Key takeaways
- A liberal arts degree offers interdisciplinary subjects and coursework including sub-fields like humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and communications.
- Through its interdisciplinary nature, liberal arts degrees allow students to explore various subjects instead of focusing on a single specialization.
- You can find reputable and accredited liberal art programs from general colleges and universities, as well as specialized and private liberal art schools.
- Most of the liberal art majors develop communication skills through writing assignments, presentations, and discussions.
- There is a lot of emphasis on research skills, critical thinking, communication, and ethics and reasoning in liberal arts fields.
- Although not STEM-focused, liberal arts curricula often include science, math, and statistics subjects to enhance logical reasoning.
- Some of the most common specializations in a liberal arts degree include sociology, economics, communications, journalism, anthropology, religious studies, media studies, and more.
- Common liberal arts degree job titles include digital marketing specialist, content writer, research assistant, policy analyst, social worker, event assistant, and operations analyst.
- Best colleges for liberal arts degree include Arizona State University, Truman State University, University of Minnesota, and University of Maryland.
Whether you visit a liberal arts college or go to a university that offers a liberal arts degree, your exposure to numerous humanitarian subjects is guaranteed. Liberal arts is one of the most diverse and broad college degree that you can get to learn a variety of skills applicable in numerous settings.
Furthermore, a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts is an interdisciplinary program that covers many sub-field like social sciences and fine arts. However, narrowed-down subjects and courses may encompass fields like sociology, psychology, anthropology, research, and communication. This type of education prepares graduates for diverse career paths, including business, education, public service, media, and law, as well as further studies in graduate or professional schools.
In addition to this, a liberal arts degree emphasizes core skills like critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills rather than specialized technical training. As a student in this program, you are most likely to gain a well-rounded perspective on human culture, society, and intellectual thought.
Furthermore, any liberal arts programs also incorporate courses in natural sciences and mathematics to enhance logical reasoning and scientific literacy. We discover and learn everything there is to know about liberal arts college degrees, career prospects, the best colleges, and alternatives. Let’s dig in!
What is liberal arts?
Liberal arts is a term with a rich history and reasoning. In particular, the term was coined in historical education systems, referring to a subject or discipline that focused on developing particular skills in individuals. In fact, the term comes from the Latin phrase artes liberales, which roughly translates to when someone has the skills to live freely.
Resultantly, this educational field was designed to cultivate well-rounded individuals who could engage in informed discussions and adapt to various intellectual and professional challenges. Traditional liberal arts subjects include literature, philosophy, history, political science, psychology, sociology, anthropology, mathematics, and the natural sciences.
So, under the umbrella of these subjects and thought-provoking learning experience, young people in liberal arts develop a unique understanding of life. Undoubtedly, liberal arts is one of the most interesting and popular educational fields. Lastly, the “free” and diverse educational approach in liberal arts allows institutes to foster adaptability in their students.
What is a liberal arts degree?
So, now that you know what liberal arts is and why it’s so popular, you must be getting curious about an undergrad liberal arts program. In this section of the article, we will explore a liberal arts degree, what it entails, what it requires of you, and why it may be the right choice for you.
Since we have already established that it is an interdisciplinary program, let’s first acknowledge other important facts about liberal arts degrees. Firstly, a liberal arts degree or college major is not limited to liberal arts colleges only. This major is offered by all types of colleges and universities. However, liberal arts colleges are specialized within this field, and tend to be more laser-focused.
Secondly, liberal arts is often a department and main field that colleges allow students to opt for. Most commonly, colleges offer majors and specializations within their liberal arts program. Essentially, the socialization you choose is the ultimate game changer. This is the field that you specialize in and find career prospects in.
Thirdly, there are two types of undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, and you must choose between the two depending on your career goals and objectives. First, there is bachelor of arts in liberal arts, or BA, which is much more flexible and focuses on the humanities aspects. Meanwhile, there are bachelors of science in liberal arts, or BS, which focuses more on quantified aspects such as research and scientific studies.
Lastly, keep in mind that the liberal arts program curriculum and offerings vary from college to college. Some colleges may offer English, history, anthropology, and other subjects as majors. While other colleges may offer communications, research, and different types of specializations. So, we discuss program coursework and other factors in detail to help you plan your college journey accordingly.
Without further delay, let’s learn more about a liberal arts degree!
What do you learn in liberal arts?
