Liberal Arts Education Archives

The Role And Importance Of Liberal Arts Education

Posted on December 15, 2024 | by Laureen

In order to talk about what a liberal education is and what it means to someone I am going to be writing about William Cronon’s views as well as Andrew Delbanco and David Wallace on what they perceive it is. After that I will be writing about my own experiences with USP and my opinion on liberal education. It is important to ideas from many different people because some may think it is a waste of time or money and they might not know how important it is to have a liberal education. After going through the liberal education courses the goal is to help students appreciate it more and be more successful with life after college. Throughout this essay my goal is to attempt to try and help people understand why some people think having a liberal education is important.

To begin, I am going to be discussing what William Cronon’s views are on a liberal education as well as what I think of it. In the essay I read from Cronon it was interesting to see what he perceives a liberal education is because it is not easy to define. One of Cronon’s views is that a liberal education can often be misleading. What he says is it isn’t right to assume that just because someone has gotten through all the courses needed doesn’t mean they have a good liberal education. Cronon writes about an important aspect about a liberal education, “A liberal education is not something any of us ever achieve; it is not a state. Rather, it is a way of living in the face of our own ignorance, a way of groping toward wisdom in full recognition of our own folly, a way of educating ourselves without any illusion that our educations will ever be complete.” I think what Cronon is trying to get at here is that we need to focus on what our wisdom is. Knowing the facts is certainly important, but we need to know more in order to make rational decisions in the real world. Not every situation we come across is going to be the exact same and it is important to know these facts in advance to make sure we’re making the best possible decision for certain situations. I don’t necessarily disagree with what Cronon is saying but I feel achieved after taking the liberal education courses because I feel like I accomplished something I wasn’t intending to. Another thing that stood out to me in Cronon’s essay is all the values that he perceives a liberal education should contain. I will be writing about three of them. William Cronon points out that, one of his values is “They listen, and they hear.” I think what Cronon is trying to say here is that it is very important to listen to what others are saying instead of just focusing on I myself am going to say to contribute to a conversation. In my own experience, I find this difficult because focusing on what others are trying to say may make me forget about what I wanted to contribute. William Cronon points out that, another value is “They can solve a wide variety of puzzles and problems.” For this value I think what he is trying to say is that having a general education will give us the ability to solve a diverse set of problems we didn’t know we were capable of. Having diverse knowledge will also help us identify skills that we didn’t know we had. William Cronon points out that, his seventh value is, “They practice humility, tolerance, and self-criticism.” We need to have the ability to put ourselves in other people’s shoes to know what they perceive as right or what their feelings are. Doing this we will be able to figure out our similarities as well as our differences.

Next, I am going to be writing about what Andrew Delbanco views a liberal education is, as well as my thoughts on it. What a lot of people want to know is if college is worth it. In this video one of the first things Andrew Delbanco pointed out is, “college isn’t necessarily preparing people for the marketplace, but it helps people discover who they are” (00:01:06-00:01:15). This point Delbanco stated interrelates to what Cronon was saying about how it helps us discover our talents/skills. Some of the values he mentioned were people needing to be able to read and write after graduating. The point I think Delbanco is trying to make is that a lot of people may not realize how important something is at the moment but we need to take all of these classes to give us the ability to be more successful with life after college. Having these necessary skills will give us not only more options but help us grow as a person. One downside of college is the cost which Delbanco mentioned in the video. Some people can’t afford to get pursue a good education. In my experience, I can sometimes find it hard to discover who I am sooner if I am forced to classes I know I don’t like because it may be a repeat from high school. For example, having to take accounting, I took an accounting class in high school and didn’t like it then, so it dawned on me when I found out I needed to take two accounting classes when I got to college.

Lastly, when talking about liberal education it may be important to note some of the key similarities and differences between Wallace’s speech on liberal education and Cronon’s essay. I will also be giving my experiences with the USP we have here on campus and my opinions of them. One similarity I found between the two is that we need to know how to actively listen to others. This is important because if we do this, we will be able to put ourselves in other people’s shoes more easily as well as develop our own knowledge/thinking. Another similarity I found, was having a higher liberal education will help us gain a better focus on more aspects of life itself and this could contribute to better decision making in the future. One difference I found between the two is that Wallace talked about how our day isn’t only affected by ourselves, but others can influence it as well. An example that Wallace gave in his speech was grocery shopping after work. He mentioned that it is a very popular thing to do right after work meaning there will be rush hour traffic and these stores will be hard to get in and out of in a short amount of time. However, this may not be the worst thing because it will give us more time to think and make better decisions. In my experience with the USP here on campus it hasn’t been the best, but I feel like it could be improved. After going through these videos and essays it has changed some of my viewpoints on getting a liberal education. Something that I didn’t think about before was being able to discover my own skills/talents. Even though I haven’t discovered them yet, I am hoping the USP program will still do this for me. One of the courses I had to take being a business major was called “applied calculus for business” and I didn’t know why I needed this course. After taking it, I now know it may be important in helping me make better decisions in the business world because I will have a diverse amount of knowledge. Over the past two years here I was a management major because I thought I may open my own business, but I didn’t know I would need all these finance classes and that’s not really what I wanted to do. I think USP is a good idea in theory but unfortunately, it’s not executed properly because it shouldn’t take more than a year just in case someone would want to change their major later in college.

In conclusion, having a liberal education can be important for most college graduates if USP could make some changes. Completing a liberal education in a year in my opinion is plenty of time for people to discover what they like and don’t like as well as find out their talents/skills. We also need to take into consideration people in high school may already know what they want to do with their lives after college so they’re not just wasting time or money. Given how expensive college is, it is important for people to know what they like and don’t like in a shorter amount of time, so they aren’t stuck in college longer than they need to be.

Liberal Arts Education: Definition And Evolution

Posted on December 15, 2024 | by Laureen

This paper is a research into the History of Liberal Arts, in particular, what is identified as a liberal arts education, when was it first recognized, and how it evolved. My research will focus on the historical roots of a liberal arts program and the benefits it brought to those who pursued a liberal arts education. My research will conclude with the impact a liberal arts education continues to have in today’s world.

