In his essay, “The New Liberal Arts”, Sanford J. Ungar expresses the importance of a liberal arts degree although there is a new found attraction to career education. Ungar addresses seven common misconceptions that the American people believe to be true. He shares that when students are immersed in a liberal arts education they learn to make a living, live a life rich in values and character, show diversity and complexity, and develop patterns to keep learning everyday for the rest of their lives. The first misperception states that a Liberal arts degree is a luxury most Americans cannot afford, but Ungar states that a liberal arts education is the best investment even in light of these financial circumstances. He believes career education …show more content…
Ungar has put this misconception to rest by saying the difficulty in the job market has nothing to do with a specific degree. A survey for the Association of American colleges and universities discovered that more than three-quarters of the nation's employers recommend that college-bound students pursue a liberal education. Misperception number three states that the liberal arts are a relevant for low income and first-generation college students. This misperception troubles Ungar and he says it is “ condescending to imply that those who have less cannot understand and appreciate the finer elements of knowledge”. He says this is a form or prejudice and makes very little sense. Everyone is capable of anything they set their mind to. A liberal education can be pursued by anyone because it allowed students to become level on the same playing field of learning and allows students to catch up to others if needed. The fourth misperception states that the STEM fields need to be the focus not the arts, but the liberal arts actually has the broadest range of disciplines in the natural sciences, humanities, in the social