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Sanford Ungar A Liberal Education Analysis

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Liberal Education: The Decision of a Lifetime
College, a decision that everyone has to make. Whether a potential student chooses to pursue college, or not, the options are endless. One of these options being liberal education. Being faced with this same decision as a graduating senior, I came to the consensus that a liberal education was the best choice for me, but certainly not for everyone. Sharing some of the same opinions, I agree with both Sanford Ungar and Charles Murray. Sanford Ungar, retired President of Goucher College, addresses many fallacies about a liberal education in his essay “A New Liberal Arts”. Conversely, Political Scientist, Charles Murray, emphasizes that a liberal education, or secondary education isn't for everyone …show more content…

Ungar begins his argument by discussing the versatile education that a liberal arts degree offers. He states, “ the traditional, well-rounded preparation that the liberal arts offer is a better investment than ever- that the future demands of citizenship will require not narrow technical or job-focused training, but rather a subtle understanding of the complex influences that shape the world we live in” (227). Ungar stipulates that with a liberal education, students gain a broad understanding of subjects that may not pertain to their specific degree pathway. Ungar supports this claim by providing data that addresses the success rate of finding a job with a liberal education background. He references a 2009 survey for the Association of American Colleges and Universities. This survey proves that a liberal education is not irrelevant. According to his interpretation of this survey, Ungar declared,”more than three-quarters of our nation’s employers recommend that college bound students pursue a ‘liberal education’” (228). This research proves that liberal education is in fact an “investment”, and that many can find jobs after graduation. The two points that Ungar revelas, shows his readers that there are in fact benefits to liberal arts …show more content…

Ungar believes that a Liberal education is “well-rounded”. This means that a liberal education not only broadens a student’s understanding of their degree, but also expands their knowledge of other subject content. To go hand in hand with this, Murray believes “more people should be getting the basics of a liberal education” (235). He states, that “ Liberal education in college means taking on the “tough stuff” (237). Murray uses On Liberty to describe the usefulness that philosophy has within a liberal arts education program. Without it, he mentions, students would struggle to interpret important text like On Liberty ( 237-238). All in all, both authors agree that liberal education expands students’ understanding. However, Ungar advocates a liberal education (since he was a president of liberal arts college) which results in a one-sided biased opinion. While on the other hand, Murray proves to his readers that a Liberal education is not for everyone. Murray’s point is clear and concise: some people do not need to get a degree to be successful. However, he is not the only one who believes

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