The worth of a liberal arts education can be hard to explain because it can’t be dissected down to a simple solution for all. The idea of a liberal arts education came into existence as a way to educate the whole person. By studying the liberal arts, a person would be developing themselves into a meaningful and contributing member of society. A liberal arts student would learn to reason, analyze, and express themselves creatively, allowing them to take intellectual risk and become lifelong learners. This research will reveal when and how this line of thinking about education came into play.

In researching the history of a liberal arts education, seven historical perspectives were identified. These seven perspectives started in the time period Before Christ with Socrates and into the1970’s and the twentieth century. These seven historical perspectives are recognized as idealism, realism, pragmatism, reconstruction, existentialism, behaviorism, and analytic philosophy.

Greek philosophers believed the Liberal Arts were the studies that would “develop both moral excellence and greater intellect for man” (Roen, 2018). Each of these components were important to identify the aims of education.

Specific topics were taught during this period as part of a liberal arts program by Greek philosophers, based on what they determined would be essential for the gentlemen of the time. These were known and referred to as the “Seven Liberal Arts” (Roen, 2018). Liberal arts originated during the time period of the Hellenic Age. This spanned the time period from the eight century B.C. to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. (Wagner 1983). The ideal education at this time would have focused on character (morals), physique (body), and the mind (reason), according to A Social History of Education by, Robert Holmes Beck.

According to Rodriquez, the term “Seven Liberal Arts” or artes liberales refers to the specific “branches of knowledge” that were taught in medieval schools. “These seven branches were divided into two categories: the Trivium and the Quadrivium. The Trivium referred to the branches of knowledge focused on language, specifically grammar, rhetoric, and logic. The second division, the Quadrivium, focused on mathematics and its application: arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, and music” (Roen, 2018).

At the end of the Persian wars, Athens became a powerful and rich city-state and the spread of democracy began. The Rhetorical Sophists took this opportunity to teach rhetoric and oratory to young men interested in becoming wealthy and influential. Men such as Plato, a conservative of the times, felt young men should be developing their mind, body, and character. While Plato views on education was somewhat different than that of the Sophists, it cannot be overlooked that the overall objective of the Sophists was to grow students into sophisticated and effective citizens working to improve life in general. The Sophists approach to education was based on two different curriculums. One was the natural sciences and the other was based on rhetoric and political science.

One of the well-known Sophists of the time was Socrates. Socrates is remembered not by any work written down that we can pinpoint, but by the teachings of his students who included Plato and Xenophon. Socrates wanted an ethical system that would be based on human reasoning rather that theological doctrine. He attempted to establish an ethical system based on human reason rather than theological doctrine. It was the belief of Socrates that human choice was motivated by a desire for happiness. Socrates is remembered as both the “Father of Ethics” and “The Father of Western Philosophy” who believed man should be educated and concerned with the well-being of society.

Plato cultivated the idea that men who learned a craft or technology were not worthy of being a gentleman and had no place in a liberal education. One of the beliefs held by Plato was that men were born to their station in life to hold either a high or low social position, in a role of subservience or leadership. One of the elements of Plato’s idealist philosophies still in practice today is the search for truth. “The search for wisdom is really a search for truth, an ongoing pursuit each new generation of students must do, although the final answers may always be the same” (Ozmon & Craver, 1976). One student of Plato’s, Aristotle, stated that “some men are born to be slaves, by nature are intended to be slaves” (Beck, 1965). Aristotle is best remembered as one of the greatest thinkers.

While the Sophists did not share this view, any influence over this belief was lost over the years and even today we see a separation in education from that of technology or skill based versus a college education. Sophists are primarily remembered for is the introduction and study of grammar and rhetoric, which has made it mark through modern times.

As years went by and change took place due to wars, a movement within the church to teach and educate took on a philosophical base, impacted by the ideas of Aristotle. There was a period of time from the sixth to the tenth century when only the Church conducted any type of education. It was the church that encouraged the extension of brotherhood to help the poor, week, and needy during the middle ages.

Pragmatic philosophy brought with it the proponent of human experiences. John Locke, maintained the idea that “man’s mind is blank at birth, a tabula rasa”. In other words, a man at birth has no rules for processing his thoughts, that these rules are determined though physical experiences. He likened this idea to a computer, saying until it is programmed, one cannot get anything from it.

The era of reconstruction brought with it two premises. One was that society is in constant need of change or reconstruction. The second was that social change involved both the reconstruction of education and using education to reconstruct society. During the period of the 1920’s and 1930’s, John Dewey felt education could be used as a tool to change man and society. This philosophy became known in the minds of people with radical social reform in which the norm was rejected and relativism was accepted.

The fifth perspective, Existentialism, is interpreted in a myriad of confusing ways, which makes it difficult to sort out a meaning. One of the main takeaways learned from the readings is the idea that “the individual does not discover ideas; rather, he creates them”. This research included the notion that “concepts like beauty, truth, and justice are all man-made” in addition is the thought that even God is a man-made idea.

Behaviorism, while not necessarily the same as the other perspectives, is rooted in several other philosophical theories. Behaviorism looks at the psychological theory that deals with the “nature of man and society, values, the good of life, and speculations or assumptions on the nature of reality”. For clarification, behaviorism is rooted in our responses to environmental stimuli which then shape our actions.

The next perspective of the seven identified is Analytic Philosophy. When looking at this phase, one of the main issues it brings attention to is the “meaning” given to specific language. It looks at the questions of “What is real?” and “What is meaning?” These perspectives have had an influence in how and what is being taught in our liberal arts programs today.

In some ways, we are still looking to provide students with a well-rounded education that will have an impact on their character (morals), physique (body), and mind (reason). Professor Greenberg from the History Department of Trinity College states that “The ability to think creatively, read critically, construct effective arguments using persuasive evidence, write clearly, remain flexible and look at issues with an open mind” can better equip students for “the ever-changing job market” (Smm, 2012). These ideals are similar to those of several of the philosophers we have discussed, such as……(add names)

Even in today’s world, a liberal arts degree is still a vital part of the education system and employers prefer hiring employees that have mastered critical skills lacking in other degree programs. “A liberal arts education teaches the learner to pursue economic growth based on humanitarian values. In addition, empathy and human values are not abstractions, but core qualities required for the survival and thriving of humanity” (Krishnaswamy, 2018) Students track of thinking becomes in line with that of life’s deeper needs.

