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The Case for Liberal Arts...
Brenda J. Davis-Smith, ClevelandIntern.net
The Student Perspective:
In today's dynamic global workplace, expectations for broad knowledge and skills are high. The relevance and value of a liberal arts education in this world arena is clear.
To accommodate the demands and challenges of this complex environment, many students are shifting their focus from narrow and field specific, to the broader outcomes provided by a liberal education. In support of this shifting focus, students point to the success and achievements of some of the worlds' most important public figures and celebrities who were liberal arts majors (a few of whom are highlighted in the list below).
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Famous Liberal Arts Majors
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- Robin Williams, Actor/Comedian (Political Science)
- Jill Barad, Former CEO Mattel, Inc. (English and Psychology)
- Ellen Bravo, Former Director 9to5 National Association of Working Women (Greek and Latin Literature)
- Steve Martin, Actor/Comedian (Philosophy)
- Willie Brown, Former Mayor San Francisco (Liberal Studies)
- Carol Browner, Former Director Environmental Protection Agency (English)
- Isiah Thomas, NBA Player (Criminal Justice)
- George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States (Political Science)
- David Duchovny, Actor (English Literature)
- Carly Fiorina, Former CEO Hewlett–Packard (Medieval History and Philosophy)
- Steve Forbes, President and CEO Forbes, Inc. (American History)
- Tommy Lee Jones, Actor (English)
- John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States (History)
- Spike Lee, Indie Filmmaker/Actor (Mass Communications)
- Brian Lamb, CEO / Co-founder C-Span (Speech & Communication)
- David Letterman, Entertainer (Radio and TV Broadcasting)
- Ricardo Romo, President University of Texas at San Antonio (History)
- Harold Varmus, President and CEO Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center (English Literature)
- Jesse Jackson, Human Rights Activist/Politician (Sociology & Economics)
- Connie Chung, Journalist (Journalism)
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The Employer Perspective:
According to a 2006 study conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., "...when evaluating the skills of potential new hires, business executives place greatest emphasis on 1) teamwork skills, 2) critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills, and 3) communication skills." When given a description of liberal education, large majorities of employers endorse it as important for colleges and universities to provide this type of education to its students in preparation for today's global workplace.
An executive summary and detailed report on these concepts can be found at www.aacu.org. The AAC&U (Association of American Colleges and Universities) is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. The AAC&U describes liberal education as follows: "By its nature, liberal education is global and pluralistic. It embraces the diversity of ideas and experiences that characterize the social, natural, and intellectual world. To acknowledge such diversity in all its forms is both an intellectual commitment and a social responsibility, for nothing less will equip us to understand our world and to pursue fruitful lives."
The following Statement on Liberal Learning was taken directly from the AAC&U website:
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Statement on Liberal Learning
as adopted by the Board of Directors of the Association of American Colleges & Universities,
October 1998
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"A truly liberal education is one that prepares us to live responsible, productive, and creative lives in a dramatically changing world. It is an education that fosters a well-grounded intellectual resilience, a disposition toward lifelong learning, and an acceptance of responsibility for the ethical consequences of our ideas and actions. Liberal education requires that we understand the foundations of knowledge and inquiry about nature, culture and society; that we master core skills of perception, analysis, and expression; that we cultivate a respect for truth; that we recognize the importance of historical and cultural context; and that we explore connections among formal learning, citizenship, and service to our communities.
We experience the benefits of liberal learning by pursuing intellectual work that is honest, challenging, and significant, and by preparing ourselves to use knowledge and power in responsible ways. Liberal learning is not confined to particular fields of study. What matters in liberal education is substantial content, rigorous methodology and an active engagement with the societal, ethical, and practical implications of our learning. The spirit and value of liberal learning are equally relevant to all forms of higher education and to all students.
Because liberal learning aims to free us from the constraints of ignorance, sectarianism, and myopia, it prizes curiosity and seeks to expand the boundaries of human knowledge. By its nature, therefore, liberal learning is global and pluralistic. It embraces the diversity of ideas and experiences that characterize the social, natural, and intellectual world. To acknowledge such diversity in all its forms is both an intellectual commitment and a social responsibility, for nothing less will equip us to understand our world and to pursue fruitful lives.
The ability to think, to learn, and to express oneself both rigorously and creatively, the capacity to understand ideas and issues in context, the commitment to live in society, and the yearning for truth are fundamental features of our humanity. In centering education upon these qualities, liberal learning is society's best investment in our shared future."
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