ipl-logo

The Importance Of Diversity In Liberal Arts Education

1575 Words7 Pages

Seneca once said that “the liberal arts do not conduct the soul all the way to virtue, but merely set it going in that direction.” The Liberal Arts Colleges that are present nowadays also aim at orienting their students in this direction. However, many people believe that liberal arts education was only useful in the past when information was not easily accessible and now these institutions are obsolete. According to Merriam-Webster the term liberal arts education is defined as “college or university studies intended to provide chiefly general knowledge and to develop general intellectual capacities (such as reason and judgment) as opposed to professional or vocational skills.” Despite claims that Liberal Arts Colleges charge tuition fees that …show more content…

Paul Umbach conducted a study to find out how the diversity experience at such institutions is linked to the facilitation of critical thinking. He has arrived at the conclusion that exposure to diversity is associated with the “desired substantive outcomes of college” as well as with the way students perceive themselves in relation to others. What is more, students from Liberal Arts Colleges have higher chances of being exposed to diversity in comparison with other types of institutions because the main goal of the liberal arts education is to gather people from all over the world. Diversity experience also frames the way they perceive the activities in which they participate. Students learn the necessary skills about teamwork, how to take part in civic matters and have a positive impact on the whole society. They communicate with people from different backgrounds and learn about the multicultural world they will sooner or later work in. It is also proven that interactions with diverse students can contribute to the “intergroup relations and mutual understanding by challenging students to refine their thinking and by enriching the dialogue between students” (Umbach 169). My experience at AUBG confirms these conclusions. Before enrolling at the university I had never met …show more content…

According to Antonio De Velasco “liberal arts education is education to virtue.” The author states that liberal arts institutions do not only aim at teaching students how to do their job in the future. They want to show them both the useful and the good. When one spends 4 years in a learning environment surrounded by people who are encouraging and people from diverse nationalities one becomes more tolerant. Students are given the chance to enroll in different classes and to learn any subject they want which in turn frees their mind of bias and prejudice (457-458). Only after becoming part of AUBG did I start being more tolerant to people from various nations. Before that I regarded Albanians as violent people who are prone to committing crimes because that was what I had heard about them. However, once I got to know more of them, this assumption began to fade

Show More
Related

The New Liberal Arts Summary

224 Words | 1 Pages

“The New Liberal Arts” is written from the author's point of view. The author, Sanford J. Ungar, writes strongly on “Misperception” of Liberal Arts. He writes down each misperception and gives his reasoning, backed up with facts as to why he, the author, considers each one a misperception. The author writes about each misperception by numbering them and also gives reasoning. For example, “Misperception NO. 1: A liberal-arts degree is a luxury” and reasoning, “families can no longer afford… depths of the recession” (p. 227).

Read More

Summary Of The New Liberal Arts By Sanford Ungar

951 Words | 4 Pages

“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

Read More

Summary Of The New Liberal Arts By Sanford J. Ungar

396 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More

Summary Of The New Liberal Arts By Sanford Ungar

1056 Words | 5 Pages

The article prompts the reader to his thoughts on the subject and, therefore, the reader is automatically inclined to believe that what Ungar says is true. The liberal arts involve taking courses and procuring a degree in Arts or Sciences. These courses will be in general areas of study, like philosophy, mathematics, literature and so. A liberal arts education is more helpful than a career education because it proves graduates with a better chance of employment, develop skills that are an advantage globally and locally and, lastly,

Read More

Summary Of The New Liberal Arts By Sanford Ungar

1082 Words | 5 Pages

In the article "The New Liberal Arts", author Sanford J. Ungar takes a stance on the benefits and the need for students to pursue a liberal arts education. Ungar argues that despite modern day critique of liberal education, from his point of view as a liberal arts college president the criticisms and naysayers are futile. He swiftly and authoritively defends the affordable cost of a liberal education, employers desiring graduates with liberal education degrees, and the ability for those holding liberal arts degrees to compete with those pursuing science and mathematics majors. While Ungar's work has a great general idea, some of his specified points lack the evidence to truly stand on their own two feet. A liberal arts education is a useful

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Why We Undervalue A Liberal Arts Education

962 Words | 4 Pages

In the article “Why We Undervalue a Liberal Arts Education” by Adam Chapnick, the author points to reasons why the liberal arts degree is undervalued. While his article lacks direction, it is effective because he talks about the topics he promised and he backs up his claims efficiently through the use of ethos,pathos and logos. Overall his argument is legitimate and the article is well written. To my understanding, the article is analyzing the way the world looks at liberal arts degrees and how they should be teaching the students to appreciate them. Chapnick clearly thinks that the liberal arts degree is unappreciated by today’s society as you can see in this quote, “The message coming from the policy world is clear: if you want

Read More

Why We Undervalue A Liberal Arts Education By Adam Chapnick

984 Words | 4 Pages

The article, “Why we undervalue a liberal arts education” By Adam Chapnick written on March 6, 2013 is informative and insightful because the author talks about the importance of not undervaluing liberal arts. Chapnick tells you that at the end of the day science, technology, engineering and mathematics is what is really important. One of Adam Chapnick main idea is that the large public does not get the value of liberal arts. That it has no money value, it is just important.