Academic areas incorporated in a liberal arts education today include “arts (fine arts, music, performing arts, and literature), philosophy, religious studies, social science (anthropology, geography, history, jurisprudence, linguistics, political science, psychology, and sociology), mathematics, and natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, and earth sciences)” (Krishnaswamy, 2018).

The Values Of Liberal Education Are Decreasing

Posted on December 15, 2024 | by Laureen

INTRODUCTION

Facilities of liberal education are facing declines in enrollments due to a bounty of reasons; We have been declining at the high costs of tuition, the increasing levels of student debt, and the declining success of college graduates in finding good jobs. Rather than we question politicalness and delve into deep inquiries, we are mainly forced to build up skills necessary for the workplace, which unfortunately has been on a steady decline due to the reduction of the humanities, starting around the 1970s. Liberal arts is meant to build up a student’s values and make them virtuous, but research has shown that it’s inconclusive to know if liberal education in the higher-ups actually achieves this goal and central purpose. All of this makes you wonder, “Is liberal arts college worthy?” Are the values that liberal arts try to make us understand at a value deep inside worth the decline in the long run? Is it worth being shafted and replaced by civil education that doesn’t teach us any of the values liberal education does unless it’s showcased at a meticulous level?

VALUES OF CIVIL AND LIBERAL EDUCATION

Firstly, we need to consider the values that both civil and liberal education and how that applies to the decline of liberal education. Lorraine Smith Pangle, Philosopher at the University of Texas has stated “Often, liberal education is described as an effort to instill breadth, general knowledge, critical thinking skills, cosmopolitan sympathies, an appreciation of the arts, and a taste for the life of the mind as an end in itself.” (Pangle, 208) Despite being worthwhile, civil education heavily promotes them for the utilization of these skills in the workplace, in which civil education focuses on more than a liberal education. While liberal education focuses on a more open-minded perspective instead of these competencies, civil education is able to utilize these and meld them to equip you with one of the skills to earn a living, while civic education also teaches you to live freely and think wisely, which in this world the former is much more necessary to acquire a profit, it makes you wonder that “liberal arts education is a luxury reserved for those who do not need to make a living.” (Rowan 51)

APPLICATIONS – IT’S MORE THAN JUST COST

Cate Rowen, executive director of institutional research at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, advances on the fact of comparing values to the “cost” of tuition. If we base education based on only costs, we lose the opportunity to promote the benefits of a liberal arts education that define our institutional missions and our educational values. It’s difficult to base a concept like dollars and how that would affect the Liberal Arts territory. It isn’t even about the values of LA, these types of colleges cost more; According to the Mellon Foundation, Liberal Arts colleges, on average, cost up to $2,000 more than the average 4-year private school and $10,000 more than the average 4-year public school. With STEM colleges being more accessible and cheaper than Liberal Arts, it would make sense that Liberal Arts colleges have been increasing tuition costs. “The AAC&U defines the goal of a liberal education to prepare students to live responsible and productive lives” Is a quote Rowen states, which ties along to the first paragraph and that Liberal Arts focus more on the values to improve life rather, but high tuition costs, budget cuts, and other factors come into play of making it why they’re decreasing.

DECLINING- AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT

Steven Brint is Vice Provost, Undergraduate Education and Professor of Sociology at the University of California, he published a study on declining fields in the U.S. Colleges and Universities starting in the 1970s. The study proves that Liberal Arts has been on a declining prevalence and that colleges with high proportions of science and other majors were low in Liberal Arts, and vice versa. Results for liberal arts-oriented colleges and universities and for public institutions were not as consistent in the case of adoptions as in case of drops. While they have been declining, colleges would rather fill in for forgotten LA fields than drop known ones, so it would be difficult to find a consistent balance between. It shows that the decline of all these fields have been slow, but is a rapid decline compared to the beginning of the time period. Some other fields in the LA field can make you infer about ideologies like insularity and globalization, but it also shows natural science fields have been decreasing, not just LA. It makes you wonder if LA could make a comeback, or if it’s just that other fields in those branches have had economic growth.

STEM Vs Liberal Arts Education Essay

Posted on December 15, 2024 | by Laureen

The debate between STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and liberal arts education has gained significant attention in recent years. While both approaches offer unique benefits, the emphasis on STEM fields has led to questions about the value of a well-rounded education that encompasses the liberal arts. In this essay, we will explore the advantages of both educational paths and argue that a balanced integration of STEM and liberal arts education is crucial for nurturing holistic and adaptable thinkers.

Advantages of STEM Education

STEM education is lauded for its emphasis on technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and preparation for rapidly evolving industries. The world is becoming increasingly reliant on technology and scientific advancements, and STEM disciplines provide students with the tools to navigate this evolving landscape. STEM graduates often secure high-paying jobs and contribute to groundbreaking discoveries that shape the modern world.

The Importance of Liberal Arts Education

While STEM education is undoubtedly important, the exclusivity of this approach overlooks the broader set of skills needed for a well-rounded individual. This is where liberal arts education steps in. Liberal arts curricula encompass a wide range of subjects including literature, philosophy, history, and the arts. This multidisciplinary approach fosters critical thinking, effective communication, cultural awareness, and creativity – skills that are essential for personal growth, civic engagement, and success in any field.

Holistic Development

A balanced education that combines STEM and liberal arts offers holistic development. For instance, a student who studies engineering along with philosophy is not only equipped to design innovative solutions but also to consider the ethical implications of their work. This integration enhances empathy, encourages ethical decision-making, and enables graduates to approach complex problems with a broader perspective.

