In the world of higher education, the merit of a liberal arts education is in question.
From an English major to a philosophy major and everything in between, the
question that surrounds the liberal arts approach to education remains: What can
you do with it? How can a liberal arts degree bridge the gap between college and
the real world? And how can this broad-based education serve to elevate America’s
discouraging economic predicament?

Only 54 percent of Americans ages 18 to 24 are currently employed, according to a 2012
study released by Pew Research Center. This statistic, accurate since 2010, is the
lowest it has been since the government began collecting data in 1948. Certainly,
it would seem that unemployment is nearly as much the norm as employment
among a large number of young Americans. This harsh reality forms the foundation
of the debate surrounding the worth of a liberal arts education. After all, with
unemployment on the rise, why are so many colleges and universities promoting a
comprehensive approach to education rather than seeking to cultivate specialized,
career-targeted skills among their students?

Certainly, this is a legitimate question to ask in light of the current economic
recession. However, a liberal arts education arguably provides the critical skills
necessary to succeed in today’s job market via a broad-based curriculum spanning
diverse disciplines. These skills include, but are not limited to, writing, verbal
communication, interpersonal skills, reading comprehension and critical thinking
skills. They are cultivated through an approach that is intended to expose students
to a vast array of subject matter in order to establish a framework of cultural
and human understanding. Through this, students are able to develop diverse
viewpoints and interests. Indeed, a liberal arts education is premised upon the
objective of making students well-rounded individuals.

So how does this translate into the real world? Why does it matter whether college
graduates are well-rounded or not? The answer is that well-roundedness translates
into versatility in the job market. College graduates that have studied a wide range
of disciplines are likely to be able to fill in gaps that exist between more specialized
fields. For every engineer or scientist seeking to publish his or her research, there must
be an editor to review that work. For every large corporation seeking to globalize,
there must be translators to overcome language barriers. The current American
job market requires candidates that are willing to adapt, rather than wait for a
field-specific position. Liberal arts college graduates have the potential to be these
individuals.

For example, a college graduate with an English degree is likely to have strong
written and verbal communication skills. Excellent communication skills are
arguably one the most critical criteria for job candidacy in today’s job market.
Bearing this in mind, there is a broad range of careers that would likely be an
ideal fit for this candidate. Although the most obvious choices would be a career in
writing or teaching, the broad-based nature of a liberal arts education is arguably far more advantageous than it is limiting.

In contrast, a college graduate with a
business degree has worked toward developing skills specific to business-related
fields, whether marketing, finance or entrepreneurship. Certainly, many jobs exist
in business fields. However, due to the specificity of a business education, college
graduates entering the job market with business degrees are likely to have less
versatility compared to those with a liberal arts degree. In terms of wages, a study
conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that wage
differentials between career-oriented majors and liberal studies majors were almost
completely eliminated within 10 years after graduation.

Having said this, it is crucial to bear in mind that specialty study, whether in
engineering, business, education, etc., is essential in order to develop job
candidates ready to serve critical roles in society. However, liberal arts graduates
serve equally important roles because of their ability to bridge the gaps necessary to
maintain, elevate economic and societal functionality.

By no means should we as a society ever discount the value of specialty education
and training, just as we should not condemn a liberal arts education. Instead,
we should seek to recognize the value of having options that account for varied
interests and strengths among students. One educational path will not suffice to
cater to the needs of all students and eventual employees.

Students that choose to pursue a liberal arts education should embrace the
direction they have chosen by using their broad-based education to their advantage.
By emphasizing versatility rather than specificity, a college graduate with a liberal
arts degree can find a niche for themselves in the job market. It is time that we stop
viewing a liberal arts education as a limitation and start viewing it as a path to new
opportunities.

Hannah Sleznikow ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in political science.