A liberal arts degree prepares students for diverse career paths. So, it provides a well-roun
ded education across multiple disciplines, fostering critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills. Unlike specialized degrees, liberal arts programs emphasize interdisciplinary learning. Some of the key areas you will be focusing on during this program are:
| Humanities | Explore human societies, cultures, thought, reason, and expression. Subjects may include literature, philosophy, linguistics, and fine arts |
| Social sciences | focus on human behavior, societies, and interactions. Common areas include sociology, psychology, anthropology, political science, criminology, and economics. |
| Natural science | Not STEM-related, but foundations of scientific explanations of areas such as biology, environmental sciences, physics, and statistics. |
| Communications and media | Focuses on communication as core skill through areas like public speaking, writing, debate, and media studies. |
| Additional electives and possible offerings | Electives and subjects may include ethics, law, film production, gender studies, international relations, international business, and entrepreneurship. |
Coursework and program details
Now, whatever you will learn within the liberal arts program, there is going to be a specified coursework that must be followed. All institutes, including colleges and universities offering liberal arts degrees have specified coursework that provides prospective students an overview of what they will learn and what teaching methods will be used.
In addition to this, colleges use a mix of different teaching methods, typically including:
- Written examinations and quizzes
- Research papers and reports
- Reflection papers
- Presentations and projects
- Group projects
- Thesis or capstone projects
- Practical work experience
- Verbal exams and assessments
- Guest lectures and seminars
- Case studies
- Field trips
Overall, a blend of all these learning tools helps students reach their objectives. It also ensures a good variety of different mediums over a span of 4 years, preventing burn out and boredom.
Here is a list of the most common courses and subjects taught within liberal arts degrees regardless of what specialization you choose:
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Specializations in liberal arts
Just like every college major, there is also a range of options to choose from within liberal arts. You may be offered some of the following choices, depending on the college’s resources and expertise. The most common and popular specializations within liberal arts include:
Religious studies
Firstly, religious studies is a highly popular specialization within the liberal arts field. This subfield offers in-depth insights into the world of religion, their impact on society and culture, and religious traditions. Moreover, the field studies religion on various fronts and aspects. It helps foster critical thinking and reasoning.
Sociology
Secondly, there is sociology offered by almost all renowned colleges and universities. However, most colleges offer standalone sociology undergraduate degrees with specializations in areas such as gender and crime. In particular, sociology is the study of human behaviors in groups and under different contexts, such as culture and globalization.
Anthropology
Just like sociology, you will also find a plethora of standalone anthropology degrees. These degrees are primarily focused on studying cultural history and understanding human civilization. In addition to this, it assesses and devalues human life in the context of time and space, focusing on aspects such as culture, biology, environmental impact, and archaeology.
Economics
It comes as a surprise to many people when economics is brought under the wing of liberal arts. Many people link economics to business schools and majors. However, economics is also a liberal arts sub-branch, and is concerned with consumer behavior and their impact on economic problems, and vice versa. This is the best option for business-minded students.
Journalism and media studies
Next on the list is journalism and media studies. If you are seeking careers in journalism, PR, advertising, and so, you should opt for this specialization. From writing newsletters to fostering excellent storytelling skills, this specialization has rewarding and unique career prospects.
Explore more about journalism degrees!
Communications
Lastly, we have on the list is communication. So, just like sociology, journalism, and anthropology, you will also find standalone bachelor degrees in communications. This is also highly interdisciplinary, so you will be dealing with different subjects such as business management and corporate management in the context of communication. The career prospects may include job titles like brand manager, PR specialist, and organizational development specialist.
Explore a communications degree!
List of colleges with liberal arts programs
Choosing the right college is a crucial step in ensuring that you stand out and enhance your profile in front of a potential employer. However, there are several factors to consider, which include some of the following:
- College and program accreditations
- Program details such as courses and subjects
- Cost of attendance
- Financial aid options
- Mode of delivery such as online or hybrid
- Quality and reputation of faculty
- Campus location
- Admission criteria
- Acceptance rate
- Graduation rate
Based on these factors, we have curated a list of the best liberal arts colleges in the USA. Let’s dig in!
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland is known for its vast variety of undergraduate majors that are bound to offer some promising career and salary outlooks. Firstly, the college offers specializations in fields like communications, media, journalism, and political science. Therefore, you have a variety to choose from. Lastly, the college has a high acceptance rate, easy admission, and excellent career facilities.