Adaptability and Innovation

In today’s rapidly changing world, adaptability is a prized skill. Liberal arts education encourages students to think outside the box, fostering innovation and adaptability. The ability to connect seemingly unrelated concepts and draw inspiration from various disciplines is a hallmark of creative thinkers, and it is often these thinkers who drive meaningful societal change.

Addressing Societal Challenges

Societal challenges such as climate change, inequality, and social justice require multidimensional solutions. While STEM education can offer the technical knowledge to address some of these challenges, a deep understanding of human behavior, historical context, and cultural dynamics is equally essential. A liberal arts education equips individuals to critically examine these complex issues and propose sustainable solutions that consider the diverse needs of communities.

Preparing for the Future

The workforce of the future demands individuals who can adapt to technological advancements while also contributing meaningfully to their communities. A rigid focus on STEM subjects alone may produce graduates who are technically proficient but lack the ability to communicate effectively, think critically, and understand the social and cultural implications of their work.

A Balanced Approach

Instead of pitting STEM against liberal arts, we should advocate for a balanced approach that integrates both. STEM fields undoubtedly drive progress, but without the broader context and critical thinking skills imparted by liberal arts, our technological advancements risk being disconnected from the human experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the debate between STEM and liberal arts education need not be a zero-sum game. A well-rounded education that combines the technical prowess of STEM with the critical thinking, creativity, and empathy cultivated by the liberal arts is the key to producing adaptable, innovative, and socially conscious individuals. As we navigate a complex and ever-changing world, it is imperative that education nurtures individuals who can address the challenges of today and shape the possibilities of tomorrow. By embracing a comprehensive education that bridges STEM and liberal arts, we can foster a generation of well-rounded thinkers who are prepared to make a positive impact on society.

Defining Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies: Analytical Essay

Posted on December 15, 2024 | by Laureen

Creating global citizens: a case for interdisciplinary studies

Informed citizens can make informed decisions, making education the bread and butter of democracy. Higher education should foster this attitude, build off of students’ foundational knowledge and push them to think critically. It is liberal art’s claim to do this, however, the General Education structure is in need of reform and the separation of disciplines distracts the student from gaining a larger perspective or world view. With the inclusion of interdisciplinary studies, which directly focuses on Socratic seminars and critically examining the world through different lenses, the student can connect their knowledge and truly gain insights into the world around them.

Both interdisciplinary studies and liberal arts have the same goals for their students, critically think and be able to apply their knowledge to a variety of subjects. What differentiates interdisciplinary and liberal arts educations are what they demand of students and their perceived educational needs of citizens. To evaluate both educational programs, one must first understand their definitions and components.

A liberal arts education, as defined by Princeton University, aims for students to be, “exploring issues, ideas and methods across the humanities and the arts, and the natural and social sciences,” thus creating students who “[learn to] read critically, write cogently and think broadly… [to] cultivate the tools necessary to allow you to navigate the world’s most complex issues.” In short, a liberal arts education aims to create students who are both critical thinkers 1 and who know how to learn. With the ability to apply their knowledge to meet a variety of

1 Princeton University needs. For most universities, this is achieved via a General Education Program in which a student must complete courses in various disciplines.

Interdisciplinary studies can be described as, “A process of answering a question, solving a problem, or addressing a topic too broad or complex to be dealt with adequately by a single discipline.” More than just a combination of multiple disciplines, interdisciplinary studies seek 2 to merge disciplines towards the goal of crafting opinions and solving problems. It aims to create critically thinking students to navigate a complex world. This is achieved through the implementation of a Socratic seminar within a course that deals with multiple disciplines under a broad theme.

Both educational styles aim to instill critical thinking skills and create world citizens, making the merger of liberal arts and interdisciplinary studies one that is foreseeable. However, education serves more than this purpose; it also serves to get students employed.

Historically, schooling in the United States has been decentralized, meaning that the creation and administration of public schooling is of state-level authority. This means that curricula can be either state or private-based. This entails that educational standards are to some degree, the will of the people, as private institutions will only be successful if people attend them. Meaning, that schools change their curricula with popular job industries and the economic welfare of the country. In order to assess whether interdisciplinary studies can be implemented within liberal arts education, one must first understand why a liberal arts education is so popular.

Prior to the industrial revolution, only the elite or religious could attend higher education (aka university). As an agricultural-based society, most US citizens did not have the time or resources to invest in their education beyond simple literary and numerical skills. Education would also often occur in the home and be dependent on elders’ religion, level of education, or profession. Thus, each student receives a different skill set. Something that worked at the time because there were few industries available to the everyday citizen. If one did want to pursue higher education, there were few options. This especially being true if you were a woman or did not wish to pursue a religious education. From 1638 – 1819 49 higher education institutes existed in the United States. 40 of which were private, further showing the exclusivity of higher education.

The industrial revolution began to change this because of the technological advances of the time which shifted the United States society. Between 1870 and 1900, twelve million people immigrated to United States cities to meet the demands of new industrial jobs. This brought in 5 the need not only for vocational work but also for people who understand how to create vocational industries, aka a technical education. This boom resulted in a multitude of disciplines that universities were unsure of how to handle. Along with an influx of diverse demographics, technological changes, labor reform, and the creation of a large middle class, public movements demanded educational reform. This persisted throughout the 20th century, with technological advances becoming even more rapid, deindustrialization occurring, and job industries again changing.

Coming to the modern day, technological advances are growing at a rapid pace and education must do more than educate people for one specific job; it must educate them for many. Thus the popularity of the liberal arts degree.

Again, a liberal arts education aims to create students who easily acquire knowledge on a variety of subjects. This is done through GE requirements that aim to give students a taste of each discipline, so they can learn how to learn in a multitude of subjects. This equips United States students for the changing job industries driven by increased technological advancement. Additionally, liberal arts education recognizes that students may have multiple career changes, which require the flexibility of knowledge. However, despite Princeton’s mission statement to “creat[e] students who “[learn to] read critically, write cogently and think broadly… [to] cultivate the tools necessary to allow you to navigate the world’s most complex issues,” there is a case to be made against the brevity and segregation of knowledge that a liberal arts education provides. Where a liberal arts education can fall short, is not in its aim of creating critical 8 thinkers, but in how it goes about these aims.

