“The New Liberal Arts” Sanford Ungar - Collaborative Summary Sanford J. Ungar was the president of Goucher College, located in Baltimore, Maryland. He wrote this essay to debunk common misperceptions about liberal arts colleges and the education provided by them. The first misperception he confronts is the idea that a liberal arts education has become far too expensive for most families to afford; therefore, it would be better if potential students focused on education specific to their desired career. Ungar argues that this is not the case. He asserts that it is better for young people to have a well-rounded liberal arts education that will prepare them for a plethora of career paths rather than having an education based solely on one career
The New Liberal Arts- Summary In the article, “The New Liberal Arts,” author Sanford J. Ungar addresses several misperceptions that people have about the importance of Liberal arts education in today’s world. In doing so, he highlights seven misperceptions that people have and then provides a logical correction to them. In his article, the first misperception claims that people should focus more on career education rather than liberal arts education. On contrary, Ungar argues that the society today, demand individual’s who have preparation in all fields, which liberal arts provide.
A liberal arts education will prepare you for the jobs that you may not have intended to end up
Ungar writes to correct false stereotypes of liberal arts education and asserts that liberal arts will create well-rounded students armed to achieve success. Wallace declares that liberal arts instead provides human value through creating graduates able to think differently outside of the natural human tendency, not graduates with more value through experience in more fields as Ungar sees it. Although Wallace does not disprove Ungar, I support his perspective that what a liberal arts education provides is more than what meets the eye. Graduates of liberal arts may be able to claim that they were provided with experience in several areas, but this does not guarantee to the employer that they are strong and valuable still in those areas. What can be guaranteed, however, is that a liberal arts graduate is well prepared to control how and what they think—as Wallace Describes—regardless of content they are able to recall from their schooling and put into practice.
My time at Ashford University was well spent, it was strong and long however merited. I testify that my major of Liberal Arts was the best alternative for me. How you would enhance the Liberal Arts major. That is 100 dollar question, enhancing the Liberal Arts experience. I have discovered that while assisting you with using your basic learning and basic considering, you learn to think with a critical mindset.
The Liberal Arts are the subject of a major debate between scholars, politicians, and even students from all around the world. Some people believe that a LIberal Arts education is necessary in order for a person to be successful in their careers and helpful in their communities. Others argue that students instead need to focus on improving their skills in their chosen career field so they can have more opportunities to them. However, one side of the argument that is generally overlooked is the idea that students can actually do both. Students can, and should, take the opportunity to explore both the Liberal Arts and their chosen fields of study.
It does not focus on the basic elements of knowledge, but rather encompasses the broader sense of knowledge. Liberal arts, described as “a conservative approach to preparation for life,” (Ungar, 2017, p. 230) prepares students for life by weighing all knowledge as equal and beneficial. Furthermore, it prepares students for the future careers they desire to pursue. Contrary to the belief that liberal arts are useless in the job field, employers desire employees with an liberal arts degree; because employers place high value on innovative employees, who can think critically within the job field. Employers recognize that a liberal arts education equips individuals to communicate effectively and to analyze various problems.
Pursuing a fulfilling career that nurtures the curious mind is no longer an option, and as Selingo puts it, the new pressure to find a career out of school “[worries] those who advocate liberal arts studies and the idea that college should be a place to develop a foundational knowledge that provides lifetime benefits” (Selingo 1). I confront this myself as a political science and anthropology double major. Although I’m lucky to have a career path ahead of me, I’m still subject to bizarre looks and questions of what I
While pursuing dual degrees in chemistry and French, I have discovered the indispensable value of a Liberal Arts education. I have had the privilege of receiving a comprehensive and well-rounded education at IUPUI by studying the sciences and humanities. The cross-disciplinary connections between the hard sciences and the arts have been nothing short of remarkable; gaining such an extensive perspective about the world in which we live has ignited a passion for both learning and life itself. It is my observation that my Liberal Arts education has benefited me academically, socially, and personally. Upon graduating from IUPUI, I will be receiving a Bachelor of Arts in French and a minor in philosophy from the School of Liberal Arts.
The liberal arts education that the College of Arts and Science provides offers unique opportunities to pursue interests that may not turn into a future career. The Achieving Excellence in Liberal Education curriculum at Vanderbilt University allows students to advance their knowledge in areas other than their major and provides them with an opportunity to be better equipped for future education or interests. I will embrace the breadth of courses offered by throwing myself into my education. With these core courses being required, it makes studying other interests accessible. For example, I can learn how to better understand myself through a creative lens while taking classes in an art class that furthers my education.
I am confident that with a B.A. degree and my broad range of knowledge, I will have flexibility if I choose to pursue a different career. Employers will also realize that someone with a liberal arts degree has that range of knowledge of different subjects. Murray believes that “most students go to college to acquire
I can already see some of the contributions my education in liberal arts has had on my life. At work I listen open-mindedly, I communicate better both at work and at home. I feel my liberal arts education has helped me grow in my problem solving skills and my ability to understand other people’s points of view. Another area in which I have begun to notice some changes in my life is my attitude towards others. I will be honest and say that before starting my education at Ottawa University I was more judgmental in my attitude towards others.
There are many different things that can impact students in their high school years. Whether these things are friends, activities, or the sports they participate in they all impact the student. Many opportunities are presented to students in high school, although not many impacts the student beyond high school, I believe this opportunity will impact me forever. I would love to be a part of the Early College Program this coming spring. I believe the program will do nothing but help me grow and strive to be a better student and continue being involved.
With the year-round pressure pertaining to college applications on high school seniors follows the impending decision of choosing an appropriate college major. Generally, the decision-making process involves prioritizing one field of interest over another, however, due to globalization and constant innovation in technology determining a college major has increasingly become the modern day equivalent of the metaphorical line between life and death. Even so, the obvious choice would be the prestigious STEM fields over liberal arts due to the instant job opportunities which are seemingly ludicrous to a recent graduate. Nevertheless, liberal arts education should be encouraged to be pursued at higher education institutions in USA because it helps
Choosing a college major is one of the most important decisions in a person’s life. The effect choosing a college major has on one’s life is much like a small ripple in the middle of a vast ocean. In the students senior year it is a simple seemingly inconsequential click of a button on an online application. But by the time this once meek ripple reaches the shore of the students’ life it has already transformed into a great tidal wave that has influenced their life every step of the way.