Read More

Annotated Bibliography: White Privilege In The US

1743 Words | 7 Pages

A., & Tetreault, M. K. (2009). Diversity and Privilege. Academe, 95(1), 17-20. This article discusses how diversity within students in universities and diversity within the faculty lead to a more beneficial and genuine learning experience.

Read More

Why Does Diversity Matter At College Anyway

266 Words | 2 Pages

that Diversity expands worldliness, because college may be the first time a person has had the opportunity to have real interaction with people of diverse groups (2009). They further explained that interacting with people from a variety of groups widens you social circle, because you are expanding

Read More

Fareed Zakaria's Speech On The Value Of A Liberal Arts Education

939 Words | 4 Pages

According to Fareed, The Governors of Florida, Texas, and North Carolina have decided to cut the tax funding for a liberal arts education. The reason is because they feel as though liberal art is not really important as engineering is. Liberal arts may not seem important be it really is. Any job a person may have includes a form of literal arts rather a person realizes it or not. A liberal arts education is really major to have because it teaches a person how to write and speak very precisely, and also clearly.

Read More

Liberal Arts Studies Self-Analysis

1166 Words | 5 Pages

One specific item that was brought to my attention from the article was the purpose of the liberal arts education, and the “requirements” as noted from an institution but interpreted in my understanding. It is competency in communication, using the modes of thought characteristic of the major areas of knowledge, a knowledge of our basic cultural heritage, and a thorough understanding of at least one subject area (Cronon, W., 1998). My interpretation of this would be agreeing on the importance/competency of communication, but emphasizing the knowledge of culture as it applies from a global perspective, critical thinking as it should be applied and accentuating the understanding of at least one subject area. After reading the article, my understanding of the meaning of a liberal arts education, is heightened by the learning outcomes and prominence of the breadth areas as they are applied to my knowledge and life

Read More

The Argument Essay: The Liberal Arts Education

565 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

Education For Citizenship In Era Of Global Connections

1135 Words | 5 Pages

Martha Nussbaum, the author of “Education for Citizenship in Era of Global Connections,” states that higher education makes an important contribution to citizenship; also, that liberal arts education such as humanities provides fundamental and necessary tools to advance critical thinking and the control over our imagination. In the essay, “The Death of Universities” by Terry Eagleton, he states that the decline of humanities in the present education systems suggests that there is a negatively misleading definition to higher education and to universities itself. In the article, “Education for Citizenship in Era of Global Connections,” the author states, “education will develop each person’s capacity to be fully human, by which he means self-aware, self-governing, and capable of recognizing and respecting the humanity of all our fellow human beings, no matter where they are born, no matter what social class they inhabit, no matter what their gender or ethnic origin.” (Nussbaum, 290) Seneca, a member of the Socrates, had a huge influence on the modern democratic thoughts about humanities. Seneca believed that education for citizenship should not just be about taking orders, but to think beyond an instruction and to questions and to critically think about it.

Read More

College At Risk Summary

545 Words | 3 Pages

Going to college for many students is just a normal part of life. It is what will enable them to get an education that eventually will lead to get a well-paid job and the resources and the status to live a comfortable life. But for college professor, Andrew Delbanco, the American college has a higher purpose. In the article “College at Risk”, Delbanco states that colleges should be promoting critical thinking among students, through knowledge of the past and the interaction with each other; as well as, help them discover their talents and passions and figure out what they want to do in life. This type of education is called liberal arts and for Delbanco, it represents the ideal education.

Read More

Charles Murray Are Too Many People Going To College Summary

786 Words | 4 Pages

In Charles Murray’s essay “Are Too Many People Going to College,” he believes that the concept of college has changed over the years. According to him, a four-year college is no longer as necessary as it was when it was first created because most jobs requires more on job training. He also adds to his reasoning by mentioning that because of the advancement of internet, physical libraries and the physical proximity of student and teachers is less important. Because of the changes he noticed he believes that people should go to college but not for liberal education. He makes the claim that the basic core knowledge of liberal education should be learned in elementary and middle school and that only people with high academic abilities should be encouraged to go to college.

Read More

More about The Importance Of Diversity In Liberal Arts Education

Related Topics

Open Document