The way in which a liberal arts education seeks to achieve critical thinking skills is through General Education (GE) requirements. GE programs vary from school to school, so for the purposes of clarity, this essay will use Chapman University, a private, mid-sized, liberal arts school, as an example. For a student at Chapman University, the GE requirements include Foreign Language, Written, Artistic, Natural Science, Quantitative, Values and Ethics, and Social Inquiries. Chapman is also unique in that it includes within its graduation requirements Global citizenship requirements and has an interdisciplinary program that students can apply to. A quick glance at the GE requirements would lead one to say that a student would leave university both well-rounded and with knowledge in a variety of subjects. However, a closer examination of how these courses are handled gives a different story.

Firstly, all GE requirements at Chapman University can be fulfilled before the student steps on campus or is even accepted. The Advanced Placement (AP) program, a high school course created by The College Board (the same corporation that owns the SAT), gives students the chance to earn university credit. Although necessary scores to achieve a credit varies, it has become commonplace for universities both public and private to acknowledge these test scores as being valid. It is also important to note that those schools are incentivized to have students take these courses due to a federal expansion for the AP exam to reach students of lower incomes. And for students, the potential to graduate from university (a costly endeavor) early, making AP classes courses prepares students for a specific standardized test. An example of this can be found in the AP Psychology exam. This exam has two parts, a multiple choice test, and short responses. The multiple choice test includes debated theories, such as Darley and Latane’s creation of “The Bystander Effect” after the murder of Kitty Genovese. Although this theory was created on the basis of no one calling in her murder, new information shows this may have been due to the police failing to document the calls, bringing the theory into question. Now, there is nothing wrong with learning about a subject that is debated, however, this course does not challenge the student’s ability to critically think about the theory, it challenges them to memorize them. Bringing this back to Chapman, this means that their passing of the GE requirement for Social Inquiry does not necessarily equate to the learning outcomes set forth by the university, which states, “Students identify, frame and analyze social and/or historical structures and institutions in the world today”. This is because the course is not about the student learning psychology, it’s about them knowing the psychological terms the AP association has deemed worthy.

The next problem with GE’s is that they are made to be easy to pass. At Chapman, all GE courses, unless they pertain to your major, can be pass/no pass. This means that the student, with just a little effort to turn in a form, can get a 70% in a GE course and not have it impact their Grade Point Average (GPA). Now, this may seem like a godsend to students who struggle with 13 a course because it’s not their forte, however, it creates a negative culture around GE’s courses, instilling in both students and faculty that the courses don’t matter. Now, of course, you will have students who put their all into a course no matter the subject or their grade, but it is wishful thinking to believe that this is the majority of university students. One can look at RateMyProfessor.com and see classes that are easier will receive a higher score. In an opinion piece from the Harvard Crimson, Benjamin Woo expresses a similar sentiment, “ The general attitude [of students] is not of becoming educated, but simply of fulfilling requirements as efficiently as possible.” This connects back to the problem of the AP exams. Students have been taught that education is something to be achieved not gained, which impedes the aim of creating global citizens.

Finally, the very set-up of the GE requirement inherently falls short in creating critical thinkers. Courses are separated by discipline and not required to be in conversation with each other. Students learn each subject individually and topics that are complex may meet “an enemy of free discussion” or rather a one-sided view. If students cannot see a larger perspective on say “Non-western cultures,” they may be more apt to accept their ethnocentrism without debate. Essentially giving a blind eye to the rest of the world and claiming one’s normality as superior. However, without questioning that normality, innovation, freedom, and debate cannot occur. There must be a willingness to hear multiple sides to the same story to come away with any kind of real opinion.

Ultimately, a liberal arts education is failing to create the world citizens it aims to. Instead, it is creating students who know how to study and get through courses with an A. Education must do more than this, it must create curious citizens, with a willingness to learn and critique the world around them.

So why turn to interdisciplinary education? Well, this educational style relies on looking at complex issues as complex. It revolves around sampling an argument using many disciplines for the purpose of either understanding or of creating change. An example of this is Women’s 20 studies, a subject that inherently lends itself to interdisciplinary study. To merely address women’s studies as an examination of feminist philosophy would nowhere near encompass the complexities of women’s roles, challenges, and triumphs over time. For instance, this subject 21 may be extended to the historical roles of women, the socialization of gender, the idea of privilege, women’s rights movements, and the critique of feminist theories. Using this example, a women’s studies course would involve the disciplines: of history, sociology, philosophy, and critical studies.

Thus to gain a comprehensive understanding of why there is a disparity between the human experience based on sex, one must see the perspective of many disciplines and be able to connect them to the common theme of womanhood.

Today’s society sees an increase in partisan beliefs that are founded not in knowledge, but in the in and out-group bias. This bias entails that one will only be willing to seek out information that strengthens their group’s arguments or deters those of the out-group. University education must open people’s minds, not close them, “If students graduate believing that they can learn nothing from people they dislike or from those they disagree, we will have done them a great intellectual disservice,”. Ideological diversity must be present on campus and interdisciplinary education due to its founding in the Socratic seminar fosters this. This is dangerous to a democratic society because its citizens become sheep to whatever they learn because they never question. And for a country founded on the belief that freedom is not just a privilege, but right, critical thinking is foundational.

This is not to say that liberal education is a complete waste of time, just that it needs reform. Interdisciplinary education is a means to this reform that can create citizens who are more informed and can break down the complexities of the world we live in. Interdisciplinary studies focus on the Socratic seminar and the ability to craft knowledgeable arguments. Without liberal arts education, interdisciplinary education would lose its impact. In order to think critically on a topic or phenomena and participate in the Socratic seminar structure of an interdisciplinary course, one must have background knowledge on the subjects. Liberal arts education offers this backdrop; without general knowledge, one cannot have specific knowledge. However, the GE system does not foster knowledge, it fosters the passing of exams or the ability to learn information for the short-term efficiently. Although this is helpful in preparing students for constantly changing job instructions, it does not set up students to be global citizens or to think critically. Something that with the partisan divides of the world has become crucial to maintaining our country’s democracy and being leaders. There are gaps in our higher education system that need to be addressed and interdisciplinary programs are one way to do this.