Arizona State University
Next, we have Arizona State University. ASU is popular for its accredited education quality, along with its hundreds of undergraduate majors. At ASU, you can opt for an online Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, designed for students seeking a flexible and interdisciplinary education. This program emphasizes the humanities and social sciences, allowing students to tailor their studies to their individual interests and career aspirations.
University of Illinois Springfield
As we have already established, critical thinking is a crucial skill for a successful liberal arts career. Therefore, the BA in liberal arts at the University of Illinois, Springfield, focuses thoroughly on fostering critical thinking and analytical abilities in the young students. Moreover, it is a 4-year program that you can choose to take either online or on-campus, as per your convenience.
Truman State University
At Truman State University, you can get the liberal arts majors, and choose between either a BA or BS program. Additionally, you can choose between political science, business, psychology, and many such areas of focus. Furthermore, the college offers excellent opportunities to continue the program and get a postgraduate degree as well. In summary, this major is ideal for creative and independent students seeking a broad education combined with strong communication skills.
University of Minnesota Morris
Finally, there is University of Minnesota, Morris, on our list. This is a public liberal arts college located in Morris, Minnesota. As part of the University of Minnesota System, it offers a personalized education with the resources of a larger institution. Moreover, the college offers a variety of combinations between majors and minors so that you can get a more diverse education. Additionally, the college is focused a lot on research and student development projects.
What are the career paths with a liberal arts degree?
So, before you commit to any college major, a huge part of the consideration is the data and trends. We use credible sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which provide insights into the career prospects and salary outlooks of liberal arts degrees.
Therefore, here are some of the most notable statistics and trends regarding liberal arts degrees:
- The median wage for liberal arts professions was $66,000 in 2023.
- 62% of the relevant jobs require at least a bachelor degree.
- Advanced degrees such as masters also help enhance job opportunities.
- Educational institutes are the largest employers of liberal arts graduates.
- Healthcare and education sectors are projected to increase their demand for liberal arts professionals by 19% from 2023 to 2033.
- Analytical and communication skills make liberal arts graduates good for many sales roles.
- A common career path for liberal art professionals are elementary and middle school teachers and administration employees.
- Strong interpersonal skills are a requirement for most relevant jobs.
- Management skills taught during liberal arts degrees are commonly required for any management roles.
In summary, some of the above-mentioned stats are very promising. So, let’s dig into what kind of skills you learn with a liberal arts degree that can ensure the best career outlook for you.
Skills you can get with a liberal arts degree
A college education in any field is the best and most foolproof way of ensuring that you develop new and essential skills for practical work. Therefore, a liberal arts degree from a reputable college is going to offer you more than just a degree or diploma. Through diverse coursework and interdisciplinary learning, you can develop critical thinking, communication, research, and ethical reasoning—all of which are highly valued in today’s job market.
In addition to this, a comprehensive undergraduate program uses numerous tools to foster the necessary skills. For example, college programs use real-world examples, case studies, and in-depth analysis to sharpen students’ minds and make them most critically aware.
So, with a liberal arts degree, you can develop skills such as:
- Critical thinking skills are developed through frequent use of real-world examples, case studies, and critical deconstruction of different types of information.
- Communication skills, spiritually written communication, are fostered through class participation, written examinations, research essays, and so on.
- Lots of importance is given to research skills in liberal arts, in order to gather data, use data recording tools, manage the data, analyze it, and report.
- Ethical understanding and reasoning for understanding ethical dilemmas and moral reasoning.
In addition, some other skills you may be able to develop with this degree include:
- Leadership
- Project management
- Data management
- Time management
- Interpersonal skills
- Media law and ethics
- Creative writing
- Problem solving
- Conflict resolution
- Global perspectives
- Social surveys
- interviews
Most common jobs for liberal arts degree holders
So, based on recent job trends, there is a wide array of different jobs that you may be eligible for with a liberal arts degree. So, knowing what job titles are the most common, you can make your job search more focused and expedite it. Here is the list of common jobs for liberal arts graduates:
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Start your liberal arts bachelor’s degree today
In summary, a degree in liberal arts offers a well-rounded exposure to different disciplines and fields within a broader field. Furthermore, liberal arts programs allow students to choose their majors and minors more freely, ensuring that they focus precisely on what interests them.
In addition to this, there are quite a few colleges offering excellent liberal arts degrees. Some of these colleges include the University of Illinois at Springfield, University of Minnesota Morris, and many more. However, choosing the right college depends on various considerations which include assessing and checking the college reputation, alumni profile, program coursework, and so on.