Within a liberal arts education a student is able to explore their creativity, while also learning the essential techniques needed to think critically. This type of education encourages students to broaden their perspective, and it challenges them to think globally. The education that is being described is one that I wish to acquire. Spelman College is an elite institution that provides students with all of the attributes described. Since attending Spelman, I have thoroughly grasped the importance of a liberal arts education. Thus, I am unable to imagine myself not attending a liberal arts college. At Spelman, I desire to pursue various short-term and long-term goals. Some of my short-term goals include finishing my freshman year on the dean’s …show more content…
This is a goal that I have always imagined myself obtaining. I plan to obtain this goal by making sure that I do my best in every assignment and test that I receive. I have learned thus far that it is important to utilize all the resources that I am granted. There are a plethora of resources available that I plan to take advantage of. For example, the writing center and the language arts center provide various methods to succeed. With these resources and others, I am confident that I will be able to acquire my goal of being on the dean’s list. In addition, I would like to receive a summer internship into a medical program. This is a goal that relates to my past, because I always knew that I wanted to be in the healthcare profession. I desire to shadow a person in the medical field specifically an Obstetrician Gynecologist. This area of medicine is essential, because I plan to pursue this career. Therefore, obtaining an internship would grant me the opportunity to have an early look into my future career. Also, while at Spelman I have learned the importance of building your resume for graduate school. I have attended meetings about how to apply to medical school, and the essential things that these schools are looking for in an applicant. I discovered the strong emphasis that these schools put on actually doing these things that pertain to your future career choice. In relation to my broader experience …show more content…
I am aware that the journey may not always be easy, but I am willing to dedicate myself to my intellectual development. That is the only way that I will be able to achieve the multiple goals that I have set for
If they are taught correctly, liberal arts classes have the potential to help “students cross social boundaries in their imaginations. Studying a common core of learning will help orient them to common tasks as citizens; it will challenge or bolster… their views and, in any case, help them understand why not everyone in the world (or in their classroom) agrees with them,” explains Gitlin in his article “The Liberal Arts in an Age of Info-Glut.” By exposing students to this in high school, they will be more prepared when this moment occurs in their careers. I, along with many students throughout the country, have been exposed to incorrectly-taught liberal arts classes. Students taking English, for instance, must read specific novels while assessing a theme that is already pointed out to them. Then, they must answer a question that has only two answers. This type of curriculum not only eliminates the development of opinions, but it keeps the students from being exposed to most of the author's beliefs and the author’s point of view, which is the main purpose of liberal arts classes. Without this exposure, students are left incapable of working with others and accepting their opinions in order to develop solutions to
Since high school and now through my second year of college I have had one goal for my future, that goal was to graduate college with a degree in criminal justice. Not being interested in math or science, I was discouraged by the fact of taking classes that had nothing to do with my career choice. Thus being said, many people that I talked too felt the same way as I did. Which constantly led me to question what the importance of a liberal education was. After reading an essay called The Liberal Arts Are Not Elitist by Martha Nussbaum and relating it to an essay by William Cronon called The Goals of a Liberal Education, my perspective changed. An education is more than just a degree in your field of study, but an overall basic knowledge in which will inspire people to be the absolute best they can be.
In ancient civilization, a liberal arts education was considered essential for free people to take place in civic life; without them people would not be willing to disregard one's traditional values, and analyze a broad variety of arts, humanities, and sciences to create new opinions and ideas. In the 21st century many Americans are doubtful that liberal arts degrees are actually worth the cost of college. In his essay “The New Liberal Arts”, Sanford J. Ungar discusses seven “misconceptions” of liberal arts degrees in modern-day America.
In the article “The New Liberal Arts,” Sanford J. Ungar presents the argument of why liberal arts schools are still competitive and useful today. The beginning of the article immediately addresses the problem that Ungar is defending, “Hard economic times inevitably bring scrutiny of all accepted ideals and institutions, and this time around liberal-arts education has been especially hit hard.” The author provides credibility through his time of being a liberal arts presidents, applies statistics about the enrollment and job security outside of liberal college, he addresses the cost factor and how a student may find compensation, and that a liberal arts college is not preparing students for success. The article “The New Liberal Arts,” addresses
In the past several years, there has been a growing trend in the number of college-bound individuals getting two-year degrees from community colleges or earning certification for their desired career field at vocational schools. Such schools certainly seem to have some valuable qualities: all boast of having lower costs than other colleges, of their absence of student loans, of allowing people to make more money quicker, of being narrowly focused so students don’t have to take classes they don’t need. They attempt to point out apparent weaknesses in liberal arts colleges as well, claiming that such an education is unnecessary in today’s world. However, for every reason to go to a community or two-year college, a vocational track, or an apprenticeship, there is another, stronger reason for going to a traditional, four-year college, and the liberal arts degree gained at four year colleges far outstrips the degree gained at a two year school or through a vocational track.
