What does “liberal arts” really mean?
Over the years I’ve traveled far and wide for work and fun. And I’ve seen how different states, provinces, and countries (along with their school systems) can be vastly different. Yet, there’s one thing I’ve noticed that seems to be the same everywhere: confusion about what it means to get a “liberal arts” education.
When I give a presentation and say “liberal arts” there’s generally two common reactions:
“Liberal arts? Is that a political view?”
“I’m interested in science/engineering/math. I don’t want to study the liberal arts.”
While I completely understand where these reactions might come from, they are both big misconceptions. With that in mind, this blog post is designed to provide a bit more clarity on what “liberal arts” really means.
“Liberal Arts” actually refers to “Liberal Arts and Sciences”
This is an idea that extends all the way back to Ancient History and refers to a “desire for universal understanding.” In fact, one of the earliest known instances of a liberal arts education can be traced back to Pythagoras of Samos (think Pythagorean Theorem and right angle triangles!). Pythagoras used knowledge learned from the Ancient Egyptians across many subject areas to develop his interest in mathematics. 2,000+ years later, the liberal arts are still going strong.
“In modern colleges and universities the liberal arts include the study of literature, languages, philosophy, history, mathematics, and science as the basis of a general, or liberal, education. Sometimes the liberal-arts curriculum is described as comprehending study of three main branches of knowledge: the humanities (literature, language, the fine arts, and history), the physical and biological sciences and mathematics, and the social sciences.”
Today, liberal arts does not refer to a political movement or subject area. Instead it’s an approach to learning that encourages students to take classes, explore, and gain knowledge in many different areas.
Why is this important?
The best Mathematicians and Philosophers know their subjects are intertwined and take classes in both areas
English majors can learn a lot from exploring a History class, which might serve as background for their writing
Someone studying Environmental Science will have better insight if they also take classes in Geography, Sociology, and Politics
Theater majors should still know how to keep a budget and understand basic Economics
Engineers may want to enroll in a few Business and Psychology courses so they remember to take human behavior into consideration when selling their products or inventions
How does this work in practice?
As someone who works in education, I draw every single day from the classes I took in political science, sociology, ethics, budgeting and finance, writing, psychology, history, statistics, and economics to name a few. Over the years I’ve also taught myself networking, public speaking, graphic design, data analytics, and a tiny bit of coding.
This is why the liberal arts are so important! In the 21st century we don’t just learn one thing and stay in that lane for the rest of our lives. The more knowledge you have, the more prepared you are for any opportunities or challenges that might come your way.
“But what if I want to major in STEM?”
It’s also a misconception that students interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) don’t receive a liberal arts education. I’ll use my own undergraduate experience as an example… At Northwestern University, the McCormick School of Engineering requires students to take classes in math, engineering, basic science, and computing. However, Engineering majors also have a required number of classes in design and communications, social sciences, and the humanities that must be taken to graduate.
Ask a STEM major at Emory, the University of Illinois, Iowa State, Michigan, MIT, Rice, UT-Austin, or Washington (just to name a few) if they had to take a writing, foreign language, or social science course. I bet the answer is yes. In fact, I bet many of them received a liberal arts education without even realizing it.
Even CalTech, one of the preeminent STEM research institutions in the country, requires its students to undertake “significant study in the humanities and social sciences.” I feel confident saying that the vast majority of undergraduate programs in the United States utilize a liberal arts approach in some way.
To dive in a bit more: there are about 1,500 undergraduate institutions in the United States that identify as “Liberal Arts Colleges.” This does not refer to what their students study, but how they study. Some of the best science, math, and engineering programs in the nation exist at these “liberal arts” colleges. They are places where you can get hands-on experience in smaller classes while forming close relationships with classmates, professors, and mentors. So, at the end of the day, don’t be afraid of the phrase “liberal arts” or let yourself fall into the common misconceptions.
If you’re looking to reflect on different subjects and what you might want to study in college (and beyond), the College Essay Journal is a the perfect resource!
Colleges That Change Lives is a great book if you’re hoping to learn more about some amazing schools that tend to use a liberal arts approach to learning.