Bibliography

“Academic Policies and Procedures.” Chapman University. Accessed December 14, 2019. https://catalog.chapman.edu/content.php?catoid=11&navoid=472.
Augsburg, Tanya. Becoming Interdisciplinary: An Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies. Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2006.
“Chapman GE Program: How It Works.” Chapman GE Program: How It Works Chapman University. Accessed December 14, 2019.
https://www.chapman.edu/academics/undergraduate-education/general-education/chapman-ge-program-how-it-works.aspx.
Goldin, Claudia, and Lawrence F Katz. “The Shaping of Higher Education: The Formative Years in the United States, 1890 to 1940.” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 13, no. 1, 1999, pp. 37–62., doi:10.1257/jep.13.1.37.
“Immigration to the United States – American Memory Timeline- Classroom Presentation: Teacher Resources.” Library of Congress. Accessed December 14, 2019.
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/riseind/immgnts/.
Kristof, Nicholas “Stop the Knee-Jerk Liberalism That Hurts Its Own Cause.” The New York Times, June 29, 2019
Lukianoff, Greg, and Jonathan Haidt. “The Coddling of the American Mind.” The Atlantic, Sept. 2015.
Mill, John Stuart.“Ideas on Free Speech” Nussbaum, Martha C. Cultivating Humanity: A Classical Defense of Reform in Liberal Education. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1997.
Solomon, James D., director. The Witness. FilmRise, 2015.
Tugend, Alina. “Who Benefits From the Expansion of A.P. Classes?” The New York Times, September 7, 2017.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/magazine/who-benefits-from-the-expansion-of-ap-classes.html.
“What Does Liberal Arts Mean? Princeton University Admission.” Princeton University, The Trustees of Princeton University, https://admission.princeton.edu/academics/what-does-liberal-arts-mean.
Woo, Benjamin M. “The Failure of General Education: Opinion: The Harvard Crimson.” The Harvard Crimson, 6 Feb. 2013, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/2/6/fail-gened-harvard/. Accessed 14, December 2019.

General Characteristics of Liberal Arts Education

Posted on December 15, 2024 | by Laureen

Liberal arts are a field of study dependent on objective reasoning, and it incorporates the territories of humanities, social and physical sciences, and arithmetic.

A Liberal arts Philosophy underscores the advancement of basic reasoning and expository aptitudes, the capacity to take care of complex issues, and comprehension of morals and profound quality, just as a craving to keep on learning.

The principle objectives of liberal arts are

Create a compelling method of thought.
Create a point of view of one’s place in humankind both genuine and perfect.
Develop one up to settle on proficient choices.
Increase comprehension of one’s characteristics and institutional situations.

History:

Liberal arts education was officially presented by the Romans when they were trying different things with an administering framework. Many years back, they understood that individuals who need to oversee themselves must be shown the specialty of administration, consequently, liberal education was conceived. Prior to this, individuals were just truly prepared to endure and to serve the domain.

There was a conflict between Plato and Isocrates in Greece, as Plato with the help of Aristotle thought of education as a quest for truth; though, whereas Isocrates thought about education as a capability to lead a quality life.

Characteristics of liberal arts:

Liberal arts increase solid establishment information in a more extensive scope of subjects than taking a degree gaining practical experience in a solitary subject or employment.
The scope of subjects in a liberal arts education implies pupils can be acquainted with subjects they might not have in any case experienced, empowering them to settle on a more educated choice while picking their favored vocation way.
The information accomplished in a liberal arts education can assist with bettering moving out of your present profession into another.
Workaholics perceive that liberal arts graduates have the important adaptable aptitudes to adjust to an evolving working environment.
Liberal arts education reaches out past scholarly groups of people and the working environment to give graduates the important characteristics that can empower them to adjust and flourish in the world, speak with and comprehend different individuals from the network and have a widened viewpoint.

Skills gained from liberal arts:

There are many skills that can be attained from liberal art philosophy. Some are mentioned as:

Powerful oral and composed relational abilities
Critical thinking and example insight skills
Capacity to learn and integrate new thoughts
Involvement with quantitative and subjective information
Basic and intelligent understanding skills
Numerical skills
Data proficiency skills
Capacity to adjust effectively to circumstances
Capacity to suggest significant conversation starters
Capacity to work in a group

Liberal arts education today:

The liberal arts are generally acknowledged as fields of Humanities, Social sciences, Natural sciences, and Formal sciences.

Conclusion:

Liberal arts philosophers viewed that education should serve the requirements of the person. They accept that individuals comprehend the world they live in essentially as an issue of interest, the quest for truth is the most elevated part, and it might be found, for the most part, through the activity of reason. Liberal education is said to upgrade the ability to have a better living.

Vocational philosophy:

Vocational studies have frequently been viewed as more appropriate for supporters than for pioneers. The individuals who favor vocational studies viewed that education should serve the necessities of society rather than the requirements of the person. Proficient aptitude ought to be created not as an issue of inert interest. As indicated by the supporters of ‘vocational philosophy, the fact of the matter is maybe not an outright constant assortment, yet something which is continually being found tried and applied the reason for education is basically to improve men’s part and to travel further along the street called progress.

Vocational education today:

Vocational education is education that makes ready students for work in a particular trade, a craft, as a technician, or in proficient employments such as engineering, accountancy, nursing, medicine, architecture, or the law. Vocational education is sometimes referred to as professional education or specialized education.

Characteristics of vocational education:

Following are the main characteristics of vocational education:

To build the gainful capability of the nation.
To increase the economic expectation of individuals.
To diminish the degree of unemployment by giving independent work plans.
To use labor to the fullest degree.
To make the student’s talented specialists.
To assist students with understanding the logical and mechanical parts of contemporary civilization.
To use logical and specialized information for the improvement of society.

