Why Liberal Arts Education Matter?

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.

Critical examination of the four liberal arts breadth areas, in their natural state, demonstrate that each area of study brings value and purpose to life. It is important to focus on developing weaknesses to gain fulfillment while using strengths to help others succeed.

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.

Throughout Ungar’s essay, he talks about the cost of liberal arts education, not necessary the financial part of a liberal arts education, but the cost of not having a liberal arts education and how you won’t be best prepared for the changing job market and how that can negatively effect the individual. Ungar talks in essay about the misperceptions of liberal arts education, he talks about how career education is important, but also how jobs and technology are changing and the jobs that might be in demand know, might change or become obsolete. Liberal arts college isn’t something that is deemed necessary for low income and first generation students but Ungar believes that with a liberal arts education, those students can achieve success and move ahead quickly helping ‘shape civil discourse’. Ungar believes that cost of education is out of control and although it’s a problem, the cost of going to a small liberal arts education will be worth it

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.

In the” Are college worth the price of admission “Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus, Professors of political science and international relationship at Queen College, focus on what Liberal arts college are doing good .They urge different things college have done to promote high education and give examples of college that are putting effort in liberal arts education .The authors also note the most important thing of liberal arts education are the small environment , affordability and the religious affiliation .Finally the author argues that liberal arts education is promoting higher education

In his article “ The New Liberal Arts,” Sanford J. Ungar talks about how undergoing a Liberal-Arts education is criticized by many and in his arguments he brings seven very important points of misconceptions. The first point he discusses how many assume that liberal education is not a necessity but he argues that students need to know what they want as a career. Choosing an education that is right for them rather than being driven by other economic factors. To a job the is unsatisfying and they can barely make a living from. Ungar also argues that even with a liberal arts degree or any other degree, in economically tough times it will be just as hard to get a job. Companies will look to hire individuals based on what other and new skill sets they may have to offer.

Today many argue that changing the Liberal Arts is essential to creating a better society. Mulcahy argues the Liberal Arts should look to empower students (pp. 478 Mulcahy). It should try to give students the confidence to lead, the skills to organize, knowledge to fix problems, or change their world. Some colleges have this as part of their goals within their liberal education programs. This is vastly different from the traditional Liberal Arts education that is still prevalent today. Where traditional Liberal Arts educations taught to inform and give students the skills to work in society, the new version also looks to set students up with the ability to change their society. The newer version of a liberal education creates students who are

Before reading the Andrew Delbanco book, College: What it Was, Is, and Should Be, my view of Liberal Arts education was positive. A Liberal Arts education consists of a curriculum based in the sciences and humanities while maintaining the freedom to pursue interdisciplinary study. Studying at a university with such a curriculum and freedom can be compared to an all-you-can-eat buffet; the student attending would not need to commit to a single area of study, trapped in confined course-load in one building on campus. Rather, that person could dish a little bit of business, with a side of art history, and a healthy helping of biology onto their academic tray and consume to their heart’s content, scraping the sides of the university in order to

One way or another, all agree that a graduate of the liberal arts will be far better equipped for the uncertainties through the influence of a liberal arts education; however, they do not share similar views concerning how that outcome is acquired. Ungar holds the view that a liberal arts education is receiving more scrutiny than necessary while Hacker and Dreifus scrutinize the structure of current college education. Meanwhile, Wallace does not suggest that a problem exists in education, but rather, the problem is the misconception of what results. Of course, it is impossible to create a perfect form of education; not every person can be satisfied with the current state regardless of what changes are made, and in my view, it is best to acknowledge this reality and shift the focus of scrutiny elsewhere—such as the views of Ungar and Wallace. Although Hacker and Dreifus offer wonderful advice, I still maintain that the focus of scrutiny should be on the education itself; however, structural improvements of education should never stop. In sum, I support Hacker and Dreifus in their concern to improve the quality of higher education; however, to me, satisfaction will always be the unattainable

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

To begin with, liberal arts consist of the basics to everyday life, and are the most crucial to life after school. Centenary College should never of cut the humanity courses permanently,

The earning of liberal arts degrees is not simply luxury that you can't afford, rather it's a skill that is earned and used in everyday life. The common misconception that the author goes into is that liberal arts degrees are simply a luxury that we cannot

In his essay, “Only Connect…,” Cronon lists characteristics of a liberally educated person. These characteristics include being able to listen and understand, talk to anyone, write to persuade, read well, solve problems, and nurture and empower others (Cronon). These characteristics of liberally educated people directly align with skills desired by employers. People with these traits have the skills necessary to succeed in practical situations, like those encountered in the workforce. This essay helped me understand that by providing a liberal arts education, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is also providing students with skills needed to succeed in their future careers. Through examining the structure of a four-year education at the University and consulting the perspectives of a UW Oshkosh professor and an outside professor, I came to understand that the University integrates career preparation with liberal arts education throughout because a well executed liberal arts education will provide proper career preparation. At their core, liberal arts and workforce development have very similar

Liberal Arts also nurture other hidden talents that the student might not have realize before attending that said liberal art college.