20 ožu Four Benefits of Liberal Arts Education in the USA
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Ultimately, the decision of what kind of university to choose is highly individual and depends on each person’s
own personality, interests, and goals. But in my opinion, a liberal arts education has real benefits to offer for every type of student.
By Emma Christman
Four Benefits of Liberal Arts Education in the USA
Attending university in the United States is an exciting opportunity that is sure to bring learning, growth, and adventure. While there are many similarities, colleges in the US are different from Croatian universities in a number of ways. When deciding whether to attend college in America, you are sure to hear the term “liberal arts” used to describe the education that is offered at many colleges. At first glance, it can be difficult to understand what this term really means. Before deciding if this kind of education is right for you, it’s essential to understand both what liberal arts means and what benefits a liberal arts college offers its students.
What does a “liberal arts” education really mean?
Contrary to how it may sound, “liberal arts” does not refer to fine arts like painting or sculpture. Actually, liberal arts describes a model of higher education which emphasizes breadth of study in a variety of disciplines. Like at other universities around the world, students at a liberal arts college will pursue one primary course of study, called a “major” at American colleges. Students will take the majority of their classes in their major and will graduate with a degree in their major. But in addition to becoming experts in their chosen field, students in a liberal arts system must also take courses outside of their major. The goal of the liberal arts system is to produce well-rounded college graduates who have knowledge of many subjects and skills in many areas. The way American colleges put this liberal arts philosophy into practice is through distribution requirements. Distribution requirements are a feature of the academic curriculum which obligate students to take courses in many fields in order to complete their degree. For example, distribution requirements might mandate that every student take one course in literature, philosophy, foreign languages, history, natural sciences, mathematics, fine arts and music. Of course, the content and strictness of these requirements varies on a school-by-school basis. No two colleges will have exactly the same academic curriculum. But the general idea remains consistent across liberal arts colleges; to succeed in the future, students must gain skills and knowledge across many different fields. To some students, these distribution requirements might sound like a burden. A biology student who wants to become a doctor might wonder why she should bother studying art. Likewise, the idea of doing experiments in a laboratory might sound unappealing to an aspiring painter. But actually, the liberal arts education that US colleges offer has some incredible benefits for its students. As a graduate of a liberal arts degree myself, I know first-hand that this approach offers many advantages for students who are willing to embrace it. Read on to hear about four important benefits of a liberal arts education.
What are the advantages of a liberal arts education?
1. Flexibility
A liberal arts education offers its students incredible flexibility to explore their interests. Many American students enter college without knowing which subject they plan to study. Instead of committing to a major right away, first-year students are encouraged to complete their distribution requirements, learn about new subjects, and pursue interest areas. Students often do not need to declare their chosen major until the middle of their second year. After a period of open-minded exploration, students can make a more informed choice about which major they will pursue during their degree. Liberal arts colleges typically allow students to pursue more than one area of study simultaneously. “Double majoring” is possible at most colleges, where students complete two different majors at the same time. It is also common to complete a “minor” in addition to one or two majors. Similar to a major, a minor involves concentrated study in a chosen academic discipline. However, the requirements to complete a minor are less demanding than those for a major, usually requiring about half the number of classes. This system of majors and minors allows each student to curate a course of study that best supports his or her own individual interests and goals.
2. Interdisciplinary Learning
The academic program at liberal arts colleges is interdisciplinary. This means that no student will be confined to narrowly studying only one subject; the curriculum both requires and encourages students to take courses in multiple subjects. This style of learning helps students to make connections across different academic areas. For example, imagine a psychology student who plans to become a psychotherapist. In addition to the required courses for the psychology major, this student could choose to take a biology course to learn about the genetic determinants of mental health, or an economics course to understand how poverty influences behavior. Taking courses in different subjects gives students a broader sense of context for their studies. An interdisciplinary academic program also fosters creativity. For instance, a student interested in art, mathematics, and environmental science might create independent research about symmetry and patterns in nature. When students have the opportunity to combine seemingly unrelated disciplines, it often results in new research or ideas.
3. Social Connections
It is no secret that friends are an important part of the experience as a college student. For many people, the friendships formed as students last a lifetime. Rather than creating a bubble of people who are all the same, liberal arts colleges facilitate interactions between students with different backgrounds, interests, and goals. Because students frequently take classes in subjects outside of their major, every class is made up of people with different academic interests. In a literature class, you might find art students, chemistry students, and history students all together. Classes are also typically mixed in terms of graduation year, so it is common for freshman, sophomore, junior and senior students to be in the classroom together. Older students can offer advice to first-year students, and friendships can form between people with completely different interests and goals. Having friends who are different from you can be a great way to learn about the world and consider your own path. The social environment at liberal arts colleges facilitates these kinds of meaningful friendships.
4. Universal Skills
Another advantage of studying at a liberal arts college is the skillset you will develop as a student. Of course, in any degree program you will gain deep knowledge about the subject you study, whether that is music or French language, or anything in between. But every student graduating from a liberal arts college will not only have specialized knowledge in one area but will also have strong skills in many areas. The required curriculum and distribution requirements help students become analytical writers, confident public speakers, critical thinkers and successful problem-solvers. By taking classes in many disciplines, students must think in a variety of ways and become adaptable to many situations. No matter what career path you go on to pursue, these skills will be useful and will be attractive to future employers.
Is a liberal arts college right for me?
After learning what it’s like to be a student at a liberal arts college, you might wonder whether this type of education is right for you. For students without a clear path, the academic exploration a liberal arts college offers can be transformative, opening new doors. For students with multiple interests, this education makes it possible to pursue two or three subjects at once with multiple majors or minors. And even for students with a clearly defined academic or professional path, a broad education in many disciplines can be enriching and fulfilling. Ultimately, the decision of what kind of university to choose is highly individual and depends on each person’s own personality, interests, and goals. But in my opinion, a liberal arts education has real benefits to offer for every type of student.
By Emma Christman