Conclusive comparison:

Vocational education as compared to liberal arts education is general and incorporates each type of education that plans to the securing of capabilities identified with a specific calling, workmanship or business or that gives the vital preparing and the suitable skills just as specialized information, so the student can practice a profession, art or activity autonomously of their age and their preparation level, regardless of whether the preparation program contains additional components of general education.

Liberal art as compared to vocational philosophy accentuates dynamism and decent variety. As opposed to specialization in a sole field or range of abilities, it highlights general education and introduction to a wide scope of subjects past what’s straightforwardly pertinent to the major. Defenders of human sciences education guarantee that the wide base of information it ingrains in all students permits them to be both effective in their particular profession while additionally having a far-reaching comprehension of their general surroundings.

Most suitable philosophy in the Pakistani context and why:

In Pakistan, Specific and advanced aptitudes are required for most occupations nowadays, yet there is an absence of linkage between the business and vocational training institutes. And the deficiency of good mentors is an issue in Pakistan that needs to be overcome. Due to the implementation of vocational philosophy, there is an improvement in the vocational training framework yet in addition increment the earning limit of our youth while diminishing joblessness and adding to poverty decrease.

The most appropriate philosophy to be used is Vocational Philosophy because of the following reasons:

Vocational education is fundamentally life and need-based education which can change over an un-skilled unpracticed and uneducated society into a human asset.
liberal arts education gives guidance for an assortment of points and for the advancement of basic skills, while vocational education teaches students in a single explicit subject and set them up straightforwardly for entrance into the professional world.
Vocational education gives students a career-oriented pathway and provides constant jobs as these are the jobs whose demand is never finished.
This kind of education is an extraordinary resource for the economy. Our administration need not to import specialists on higher wages as our own can accomplish the necessary work.
It makes an individual mindful and free while the individuals who study standard courses lack this circle.
Vocational education courses can help grow new expert abilities, improve your present aptitudes, or retrain for new work.

Importance of the Liberal Arts Education: Reflective Essay

Posted on December 15, 2024 | by Laureen

Career Wellness Reflection

1. A summary of the main points of the speaker’s emphasis (this can be in paragraph form, via bullet points, or another format that works well for you);

I really enjoyed having Michelle talk about career wellness, as it is something my classmates and I are thinking of and worrying about as our time here at Lawrence is coming to an end. Michelle talked about how a career doesn’t necessarily mean a job and I found that to be very interesting as I always thought of my career as whatever job I end up having. She also focused on the concept of transitioning and the ways to make any transitioning easier than we make it. She mentioned the different tools that one can use to adapt faster and feel comfortable in a new place, doing something new.

She also talked about the importance of the Liberal Arts education and what advantages it has over other colleges. One of my favorite things about having Michelle on Monday was the activity we did. She asked us to pair up and answer some questions that she has prepared for us. Her questions made me think and evaluate my values, goals, and skills. She also asked us to think of and share with our partners what a good career looks like for each one of us. That was a hard question to answer just because I didn’t know exactly what a good career means to me.

2. A short section covering how the speaker’s message can apply to your life now or later and particular points that you agree/disagree with; and,

The topic career wellness is a very important one because I have been going through a very stressful phase of making the right decisions in terms of what I want to do after graduation. Being able to comfortably decide to work or go to graduate school right away was not an easy thing to do at all. After Monday’s lecture, I have learned a lot about how not to stress about my after-Lawrence career. I have learned some very helpful tools and tips that I can utilize to help adjust to the new place I will be in a few months. I totally agree with the speaker on the importance of Liberal Arts education. I see how valuable learning how to think instead of what to think is. I realize how important it is to think critically and solve problems. I found Monday’s class to be very interesting because I could easily relate to the topic and the subjects discussed.

3. At least two discussion questions.

These questions should be things you think might be interesting to discuss as a class that requires more than a yes or no answer. You do not need to have the answers to these questions; instead, the questions you pose should be provocative things to discuss based on the topics. Questions with a ‘yes” or ‘no” answer or questions that have answers easily identified during the class presentation are NOT good questions.

How can you tell/decide if your career is a healthy one or not? Does it depend on the job/position you have? Your salary? Ranking of your graduate school? Your happiness? Something else?
For an introverted person, most of the tools of an easy transition don’t seem attainable; what are some other tools this kind of people can use to have easier transitions?

Philosophy of Liberal Arts Education: Analytical Essay

Posted on December 15, 2024 | by Laureen

At some point in life, many Christians question why did God create them and what is their purpose here in this world. In other words, they wonder what God is calling for their lives. Thankfully, I have never been in that confused stage of my life because God has helped me as a kid to discover His will and His calling for my life. There are a number of factors that have shaped my life calling, including my family, biblical lessons, and many other events; however, as I came to Indiana Wesleyan University, I have also gained invaluable insight into the connection between my life calling and Christian general education. Through my First-Year Experience course, I had a chance to explore topics that strengthened my understanding of the relationship of my life calling and the philosophy of liberal arts education in the context of mathematics. In this paper, I would like to share what I have learned throughout the semester in terms of my life calling and the role of general education, especially mathematics, in shaping my calling.

As a little kid, I had a solid sense of calling from God to serve as a medical missionary. The story begins with my older sister who has Down syndrome. Having a sister with a disability has brought me a new kind of love, connection, and a different perspective on people with disabilities. Those lessons I have learned from my sister helped me to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor. When I was fourteen years old, I went to Mongolia by myself to study abroad, and there, I have met a lot of missionaries who were sincerely passionate about their ministries and through their ministries, selflessly served others. In their ministries, I saw God’s hand working; people learned the Word of God, fully experienced His love and grace, confessed their sins, and eventually returned to Him. It was truly amazing to see how God uses one’s life to further His kingdom. Spending time with the missionaries and helping their ministries, I have learned more of God’s will as well as my roles as citizens of His kingdom. By the time I left Mongolia and came to America, I was fully assured that the medical mission was His calling for my life. Since then, there were a number of great events that God has led me into medical missions. A mission trip to Haiti in high school is one of the life-changing experiences that God has made His calling more clearer.

