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The Value of a Liberal Arts Education

1.         A liberal arts college graduate has broad knowledge.  Study of a broad, but purposeful selected core body of knowledge equips the graduate to:

      ·        learn from history, science and literature
            ·        set personal experience in context
            ·        make enlightened, informed decisions
            ·        converse intelligently with a wide variety of people
            ·        understand and frame arguments of diverse types
            ·        understand the functioning of political, social and economic institutions
            ·        escape provincialism.

2..        A liberal arts college graduate thinks effectively.  Practice in logical, analytical,
            and creative thought disciples the graduate for:

            ·        identifying flawed arguments
            ·        solving problems
            ·        coming to sound conclusions
            ·        recognizing and proposing options.

3.                  A liberal arts college graduate can communicate effectively.  Discipline in thinking, coupled with practice in writing and speaking, prepares the graduate to:

            ·        communicate information, ideas, analyses and arguments clearly
            ·        persuade others
            ·        work collaboratively
            ·        provide leadership.

4.                A liberal arts college graduate can make discriminating judgments.  Practice in
            logical, analytical, and creative thought disciplines the graduate for:

            ·        identifying flawed arguments
            ·        solving problems
            ·        coming to sound conclusions
            ·        recognizing and proposing options.

5.                  A liberal arts college graduate can see connections.  Guidance in getting beyond disciplinary and political boundaries conditions the graduate to:

            ·        anticipate outcomes in complex situations
·        acknowledge and value interdependency
·        work productively with people from other cultures.

6.                  A liberal arts college graduate is quantitatively conversant.  Introduction to and practice in using mathematical approaches equips the graduate to:

 ·        employ quantitative methods in solving practical problems
             ·        assess arguments that include quantitative and statistical information
             ·        use quantitative and statistical information appropriately in decision-making.

7.                  A liberal arts college graduate is committed to learning.  Inculcation in the techniques and pleasures of learning, including specialized learning in the major, enables the graduate to:

            ·        pursue graduate and professional education
            ·        remain open to new experiences, insights and points of view
            ·        ferret out new information
            ·        enjoy learning over a lifetime.

In general, the ideal product of a liberal arts education is a graduate prepared for leadership, for vocation, for good citizenship, and for a satisfying and productive life.

Gibson, Gerald.  Good Start: A Guidebook for New Faculty in Liberal Arts Colleges (Boston, Mass.: Anker Publishing Company, 1992), 85, 86.