Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts

What is a Liberal Arts Degree?

A Liberal Arts Degree can refer to either an actual Bachelor of Liberal Arts or a degree in one of many Liberal Arts disciplines.

A Bachelor of Liberal Arts (BLA) provides a broad overview of humanities and is ideal for students who have a variety of academic interests they wish to explore. Students will take courses in philosophy, mathematics, literature, art history, languages – covering a range of areas rather than one specialized field.

A “Liberal Arts Degree” may also refer to a degree in any liberal arts discipline. Examples include:

  • Advertising
  • African-American Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art History
  • Astronomy
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice
  • Economics
  • English
  • Film and Video
  • Finance
  • Fine Arts
  • French
  • Geology
  • History
  • Journalism
  • International Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Mathematics
  • Philosophy
  • Photography
  • Psychology
  • Religion
  • Russian Studies
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Speech
  • Statistics
  • Theatre

There are hundreds of disciplines that can fall under this umbrella!

A Liberal Arts Degree – whether it’s a BLA or a degree in a Liberal Arts discipline – prepares students for the future by focusing on increased knowledge and understanding, rather than on training for a particular occupation.

What are Liberal Arts Classes?

Liberal Arts Classes are classes in the Liberal Arts subject areas, which generally include humanities, social sciences, creative arts and sciences. If you’re thinking that seems like a very broad list, you’re right! Because Liberal Arts is such a diverse field, students take classes in a wide variety of subjects.

Here are some examples of Liberal Arts Classes:

  • Personal Finance
  • Literature
  • Physics
  • Creative Writing
  • Social Psychology
  • Global Inequality
  • Women Studies

The classes run the gamut, but are designed to turn students into thinkers, communicators and leaders.

What is a Liberal Arts College?

A Liberal Arts College is an institution that provides a broad, diverse range of education rather than specialized career training. Students are encouraged to explore different fields to prepare for a variety of career options, rather than one particular occupation. Hallmarks of a Liberal Arts College include strong critical thinking and communication skills, which are essential in every field.

Liberal Arts colleges are typically private and tend to be small, both in overall population and in class size. Students benefit from an intimate learning environment, as well as increased access to professors and faculty.

What do liberal arts majors learn?

A better question would be: What won’t you learn? One of the benefits of a liberal arts education is the chance to explore multiple areas of interest. You’ll also acquire the skills you’ll need for lifelong learning—like research writing and communication.

Says Victoria McGillin, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Linfield College in Oregon: “Our [liberal arts majors] learn to read materials closely meaningfully analyze problems apply systematic approaches to the resolution of those problems and communicate solutions to others.”

David Kogler, associate director of admission at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota gives the following example of this. “Instead of learning only about business at a business school a liberal arts degree will teach you about business as well as the history politics and other areas that influence and shape the world of business.”

Bob Murray dean of enrollment management at Illinois Wesleyan University believes that a liberal arts education is more critical today than ever before. “A liberal arts education develops both the left and right side of the brain. Effective problem solving requires strong analytical and creative processes. Developing critical thinking skills and being able to comprehend various subjects and perspectives adds to the ability of liberal arts graduates to successfully connect the dots between multiple disciplines. Students benefit from being in small interactive classes with highly qualified faculty who teach them to discriminate and constructively challenge what they read see and hear. Learning and experiencing global perspectives enhances their ability to communicate with the highly diverse communities we live in.”

So it’s not only what you learn that’s valuable but also the higher order thinking and communication skills you develop like learning how to adapt to different situations that will ultimately lead to your success.

What are the most popular liberal arts majors?

While there is such a thing as a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree, oftentimes Liberal Arts majors is used to refer to anyone studying the Liberal Arts subject areas: humanities, social sciences, creative arts and sciences.

Some of the most popular majors or areas of concentration within Liberal Arts include:

  • History
  • Psychology
  • Philosophy
  • Linguistics
  • Literature

But keep in mind that Liberal Arts is a wide umbrella, and can vary by institution. While one university may place Mathematics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, another may offer it in their College of Engineering.

What kinds of liberal arts degree jobs are available?

A liberal arts degree will prepare you for hundreds of careers!

Here are some examples of careers you could pursue with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts:

Occupation Median Salary
Career Outlook
(2016-2026)*
Advertising, Promotions and Marketing Managers

 

$129,380 per year

10% (faster than average)

Public Relations Specialists

$59,300 per year

9% (average)

Interpreters and Translators

$47,190

18% (much faster than average)

Writers and Authors

$61,820

8% (average)

Graphic Designers

$48,700

4% (slower than average)

Craft and Fine Artists

$49,160

6% (average)

*Source:  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Because it is such a diverse field, you will be qualified to work in nearly any industry.

Those who opt for the broad Liberal Arts degree, rather than choosing an area of concentration, may wish to look for jobs with training opportunities.

List of the Best Liberal Arts Colleges

It can be tough to determine which are the best Liberal Arts Colleges, since they are all focused on providing excellent undergraduate programs in a wide range of subjects. But there are some important things to keep in mind as you consider your options.

First, if you are interested in a specific concentration, look for a Liberal Arts program that includes that as an option. See what the requirements are and whether it meets all of your needs.

Second, check out lists of the Top Liberal Arts Colleges (such as the one below). These rankings are typically based off of important data such as tuition fees, admission rates, graduation rates, class size and program diversity.

And finally, consider the subjective metrics as well. At the end of the day, you know yourself and what is important to you.  Here are some to consider:

  • Reputation
  • Sports teams
  • Religious affiliation
  • Percentage of students in fraternities/sororities
  • Proximity to hometown
  • Friends or relatives who attend / have attended
  • Extracurricular opportunities
  • Dining options
  • How you “feel” on campus

How heavily these things weigh will vary from student to student, but don’t let anyone tell you they don’t matter!