Find Your Perfect Program:
A Liberal Arts Degree Can Lead to Enhanced Career Skills
By Catherine Groux
Posted July 27, 2011 03:17 PM
When many students head to college, they decide to enroll in specialized programs that lead to specific careers, including engineering, nursing and education. However, other individuals prefer to receive broader knowledge while pursuing a bachelor's degree, majoring in liberal arts.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), many students major in liberal arts itself. However, other individuals can study a more specific topic that falls into this category, such as sociology, history, political science, foreign languages or English literature. Still, since the definition of liberal arts is so broad, some professionals would include students who major in mathematics, science and economics in this group as well. People who enroll in any type of liberal arts program can develop their writing, critical thinking, communication and analytical skills.
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Students can benefit from the many skills they will learn during liberal arts programs. because the subject tends to be so general, many individuals wonder what students can do with a liberal arts degree. Donald Asher, an author and speaker, told the BLS that people should not worry about this, as the skills they develop during their college programs are generally enough to land a job.
"A general college degree is the major entry-level credential you need," he said. "Employers are looking for the skills a candidate has to offer."
Recent studies show that Asher might be correct, as many employers report that they are seeking job applicants who have the skills students typically develop during liberal arts programs. According to a study by EMC Research, 79% of employers said they value analytical skills, while 75% want job applicants with strong writing abilities. Additionally, 67% of hiring managers said they are seeking candidates who possess creativity.
Elsa Núñez, the president of Eastern Connecticut State University, recently wrote to the Christian Science Monitor that while specialized degree programs can be advantageous for some students, the skills learned during liberal arts programs can translate across careers.
"Technology skills, the talent to gather and analyze data, the capacity to consider alternative options in solving problems, and the ability to communicate one's viewpoint orally and in writing must be found across all layers of an organization," she wrote.
Núñez added that a liberal arts education is becoming increasingly valuable, as many schools are finding ways to enhance their programs. Specifically, the university president said she has noticed that more liberal arts courses of study are making their classes more hands-on for students. For example, at Eastern Connecticut State University, liberal arts majors have built wind turbines in Jamaica, interned in Washington, D.C., researched coral reefs in Haiti and analyzed the sanitation systems in Ghana.
