroom setting is a worthy investment.
Public policy
One of the biggest reasons why people drop out before receiving their degree is because they feel that education “is not practical for doing anything” or “it does not prepare you to do something, it only teaches you how to be someone.”
This perception is false!
Education in the liberal arts covers many different subjects, but all of them teach you how to think about things logically. You will learn how to evaluate arguments and statements according to logical rules, which helps you apply what you learned to new topics.
Furthermore, studies have shown that adults who are educated in the humanities (things like psychology, history, literature, and sociology) are more likely to give up drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and other harmful habits.
Personal life
In addition to educating you about important topics, liberal arts studies also help you hone your personal skills and qualities.
Liberal arts courses often emphasize self-knowledge and understanding of humanities concepts like literature or art as sources of inspiration and motivation for life.
Studies in psychology look at how emotions influence us. Philosophy explores the nature of reality and the means by to achieve happiness. History is rich with stories of powerful individuals who lived meaningful lives.
These disciplines strengthen your ability to be aware of yourself and recognize the potential strengths and weaknesses that make up who you are.
You can apply these insights to various areas of your life — work, family, community. Learning more about psychology can help you with relationships or career changes, while studying history can aid you in becoming more conscious of societal norms and practices.
Financial considerations
While not every student is able to afford an education cost-free, there are ways to minimize the financial burden of studying outside the home. Many colleges offer scholarships or grants that cover at least part of their tuition.
Many also have employment opportunities for graduates so they can pay for lessons in your off time. The best way to know if these things exist for you is to do some research and look around!
Some schools even have scholarship days where students are allowed to visit campus and meet with advisors to see what benefits they may be eligible for. You should always do your homework before attending a college, but this is especially true when it comes to money.
Degree programs
Many liberal arts colleges offer a wide variety of degree programs beyond just English, history and art. These range from business to music to psychology, among others.
Some examples are the humanities, which include sociology, anthropology, philosophy, religion, literature and other areas that study how people interact with each other and their environment.
The social sciences look at individuals and groups as they relate to one another and influence each other. This includes studying things like marketing, politics or economics, all of which emphasize relationships between parties.
Business students learn about money and how it works in the economy, while those who study psychology explore human behavior and emotions.
Music students learn about harmony, rhythm and melody, as well as instrument performance and theory.
Degree locations
Choosing your major is an important decision, one that can have lasting impacts on you. Before choosing how to move forward with your education, however, it’s crucial to think about where you want to live.
You will need to consider whether attending school close to home is more important than being able to connect with other students online or overseas, depending on whether this is possible.
It’s also worth considering what kind of career you hope to pursue once you graduate, as some majors may not be relevant for your future goals. For example, studying art might help you achieve success in business, but studying engineering could better prepare you for careers in technology.
When deciding which college to attend, think about the importance of each educational institution to you, both academically and socially. You should feel comfortable going here every day, and feeling happy after learning things from it.