Moving across the world, my understanding of God’s calling has been shaped by various factors, and I believe that Christian liberal arts education such as mathematics also takes a huge part in it. There was a time as a freshman in college when I was not fully aware of the importance of general education; I did not realize why I need to take classes such as composition and humanities as a Biology major student and how they are connected to my life calling. Not knowing the reason, I continued my studies as a pre-medical student. After two years at my previous college, God has directed me to take a slightly different path- Nursing and put a strong desire in my heart to transfer to Indiana Wesleyan University. Here at IWU, I finally got the answer to my question about the relationship between Christian general education and my life calling. Before looking deeper into it, I would like to discuss the significance of Christian general education with its philosophy.

We live in a broken world full of ignorance and sin that so many people are blinded to seeing the truth and the glory of God. According to the document, “Reconciling Truth Through Love: A Philosophy of General Education and Modes of Inquiry”, the goal of Christian general education is to teach students about God’s redeeming work of restoration and reconciliation (Bressler et al., 2014). By establishing “a solid foundation for learning” (Bressler et al., 2014), such an education assists students to be free from darkness and sin prevailing in this world so that they can see again the truth and the glory of God; thus, students are prepared to be agents of reconciliation. In order to lay the groundwork for which students can compare their knowledge acquired in the future, Christian general education consists of various kinds of courses that guide students to reflect, examine, and survey God’s truth. The document also states that “a truly Christian education is “personal”… [and] it is ultimately “relational” (Bressler et al., 2014). This personal and relational education reveals the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and ultimately leads students to love Him and have a deeper relationship with Him. This indicates a major purpose of the Christian liberal arts education which is to teach the love of God. By means of a multitude of Christian general education courses, students do not merely improve their critical thinking; rather, they learn how to apply those skills to have a better understanding of God, His love, and His calling for our lives. Christian general education can be divided into two modes of inquiry: qualitative and quantitative. Quality education includes visual and performing arts, literature, historical, philosophical, and religious courses, whereas quantitative education focuses on mathematical and scientific areas. Among these liberal arts courses, mathematics is one of the most essential subjects as it is a universal language that could be shared by everyone regardless of religion, race, or gender. Math itself is a big part of our daily life; in fact, learning math provides surprisingly important skills so that we recognize why we think and act the way we do with ourselves and with others. During this semester, in my college algebra course, I have learned elementary functions, their graphs, application of such functions in real-world situations and also enhanced my reasoning skills as analyzing relationships between functions. Along with them, I have also experienced God’s attributes— His beauty, love, and eternality— because I have realized, that the reason why mathematics operates consistently and that objects always interact the same way, was because God always remains the same and holds the objects together since the beginning of the universe. With those learning outcomes, I grew in knowledge of who God is and intimacy with Him. As a result, I could become spiritually mature and build a strong trust in Him and His unshakable call on my life. Even though I still sometimes do not know exactly where He is taking me next, I believe that He is guiding me every step of the way into His great plan for my life. As I started a new chapter of my life here at IWU, this general education course has been a significant help to keep my faith in God.

From this experience, I finally found out that everything is connected to whether we notice it or not. As I shared earlier, I have never considered the relation between Christian general education and my life calling; I even felt that it was not necessary for me to take general education courses for my future career. Then God has led me to grasp that the liberal arts education is to help me build my understanding of God’s calling for my life as I learn different cultures and disciplines based on reflections of the Word of God. This academic experience has been a great toolbox in my life-calling journey by offering a better perspective on what God is doing in the season of my life, what He wants, and the significance of what I am going through. The values and the modes of inquiry of the Christian general education are certainly established for students to excel academically and become spiritually healthy people so that they can experience the outpouring of God’s love, identify His calling, and thus become equipped to glorify Him as Christ’s ambassadors in this world.

Role of Liberal Arts in Higher Education

Posted on December 15, 2024 | by Laureen

In the latest society, there have been debates on a part of what the function of higher coaching ought to be headquartered on. Is it Liberal arts training or is it profession-oriented education? There are two types of training that are controversial in our society of education. Liberal arts schooling’s focal point on creating competencies to all learning. Where character is put collectively to deal with the complexity and range of men and girls’ future careers and builds Intellectual and smart skills. Oriented training focuses on one unique occupation that gives college students that be aware of what they pick to pursue in the perfect direction. There is no proper way to comprehend what certainly the focal point is. There are strategies to take a look at and definitely capture the information. Higher education prepares possibilities for people to develop their potential. The focal point on increased schooling have to be on liberal arts education and now not profession-oriented education.

Liberal arts grant a couple of topics. Having quite a few topics to look up can increase your crucial questioning skills. When wondering about your future and suppose of where prefer to do or what you pick out to pursue. There are matters that you simply want to count on about, however, some human beings may additionally moreover no longer know what they choose to pursue. Liberal arts education is a way to go when scholars war via that process. The examining of Liberal arts vs. Professional Education, Anamaria says, a liberal arts schooling is one that consists of guidance in the board, central disciplines such as English, history, math, and science, and focuses on developing abilities like problem-solving, imperative analysis, and high exceptional written and oral communication. Anamaria means that selecting a liberal arts education diploma helps students focal factor on their fundamental thinking abilities and analyze to higher their verbal exchange skills.

Secondly, with a liberal arts education, we ought to be in a position to adapt. For any character that is not acquainted with increased training or for any person that wishes to look up a couple of skills. Liberal education is a magnificent way to go. Liberal arts schooling educates college students and grants a variety of matters and quintessential wondering skills. Liberal arts assist college students to explore and view matters from extra than one position. In the article, The Banking Model method of Education, Freire talks about two techniques of education. Banking Method and trouble posing. This article connects with the position of greater education due to the fact trouble posing is like goes together with liberal arts. Problem posing is the region pupil can study from others via skills of communication.

In conclusion, the emphasis in higher training ought to be on liberal arts training rather than career-oriented education. In modern-day in society, there is no right reply to what the position of larger training focal point on. It through and massive depends on the human beings choice. I assume that if a person is struggling on what to locate out about or pursue liberal arts is a way to go but then choosing liberal arts over professional is a good due to the fact human beings get a chance to something they want, and discovery have a look at new things.