The term “liberal arts” has been around for quite some time. It was first used in reference to studying literature, music, and art as opposed to science or business studies. However, it wasn’t until more recently that this concept really took off. In the early 20th century, many universities across America were faced with an increasingly large student population. With limited resources, schools had to figure out how to cater to everyone.
Many institutions decided to offer students the opportunity to choose from among several different majors, but all of them were considered equally valuable. This is where the liberal arts idea came into play- offering students the chance to choose what fields they are passionate about while receiving the same degree.
Today, most universities have transitioned away from major choice and towards having every student go through the exact same curriculum. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing however, because now almost every student will at least take a few classes outside their field.
Science degrees
Recent science degree programs have moved away from requiring large amounts of mathematics in order to be successful. Gone are the days when students must take many math courses as part of their general education.
In fact, some schools no longer require any mathematical skills at all for most majors! This is very different than what we were taught in high school, where every major requires some sort of calculus or advanced algebra.
Clinical psychology, criminal justice, molecular biology and other scientific areas do not require much mathematics beyond basic arithmetic and proportions.
These fields require you to be good with numbers and calculations, but only occasionally outside the field. Some college departments may even teach you how to use software that involves doing lots of math behind-the-scenes.
Overall, these studies show that having a strong base in maths is less important than ever before.
History degrees
A history degree is usually completed in four to five years, with students taking courses for several departments within that area of study. These include departmental specific courses like art history or political science and major course areas such as ancient civilizations, modern societies, or world histories.
History majors often focus on topics such as colonialism, imperialism, nationalism, social movements, politics, and systems analysis. All of these concepts relate to how people organize themselves into groups and why they do so.
A history degree can also be focused more narrowly on an individual period or region. For instance, some specialties are called “ancient studies” which only cover certain time periods and areas. This could be Greek mythology, Mesopotamian cultures, Ancient Egypt, Roman civilization, etc.
History is also very diverse, especially outside its main categories. Some academic disciplines use historical context as a basis for understanding current events. This applies not just to international relations but also economics, sociology, law, and many others.
History has strong connections to other fields, too. Artists frequently draw inspiration from historical figures, examples, and artifacts. Archaeologists use knowledge of past societies to understand present-day ones. And politicians always refer back to earlier governments and models when creating their own.
Economics degrees
Recent economic crises have highlighted how important it is to educate yourself in economics, finance, and business. These areas all relate to each other, as you can’t understand one without understanding the others.
Economics teaches us about scarcity. Scarcity means there isn’t enough of something so that people will pay more for it. For example, there aren’t enough homes available so house prices rise.
Businesses look to increase their profit by increasing production and offering greater discounts or even free products to get people to buy their current product or invest in theirs.
Finance is the study of money and how to use it efficiently. People who work in this field make sure your spending money in productive ways, investing in things like houses or cars is not a good way to spend.
Literature degrees
Literature is often considered to be an easy major at many colleges because students can either learn how to read novels or study specific authors, like anyone’s heard of Tolstoy!
However, that idea is quite inaccurate. Students who choose literature as their degree field must know more than just what author someone else has studied before them.
Students are expected to understand not only classic stories such as those mentioned above but also modern novels and short stories, playwriting, poetry, and even literary theory. This all goes beyond knowing which characters want chocolate milk and why.
The reason for this requirement is twofold: First, it demonstrates that college graduates should have some level of literacy so they can read books outside of school settings. Second, it shows that people working with literate materials (we refer you again to reading material in general) will look into different areas of literature.
Philosophy degrees
Recent trends in higher education have ushered in an era of “liberal arts” universities that offer students more than just professional training. Some focus heavily on courses like art, music or literature, while others emphasize teaching philosophy to undergraduate students.
Teaching philosophies are academic theories about what makes up reality, knowledge, moral rightness and so forth. For example, there is no known truth except for what philosophers call ‘the good.’’ That is, whatever people agree is good is true.
Aristotle was one of the first to propose his theory of ethics, which says that we should pursue our own happiness and the happiness of those around us. This advice has been adopted by many schools of thought since then.
More recently, some thinkers have proposed nihilism as our ultimate goal. Nihilists believe that life has no purpose and therefore anything can be considered true depending on your personal beliefs.
These types of studies are useful not only because they help you understand the nature of the universe, but also because they promote self-knowledge. By learning about the field yourself, you show how much logic you know and how well you follow arguments, making you feel better about yourself.
Higher education should be more than just educating students professionally, it should inspire them to become thoughtful individuals who study hard and apply what they learn from lessons and experiences in their lives. These two goals go hand in hand.
Art degrees
An art degree is typically awarded when you are at least 21 years old and can show proof of artistic talent in drawing, painting, sculpture or other forms of visual expression. With this, you can be any age to pursue an art career.
Artists earn good money due to their creative talents. According as Business Insider, artists make an average income of $25,000 per year!
That’s nearly double what teachers make! And while some work hard and invest time into learning how to paint or design, most people who become artists already have a knack for it.
If you want to keep your feet on the ground while pursuing your dreams, teaching could be the best route for you.
Political science degrees
There are two main types of political science degree programs. One is to teach you how to be an effective politician, or what politicians call “the art of politics”. These courses typically focus more on sociology, psychology, and economics of politics.
The other major area is research. Students in this field conduct independent studies and work for academic institutions or think tanks as researchers. They may study topics such as voter turnout, policy trends, public opinion, leadership styles, etc.
There are several reasons why education in politics is growing in popularity. First, the media has made it very accessible by covering elections every year and giving close scrutiny to the candidates and the process. Second, many people enjoy studying about politics and how power works.
Third, there have been lots of examples of influential individuals who used their knowledge of politics to achieve their goals. Abraham Lincoln studied politics at a very young age and became president later in life. Winston Churchill was known to spend hours reading about current events and leaders before making his own decisions.
Sociology degrees
One of the most popular social science majors is sociology, which studies how humans interact with each other and influence one another in society. Social scientists look at everything from how people organize into groups to why some individuals or groups dominate others politically or socially.
Sociologists also study culture, defining it as shared beliefs and behaviors that exist among a group of people. These beliefs and behaviors are influenced by individual members of the group, as well as media, advertising, and politics.
The field of sociology has many different specialties, including cultural anthropology, ethnic relations, feminist sociology, medical sociology, and more. To become certified in any of these areas, you must take and pass an exam given by either the American Board of Certification (ABC) or The National Association of Socio-Legal Professions (NASLP). Both offer certification through their respective organizations.
Overall, becoming educated about sociology can help you understand human behavior, learn about our cultures and customs, and possibly inspire changes in the way we behave.
