Many people these days question the importance of getting an education beyond your major field. They believe that all you really need to know how to do is whatever skill or job you pursue with your degree.
This perception of educational “uselessness” has drastically reduced the value of higher education.
Higher education was once seen as a way to broaden your knowledge base, to prepare you for future opportunities by educating you in areas such as arts, humanities, social sciences and mathematics. These are often referred to as liberal arts colleges because of their focus on teaching students more than just academic skills.
However, today many universities have shifted towards offering only courses within specific majors. This is done in order to promote student success through developing hard skills like teamwork, time management and business practices.
Liberal art college degrees no longer carry weight they did years ago- they seem less significant than a bachelor’s degree in Business or Psychology.
Fortunately, there are still plenty of ways to get quality educations from non-technical fields! Read on to find out why it is important to learn about history, literature, philosophy and other so called softwrelesses.
It is also important to note that studying any area of interest outside of your major can be helpful for personal growth. Non-fiction books that teach you new concepts and away from your major topic may inspire creative projects or insights into yourself and life.
It’s not just about a good degree
Many people these days question what the point of an arts or humanities major is at most universities. They believe that your department doesn’t matter, and whether you learn something beyond basic grammar and math depends mostly upon how much emphasis your school puts into teaching students outside their majors.
This perception may be fueled by media stories and advertisements that feature individuals with degrees in art or English who are now working as baristas or online tutors to make ends meet.
However, this view fails to take into account two important things: 1) how well those professionals mastered their field while also developing other skills like leadership, communication, and teamwork, and 2) the importance of the liberal arts education for self-knowledge and development.
Self-knowledge is understanding yourself through experiences and interactions with others. This applies both in professional settings and in personal life. The more you know about yourself, the better you can relate to other people and situations, which helps you function effectively in society.
A college education should strive to teach its students both practical knowledge and self-knowledge. An example of practical knowledge would be learning how to write an essay, but self-knowledge could look like knowing why someone might choose to study literature instead of business.
It’s hard to understand the value of one if you don’t appreciate the other, so it’s worth taking some time to consider what kind of person goes to university to acquire knowledge for the sake of knowledge alone.
It’s not just about being able to afford it
More than ever before, students are choosing community colleges over four-year universities. This is very concerning for those who work in higher education, because most employers now require at least a bachelor’s degree for employment.
There are two main reasons why more people are dropping out of college after earning an associate’s degree. The first is cost. An associate’s degree can be obtained much cheaper from community or technology schools than a bachelors degree can from a traditional university.
The second reason is that attending a less expensive school allows students to focus on their studies without worrying about paying tuition.
A bachelors degree is a valuable asset to anyone’s career, but it costs money to obtain one. Luckily, there are ways to get through undergraduate studies while spending little to no money!
Students need to consider how important having a degree is to their future when deciding if they should pursue one. If you’re not sure whether or not you want to invest in your educational needs, then perhaps looking into other options is worth considering.
It’s not just about being able to pay for it
Even though an education at an arts college is more expensive than one that only requires a bachelor’s degree, this doesn’t mean you’re wasting your money.
In fact, investing in an education at an art school can be one of the best financial decisions you’ll ever make.
A liberal arts education has many benefits that go beyond filling up your wallet. These include opportunities to participate in social activities, exposure to different cultures, skills like reading, writing and communication, and understanding the importance of individual expression in creative disciplines.
Furthermore, studies have shown that individuals with higher levels of education are happier than those who do not. This is particularly true when it comes to happiness related to career success and personal growth.
Liberal arts colleges focus very much on educating their students. Students are given freedom to choose how they spend their time studying and engaging in campus life. Many people refer to these types of schools as “student-focused,” which explains why there are so many afterschool programs and other ways to enjoy yourself while learning.
Students at student-oriented schools tend to form closer relationships with each other due to similar interests and experiences. And because students learn from others around them, cooperation and teamwork are highly encouraged.
It’s not just about being able to get a good job after
Many people these days seem to think that attending an expensive college means you’ll get a great education and maybe learn something about how to be a better person. They believe going to school will make you more intelligent, knowledgeable, and professional.
But what if I told you that most of those schools are really just fancy vocational colleges? That is, they’re teaching you things like business, marketing, communication skills, and the like, but nothing about why we should care about any of it beyond making sure you can put together a decent lunch.
Schools have been offering “liberal arts” classes for years. But what do students actually get out of them? Why do so many people pay big money to take classes like ‘History as Literature’ or “Persian Philosophy”?’
It all comes down to one word: tradition.
Tradition is when someone does something that has been done in the same way for a long time. In this case, the tradition is doing what rich kids were taught back in the day- which was give a shit only about yourself and your own personal success.
It’s not just about being able to get a good job before
These days, many people have lost faith in higher education’s value as an institution that prepares students for successful lives beyond work.
Some criticize liberal arts colleges for being out-of-touch with the world and overly focused on esoteric knowledge that few ever uses. Others say they are expensive distractions that only serve to create well-paid empty thinkers.
Both criticisms miss the key goal of most liberal arts schools: educating leaders who can help others succeed in life.
Liberal arts degrees focus heavily on teaching students how to think critically, evaluate arguments, and be self-reflective. All of these qualities are important skills that apply outside of school settings too.
Furthermore, studies show that individuals with more educational attainment — especially college graduates —are happier than those without.
It’s not just about having fun
Many people these days seem to have this perception that an education at a liberal arts college is totally pointless. They think it was a bad investment or even that students get too many meaningless “soft” skills like communication, writing, and humanities knowledge.
I’m here to tell you that this assumption is completely wrong!
The truth is, educating yourself through the study of the humanities, social sciences, and science helps you in every area of your life. These areas are known as the hard subjects, but they’re also considered important for success.
Students who attend college now will likely continue to enjoy their experience after graduating because they’ve learned some key things.
It’s not just about graduating with a degree
Another reason why liberal arts are important is because they teach you how to learn. Sure, college students these days have social media profiles and spend their time watching Netflix, but learning how to read, write, speak, and do math takes more than just studying those subjects.
Liberal arts colleges focus less on teaching specific knowledge and more on educating you as an intelligent person. They promote self-awareness, understanding others, and research skills that can be applied in many areas.
These qualities are valuable both in life after college and in the workplace. You will probably need them if you want to stay employed, especially now when employers ask for academic degrees or proof of skill sets such as taking online courses.
Furthermore, mental health issues grow from underlying psychological problems so educationally focused schools help students deal with stress and other personal challenges.
It’s not just about personal growth
Many people these days seem to be in a rush to get through life as quickly as possible, without many things they learn being valuable aside from how fast you can go around telling people what a genius you are.
This is particularly true for young adults who spend their early twenties trying to figure out what career path to take before settling on something that doesn’t really satisfy them.
In fact, there’s been a growing trend of students seeking out education at more liberal arts colleges because it leaves them with no clear goal beyond “I want to feel smart when I wake up.”
Don’t get me wrong, feeling intelligent is an integral part of staying happy, but this isn’t necessarily a good thing if your main goal is self-fulfillment.
Liberal arts educations have come under fire lately for leaving graduates with no real skill set or knowledge base other than the ability to talk about themselves.
They may also lack practical skills like teamwork, communication, time management, etc., all of which are important workplace tools.
