The Myth of Liberal Arts Education “I do not understand why I have to study Arts and Humanities courses when I am a pre-engineering student,” as a lot of international students complain that they have difficulty adjusting the life in a liberal arts college. As the increasing popularity of attending liberal arts college, the Liberal Arts Education(LAE) has been highly debated and evaluated. Over the long history of evolvement, the liberal arts education has been changed from a required, closed and limited course to a broad, liberal and inclusive curriculum. However, differences do exist between the western and oriental education and thus the extent to which LAE shape students’ personality and intellectual ability across different countries is worth-considering.The emergence of LAE in Asia is discussed and further analyzed. One may think the geographical difference is the main reason; however, it turns out that the country’s economic power, political influences, and cultural differences play a more significant role to the distinction between the educational systems. Regardless of other variables, economic power or the matureness of one area’s economic and political influences is interconnected that affect educational systems to a considerable extent. The mainland China and Taiwan is a good analysis, material in distinguishing the vast difference between the two given that they have the same ancestors and language. After Mao Zedong took over Beijing and became the first
The essay “A New Liberal Arts,” which was written by Sanford Ungar, first appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education on March 5, 2010. In his essay, Ungar uses many different rhetorical strategies to convince his reader that a degree in the liberal arts is not a lost cause but can actually be very beneficial and lead to success. In Ungar’s opinion, there are many wrong ideas and misunderstandings about the usefulness of a degree in the liberal arts. In the essay there are seven specific misperceptions that he addresses specifically. By listing out these misperceptions, Ungar is addressing them individually in order to give each one proper attention. He offers explanations to why people may think these things and why he believes that they are incorrect. Ungar’s use of style, format, and emotional and logical arguments help him to create a persuasive and influential essay for his audience and convince them to agree with his opinion.
A country’s economic system decides its education system. Since China and Canada have different economic systems, China is developing on a diversified ownership economy, while Canada is running its economy by pure capitalism. It is obvious two different education systems run in those two countries respectively. And from my personal experience and some hearing from my friends, I found five main disadvantages of China’s education comparing with Canada’s education.
There is a reason why my college counselors always pushed for us to look into liberal arts colleges. With liberal education, you get to experience much more than you think is possible. Not only does one take classes that are specific to their major but they are also required to explore other fields that they might have thought was wrong for them. As the reading, “Only Connect…” The Goals of a Liberal Education by William Cronon phrases, liberal education not only deals with what a student learns in their classroom but it also involves the concepts of an individual’s freedom and growth. At first, I thought I only like the idea of studying abroad in South Korea because I watched Korean dramas and listened to their music. But during my time at Denison, I had the opportunity to take classes about the eastern world. I’ve learned about their culture, their history, and even their language. I’ve expanded my knowledge far wider than I thought I would ever. This opportunity to study abroad through CIEE is not just me trying to get my own satisfaction, but it is an
When I first heard of liberal arts schools, I thought of institutions like Julliard where students who want to study the arts attend. I pictured students painting on canvas, dancers leaping across stage, and musicians composing beautiful music. Since beginning my college visitations, I have come to realize that is far from what you will see at liberal arts colleges such as Loras. A liberal arts education not only touches on the arts but also the areas of history, science, math, language, and several more. Throughout my first thirteen years of schooling, I have taken classes covering many different subjects. Liberal arts schools continue to encourage one to learn about topics in various areas of study in order to obtain a more rounded education.
The author concludes that the debate of liberal education will continue throughout generations to come. That students should immerse themselves within liberal arts not to just make a living, but to become more complex and diverse, to find creative ways to solve new problems, and develop as a person as a person. (Ugar 196) By incorporating the gained knowledge of the liberal arts, undergraduates can pass it down to the future
For centuries, a liberal arts education was a sign of a well-rounded, creative individual. However, in an ever changing era, a liberal arts education is nothing more than an example of how little people enjoy change. Nowadays, numerous jobs require basic to intermediate computer skills, literacy in basic business and economic concepts, and a remedial understanding of geography, social customs, and current events. The core curriculum of a liberal arts education, which includes history, math, art, science, English, literature, and a variety of social sciences, needs to be expanded to encompass the subjects people encounter every day in the 21st century. This paper is directed towards a general audience dedicated to improving centers of
What is education? I think education is an action which provide informations and helps required in making one’s own life. At least, this is the reason why I chose to attend UW-Madison. How about liberal arts education? According to ‘Only Connect’ by William Cronon, the word ‘Liberal’ derives from the Latin word liber, meaning “free.”
