The growing cost of colleges & universities and the increasing demand for students in career-ready fields, like finance, computer science, engineering, etc., has left many people questioning the significance of liberal arts education. Much of the interaction surrounding higher education is focused on ROI & value.
You might ask: which degree helps you earn the most after college? Which institution produces graduates with higher salaries?
Some students might be in a dilemma when deciding to choose a degree. Thus, as you approach your college search, you may question: Is liberal arts education still relevant in the 21st century?
Definitely yes! In our rapidly changing economy, every millennial tends to change their career at least 5-7 times. Thus, one can argue that a liberal education might be more valuable than ever before. In fact, a study found that almost three-fourths of employers nationwide would recommend students to pursue a liberal arts degree.
Well, if you are someone planning to go for liberal education, make sure you read this guide till the end, as we will be sharing some profound insights into the subjects!
Let’s get started!
What Is Liberal Arts Education?
Liberal education is a wide-based education system focusing on creativity, critical thinking, communication, etc. In addition, liberal education allows individuals to develop their understanding of broad subjects like social science, humanities, etc.
However, it is vital to note that liberal arts education is not solely based on technical skills. Instead, it teaches students how to think & solve issues critically.
Skills That A Liberal Arts Degree Helps You Acquire
Liberal arts students gain a lot of abilities during their time period of completing graduation. In addition, every employer wishes to see that their employees must have the following capabilities.
- Critical Thinking Skills
Liberal arts students learn to analyze & evaluate data & use it to make informed judgments. They ask questions, gather insights, & implement the newfound data to their pre-existing knowledge in order to make vital decisions. In addition, they guide their actions & can articulate and justify their opinions, perceptions, & choices.
- Analytical Skills
Analysis is a significant element of most of the liberal arts courses. From analyzing texts & works of art to comparing various theories, you will spend a lot of time digging deeper to gain a better understanding & reach new conclusions.
It is vital to note that analytical skills are in demand in today’s ever-changing business environments, specifically in the fields that rely on data-driven decision-making!
- Problem-Solving Skills
A degree in liberal arts offers students with problem-solving skills, thanks to the vast knowledge base we have today!
Liberal education often requires examining the same issue from multiple perspectives & working in groups to solve issues & reach conclusions via debate & discussions.
Well, these skills translate into workplaces, wherein solving issues often means incorporating different stakeholders’ perspectives & addressing numerous problems.
- Communication Skills
Oral as well as written communication is the basis of liberal arts courses. So, students must be able to present their opinions & analysis, thus supporting their conclusions clearly in the workplace.
In addition, the emphasis on discussion & debate also makes you an active listener and empath, & enables you to ask meaningful questions, thus helping you to excel in your career.
Also Read: Business Communication
- Research Skills
The ability to conduct research is one of the most vital skills for students of liberal arts.
If you go for the degree, you will spend most of your time researching to understand the concepts better. As a result, this will enhance your skills in finding & synthesizing information that will help you succeed in your career.
Thus, knowing how to find & evaluate data, organize it, & present it will help you complete work assignments. As a result, this will enable you to make a lasting impression on your employer.
- Emotional Intelligence Skills
An emphasis on discussion, debate, & analysis through many lenses gives the students high emotional intelligence.
Therefore, not only do they have the ability to work in teams & cooperate with others, but they also build empathy & tolerance for different perspectives.
- Creative Thinking Skills
Liberal education courses motivate students to develop their creativity.
Creativity has applications far beyond the arts. Thus, your ability to approach issues from various perspectives, try different methods, & assess new ideas can make you more attractive to leaders & innovators from numerous industries.
- Project Management Skills
Time management, organization, ability to complete projects, & communication are critical skills, irrespective of the company you work in. Therefore, students pursuing liberal arts develop these skills throughout their education, as they typically juggle multiple priorities & projects throughout their actions.
What You Can Do With A Liberal Arts Degree?
A liberal arts education prepares you for numerous careers in education, non-profit sector, professionalism & government services. Liberal arts majors also often work in public relations, advertising, & marketing – the fields requiring strong communication skills.
In addition, liberal education can also help you prepare professionals for more technical careers. For instance, students opting for majors in mathematics benefit from solid demand in the tech industry, while a student pursuing an English major can work as a technical writer.
However, employers focus on critical skills rather than looking for a particular major. Well, a study reveals that over 90% of employers rank a candidate’s communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills more important than other specific majors.
So, next time if people ask you, ‘What are you going to do with your liberal arts degree’?, just say, ‘Whatever I want’! And that’s actually true; a liberal arts degree enables you to do anything you wish in terms of your career!
Pursuing A Degree In Liberal Arts
Many liberal arts majors continue their education at the graduate level. By doing so, they tend to increase their average salary every year.
So, liberal arts careers like political science, sociologists, economics, etc., typically require a master’s degree.
However, a student going for a graduate degree can pursue programs in mathematics, history, biotechnology, statistics, foreign language, etc., in order to enhance their earning potential.
Is Liberal Arts Worth It?
A liberal arts education isn’t for everyone & like every other field; it contains certain disadvantages.
Unlike a professional degree which prepares graduates for a specific career field, students pursuing liberal arts must invest their time in career planning because the options are innumerable. While it’s true that a liberal education degree appeals to almost all employers, candidates still must know how to sell their skills.
Thus, if you decide to go for liberal education, ensure you know which courses suit you the best and offer high salaries!
Wrapping Up!
A liberal education offers students a broad range of skills which are highly valued in today’s job market. Employers seek people with communication, critical thinking, & other skills we discussed above that enable the employees to do their job effectively.
Additionally, a liberal arts degree offers students a roadmap for a wide range of career paths, thus making it an excellent choice for students seeking flexibility & adaptability in their careers.
But if you are unsure regarding which path/ course to choose, consider opting for counseling or talking to a professional or a graduate in the same field. This way, you will get ideas for what you must do in liberal arts!
So, this was all regarding liberal education. Do tell us which course you are willing to go for in this field!
And if you are still confused regarding choosing the apt course, contact our counselors by visiting our official website RILCA. You will surely get answers to your queries!
