A Liberal Arts Education In The 21st Century

Being here at Spelman has taught me so much. I am responsible now than I have ever been. I do not have to wait on people to tell me to do anything because I know that I can do it on my own. At first I could only imagine what the future holds for me, but now I can see it because it is getting brighter and brighter. Spelman College is my choice and I will chose to change the world with the education that it has bestowed in

There is not just one study of “liberal arts,” but a broad variety of options and fields, from history to creative writing to philosophy. The entire point of a liberal arts education is to provide a wide knowledge base of education that develops skills needed for almost any career. Communication, analysis, and debate coexist in every field imaginable, from science to social studies, but liberal arts degrees create true polymaths. Those well-versed in many subjects can cross-apply their knowledge to form creative solutions to problems plaguing the Earth. With a world criss-crossed by party lines, tribal lines, and ideological lines, someone has to understand all the sides in order to rejoin the divisions. There is a broad variety of opportunities to mend these tears, from diplomacy to nonprofit activism, from cultural studies to linguistics. All that matters is a willingness to be open and

William Cronon in his article, “Only Connect . . .” defines liberal education as “not something any of us ever achieve; it is not a state. Rather, it is a way of living in the face of our own ignorance, a way of groping toward wisdom in full recognition of our folly, a way of educating ourselves without any illusion that our educations will ever be complete” (5). Being liberally education means you are open to learn and knowing that is there no limit to how much you can learn. Personally I think this is a very important topic especially to me because I am the first in my family to go away to a university. I value education and it is a true privilege for me to attend Belmont University. Thus far, I consider myself to almost fully liberally

Higher education in modern day America has become a debated topic, with some saying that it is not worth it due to the debt it leaves upon leaving, and some saying that it opens opportunities that surpass the results of obtaining one. A resulting view from this conflict is that certain forms of education aren’t as beneficial as others. A primary example of one of these less valuable educations is the study of Liberal Arts. Author Sanford J. Ungar discredits this view in his article The New Liberal Arts where he discusses the many misconceptions that have come to form this interpretation. To convince the reader of these misunderstandings, Ungar uses the appeals of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos, with heavy appeal to logic (Logos) over the other two. Each misconception uses and focuses on more of one appeal than others, and by doing this, he is very successful in influencing the reader into considering that these misunderstandings are present.

2. Going to a liberal arts college is like training for the Olympics without knowing what event you are going to participate in. You have to make sure that you are the best you can be in every way. You would have to be a great runner, swimmer and even

I agree with Delbanco that college is overcrowded, under resourced, and little attention is paid to the fact that a whole person should be developed (154). I am convinced that a liberal arts education is what is needed to be successful in the world today. Not only is this particularly clear in universities like NYU, but also in specialized schools all around the country. For example, a student at the Stern School of Business is marketable to corporate businesses such as Morgan Stanley and firms on Wall Street, but the students may lack the knowledge necessary to transfer out of that specific field. Liberal arts colleges within universities (or even those that stand on their own) are much more useful today than specified schools because liberal arts classes offer opportunities to be exposed to a variety of subjects. They can also spark interests or passions one never knew they had. Delbanco says that colleges offer students too wide of an array of classes to take, and believes that they are too unrelated. While it does seem like classes such as the history of Australia’s koala population may seem unimportant, it is less about the specific class and more about the university creating a well rounded person that can integrate well into

In today's generation college students struggle to attend higher education. Tuition has been higher than ever before to attend college. This is true, college students battle to go to college. A book that I read "They Say, I say" mentions, "many families are indeed struggling, in depths of recession, to pay for their children's college eduction." (Sanford, 191). Paying for college funds affect families as well as the student.

Critical thinking means to think correctly in to find knowledge that is relevant and reliable. In terms of a liberal arts education critical thinking is crucial because a liberal arts education teaches students skills that are needed in the rapidly changing world that usually requires a lifetime of self-learning and understanding. Critical thinking is something that people usually must learn on their own; however, as a liberal arts school it is taught, so we have a better understanding of thinking critically.

Liberal Arts Education is one way for you to grow exponentially. For example. Attending a Liberal Arts Education will help in the developments in critical inquiry resulting in “continuing learning, for making decisions in one’s life, and for making a difference in the world,” as stated in the article by Michael Roth. (Source B) After graduation from a liberal education, it will help to “address problems and potential in our lives with passion, commitment and a sense of possibility” for years to come. Liberal education opt for your own freedom to construct on individual research and carry on your experience to your community.

There are many benefits to getting a Liberal Arts degree in today’s economic market. It is a message to your employer that you are willing to take on new information, and learn more then what is necessary to succeed. It shows initiative and the ability to expand your horizons beyond yourself. In a Liberal Arts education there is more purpose then just learning the career field of choice. It is a program that teaches critical thinking and self-thought. It teaches the student how to learn and teach themselves, to achieve more than just memorization of facts.

Choosing to attend Spelman College as one of many decisions I have to make as a student was an easy task. Ever since I can remember, one of my biggest aspirations was to be accepted to and attend Spelman College. Through the years, Spelman women in my life have demonstrated their commitment to uplifting children, families and the community. Considering that Spelman is a liberal arts college that provides an intimate and nurturing environment, I have no doubt that it will provide the tools I need to be successful.

What this mean is that going to this type of college, you are not going to reach your full potential and gather resources like summer programs or internships. This is a false statement because they have a lot of summer programs that offered here at my college. It is to better my future and put me in distinctive categories so when it comes time to look at my resume, I will have a good chance at getting the job. Liberal Art Colleges are the best colleges to go to because they help better your strengths and weaknesses to help make an impact in the world and becoming the best in your

It may seem like a Liberal Arts degree is for someone who can understand the depth of it, but that is completely untrue. The flexibility and use of a Liberal Arts degree is for everyone who is interested and is worth more than the loud politicians that wave them about so eagerly to raise their credibility which is why Sanford J. Ungar, former president of Goucher College, wrote The New Liberal

Many may say that students should spend their money on an education that will train them to do a specified job. However, it makes a lot more sense to spend your money on an education that will train you for a multitude of jobs as oppose to a specific job. Receiving a liberal arts degree has the potential to train students for many jobs in many different positions, this way they will not be restricted by knowledge to only have a single job. Students may able to apply their wide range of skills to a large number of careers and positions since, a liberal arts degree allows for more flexibility. Others may also say that America is heading towards a future that may call for students in more technical or mathematical degrees, therefore making a liberal arts degree useless.

Martin Luther King Junior said, “Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.” Higher education does not exist for the sole purpose of preparing students for future jobs; it’s there in order to prepare individuals for life where they are expected to participate in their community, their government, and the lives of those around them. Liberal arts, in particular, exist for the broadening of students’ minds in order for them to be successful not only in their chosen career but also in their lives outside of it. Liberal arts lost their past popularity during the last few decades, but they shouldn’t be disregarded in favor of technical and professional degrees because they still provide students with skills that are perhaps less tangible, but no less necessary for life in modern world.