Advantages & Disadvantages of a Liberal Arts Education
Picking college is a daunting task for some students, especially when they are not sure what career path they want to follow after they graduate. A liberal arts college provides students with a background in several fields, making them creative thinkers and problem solvers. This type of education promotes a well-rounded, diverse background and opens a student up to a world of careers without limiting the student to one particular field. A university education, however, offers more high-tech equipment, high-profile professors and the ability for students to focus their time more on their chosen field of study.
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Definition
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A liberal arts education provides all of the fundamentals necessary to survive in a changing workplace. Students take core classes in sociology, anthropology, mathematics, science and several other areas of study to build a foundation that prepares them for life in the real world. This type of education is meant to build a well-rounded student who not only is an expert in her chosen field but also an excellent critical thinker and competent writer.
Class Size/Faculty Access
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The liberal arts education provides a smaller, more personalized approach to the college experience. Class sizes are relatively small, allowing students access to professors and giving them the ability to interact with each other more, both in and out of the classroom. In a larger research university, classes may have up to 500 students in a lecture hall, and students do not have a relationship with the professor. University professors are under pressure to keep up with research trends and gain grants and national accreditation for the university, which leaves less time for the personal mentoring of undergraduate students.
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Broad Versus Focused
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Students receiving a liberal arts education are required to take a broad range of classes, requiring them to learn not only about the subjects in their majors but also writing, critical thinking and mathematics. A liberal arts student who is a biology major also is taking classes in public speaking, composition and philosophy, giving those students the ability to write more comprehensive lab reports and communicate their research to an audience in an organized manner. A university student focuses more on the major area of study, taking more science classes that relate to the profession or graduate study he wants to pursue after graduation.
Funding
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A major disadvantage of a liberal arts education is the lack of funding available for cutting edge equipment and research materials. For example, science students at liberal arts colleges do not have access to the same expensive microscopes or computers that students at a university have available to them. The library at a liberal arts college may not have the vast selection of old and new materials available for research. Universities are able to draw in nationally recognized field experts who are able to teach students from their real life experiences and have research funding to continue their studies. Liberal arts colleges have professors who have a great passion for their chosen field, but they may not have the credentials or outside connections to provide the same quality of education.
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References
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