Can Someone Explain the Concept of a Liberal Arts College for Me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Knowing how to think and learn and analyze with a broad range X posture to varied subjects can be more valuable than specific, focused technical or vocational study...

Damn auto correct... Should say "broad range of exposure" ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I look at the list of majors at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_State_University
("Faculties"), I see many majors that would be "liberal arts" in the United States. I see philosophy, Asian and African Studies, History, Fine and Performing Arts, etc.

Also, I'm surprised you refer to your former home as the USSR. I thought only those of us over 50 thought of it that way. Are you over 50?

She said former USSR. So maybe not Russia, but one of the other "republics". And you don't have to be over 50 to think of it that way--I'm 42 and travelled all over the Soviet Union as a high school student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so different from my education. What types of jobs does one get out of a liberal arts degree. My Russian diploma says, for example, I am qualified to work as a radiio journalist. My other friends diplomas say the same thing. Of course, I don't do that now. I'm a translator.

That's really interesting. Does that mean you are not allowed to find a different job after college?

This person is a jerk do not mind her

???WTH??? What's wrong with my question???

[Anonymous]

I was a liberal arts major (English). After graduating, I worked for a Congressman on Capitol Hill. I then went on to law school and am now a practicing attorney.

[Anonymous]

A lot of liberal arts graduates go to graduate or professional school, but most don't.

Most liberal arts colleges require students to study a range of subjects (and even if it's not a requirement, liberal arts students can be a curious bunch), so graduates will have some familiarity with topics other than their majors. If you majored in sociology and took a lot of math courses, you may be useful to a company that needs someone who can work with statistics AND understands what might be skewing data, for example. If you majored in English but minored in economics, you're useful to financial organizations that need a good writer who understands their work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I look at the list of majors at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_State_University
("Faculties"), I see many majors that would be "liberal arts" in the United States. I see philosophy, Asian and African Studies, History, Fine and Performing Arts, etc.

Also, I'm surprised you refer to your former home as the USSR. I thought only those of us over 50 thought of it that way. Are you over 50?

She said former USSR. So maybe not Russia, but one of the other "republics". And you don't have to be over 50 to think of it that way--I'm 42 and travelled all over the Soviet Union as a high school student.

42 isn't that far from 50.

[Anonymous]

My liberal arts college structured the curriculum so that students were required to take 1/3 of their credits in general education. 1/3 in their major, and 1/3 in anything they liked. In translation, that meant that a lot of students had double-majors and were able to finish them in 4 years-- computer science and math, biology and chemistry, physics and geology, history and political science, chemistry and physics, biology and chemistry, biology and latin, etc. The general education credits were a little more extensive than a university major and extended through all four years.

It's a great preparation for people who know they are going on to graduate or professional school. If you want to go straight out of a four year program, you are going to be better off with a more technical degree from a university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many liberal arts colleges also offer a 3-2 engineering degree - three years at the LAC and two at an affiliated college with an engineering department. The student graduates in 5 years with two degree, a BA and a BE.

I'm a graduate of a liberal arts college, and a big fan of them, but I have to respond to this comment with a note of caution. My son considered doing this kind of program and every engineer he consulted advised against it. Engineering isn't just about what you do in the classroom, but about research opportunities, engineering competitions, etc. Students in these combo programs can find their opportunities to participate in these activities are quite limited. My son ended up going to a research university, though not one that focuses exclusively on STEM subjects. He had a terrific experience, largely due to his participation in co-curricular engineering activities. When he interviewed for jobs, prospective employers asked in-depth questions about these activities, but never talked about his transcript or classroom learning experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a liberal arts major (English). After graduating, I worked for a Congressman on Capitol Hill. I then went on to law school and am now a practicing attorney.

How did you get the job with the Congressman? Did you have a contact?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm a graduate of a liberal arts college, and a big fan of them, but I have to respond to this comment with a note of caution. My son considered doing this kind of program and every engineer he consulted advised against it. Engineering isn't just about what you do in the classroom, but about research opportunities, engineering competitions, etc. Students in these combo programs can find their opportunities to participate in these activities are quite limited. My son ended up going to a research university, though not one that focuses exclusively on STEM subjects. He had a terrific experience, largely due to his participation in co-curricular engineering activities. When he interviewed for jobs, prospective employers asked in-depth questions about these activities, but never talked about his transcript or classroom learning experiences.

NP. This is really helpful information - thank you for sharing it.