According to Lafley’s article, the writer mentioned various ways in which the liberal art education has prepared individuals for success after graduation. The author discussed about the different aspect of Liberal Arts College versus a non-liberal arts college and noticed that the liberal arts college outweighs the non-liberal arts college, especially in leadership skills, critical thinking, and creativity. Moreover, one of the disadvantage of the liberal arts college that the writer mentioned was the non-liberal arts colleges may focuses on one specific major, which some companies may desire to seek after one master’s skills rather than serval different skills. Although there are some disadvantages that the writer mentioned there are also
to understand each branch of the tree better if you can see how it is involved
Now that I am in college, I have pondered upon whether a liberal arts education is better than a vocational education; a topic that did not cross my mind in high school. A liberal arts curriculum includes the studies intended to primarily provide general knowledge such as language, philosophy, literature, and abstract science and to develop general intellectual capacities, such as reason and judgment, as opposed to professional or vocational skills (merriam-webster.com). As students wanting to achieve a higher education, we have to think about what we want for ourselves. Either you want to grow as an individual and obtain a major in whichever field you chose, or just learn what best interests you. People have many misconceptions toward what the liberal arts are and how they can benefit you. We often hear things like, “A liberal arts degree will not get you a real job.” or “A liberal arts degree is a luxury not a necessity.” Although this is what the majority of the people who are not aware about the actual facts say, this is not true. An examination of, The New Liberal Arts by author Sanford J. Ungar, and Are Too Many People Going to College? by author Charles Murray, will reveal to us why one gains more knowledge at a liberal arts school. Murray argues that a liberal arts education is only for the elite, but I believe that they shouldn 't be the only ones to attend because my vision of a liberal arts college is one where all students come in with the appropriate amount of
The value of a liberal arts education and the focus the liberal arts should receive in secondary and post-secondary education
A liberal arts education as a dictionary defines it, is a holistic teaching approach that provides an overview of many different subjects. It aims to deepen your understanding of the world that surrounds us all, rather than dive whole-heartedly into one concentration right away. The education is focused on the idea that every subject has something to offer your mind that perhaps can be later used in an unexpected way. Knowledge is power, they say. Being able to reference a book you read in your freshmen seminar, in a Chemistry class, encompasses this belief that knowledge can be effective everywhere. When I first began looking at colleges, I didn’t know what kind of education I was searching for. I had an idea that I wanted to go into a medical
A Liberal Arts Education is the study of different academic courses and subjects. Those courses cover a wide range of subjects; from mathematics to the sciences, literature and philosophy. While in those subjects it is possible to diversify and explore different pathways and careers. It is necessary to take and explore these subjects while in college because they are the foundation for a successful life. If the fundamentals are learned it is possible to build off of them and pursue any career that is desired. Liberal Arts cover mathematics and literature, any job that is out there has these two subjects involved in them. At the CIA it is necessary to explore the sciences and philosophy that is behind the food we are making and the history of
By nature, liberal arts instruction is not intended to educate students in the particularities of a specific profession in the way an engineering or software design program is. But it is expansive and diverse and provides them with a set of skills including the abilities to apply knowledge, remain autonomous, be culturally aware, and effectively communicate; expertise which is beneficial across all career paths. This value will endure long beyond that of certain vocational trades destined for obsoleteness in today’s rapidly evolving
There has been a lot of research trying to figure out what type of education is more beneficial to students in post-secondary education. The two types that are most often talked about, and debated about are liberal arts education, and vocational education. Does one have more advantages that the other? Or are both in moderation more beneficial to students? After researching, and reading many articles, and journals, I’ve comprehended that many authors support liberal arts, and want it to be incorporated into our education system because it helps students tremendously. In contrast, there are also authors that disagree, and believe that choosing a liberal arts education is a mistake that students should avoid because it doesn’t bring much good