The Article, The New Liberal Arts by Stanford Ungar uncovers and clarifies some of the misperceptions about receiving a liberal arts degree. Ungar being a liberal-arts college president, he noticed that with the harsh economic times that we face now brought scrutiny and many misperceptions around the liberal-arts education. Some of the misperceptions include: that
Liberal learning introduces them to books and the music,the science and the philosophy that form disciplined yet creative habits of mind that are notreducible to the material circumstances of one’s life (though they may depend on thosecircumstances).“(Roth 1) This is what Matthew says about a liberal arts degree which is a verybalanced and good degree. With a liberal arts education students are not limited to only one kindof job because with that degree they can go into different specialties and have good knowledgeon it. The advantages of having a liberal arts degree instead of a specialized degree are muchmore beneficial compared to other degrees.For example, michael roth says “ A quick look atseveral members of President-elect Obama’s leadership team can stand as an example of howthose with a liberal arts education are shaping the future of our society.” this signifying thatpeople who run our country some of the most successful people specialized in having a liberalArts Degree.“Given the pace of technological and social change, it no longer makes sense todevote four years of higher education entirely to specific skills. Being ready on DAY ONE, mayhave sounded nice on the campaign trail, but being able to draw on one’s education over alifetime is much more practical (and precious).” Michael says this to make notice that aspeciality is no longer needed because nowadays it is more important to be ready on day one andhave some
I applied to UNC Asheville specifically because of its’ distinction as the designated state sponsored liberal arts university. In high school, the areas of study were limited and the course curriculums narrow. I expect a very different experience from my college education. The world is changing rapidly and I am not interested in a specializing in a focused course curriculum to fit into a slot that may not be available by the time I enter the job market. Knowing that I am not ready to concentrate my education in a specific direction is one of the main reasons I applied to UNC Asheville. During Governor’s School, I experienced a taste of the diversity offered by an Arts education and loved it. I am hoping to attend UNC Asheville and continue that experience. I am looking for college to challenge me, broaden my knowledge, and develop my ability to think for myself. I am excited about becoming part of an
Pascarell, Ernest T. “Liberal Arts Colleges and Liberal Arts Education”. ASHE Higher Education Report 31.3. Ed. Kelly Ward. 2005. Wiley Periodicals. Print.
If one chooses to take on a liberal arts college for their post-secondary education, one will be able to get a well-rounded and successful learning experience to achieve great excellence in their future. Liberal arts core allows the student to learn about religion, sciences, math, and most importantly, English. Along with learning different subjects, one can achieve great excellence, respect, identity, and empowerment with a liberal arts education, such as what Marywood offers. Throughout the semester, we have read different works of literature that show these core values, such as Oh! The Places You Will Go! and A Good Man, which have informed the reader the values of excellence, empowerment, and respect, which will help these young adults throughout their lifetime.
Education— or rather, the act of being educated— can take a wide variety of forms; the term education in itself is very broad and nonspecific. People learn new things every day whether they are conscious of it or not, which begs the question “what constitutes an education?” Higher education, for example, typically consists of being affiliated with some institution such as a university, or a lone college. Such educations may also follow the liberal arts methodology, depending on the values of the institution that is being attended. A liberal arts education, as opposed to some more straight forward methods of education such as STEM, allows for far more freedom of choice in your education—in fact, a broad education is encouraged at such institutions. Therefore, a true liberal arts education would lead to a far more-well-rounded pupil than those that follow more direct—or
Four-year Liberal Arts institutions pride their academic programs on giving students the life skills to be productive members of today’s society. Critical thinking, the ability to communicate globally, and a rigorous curriculum are the essential elements of a liberal arts program. These components allow graduates to become life learners who will enter the workforce with better skills than students who attend other institutions of higher education (Sullivan, 2016).
There is a debate about if liberal arts are still applicable in today’s society. Well, Sanford Ungar, in his work “The New Liberal Arts,” unveils eight misperceptions of modern day liberal arts in our post-secondary educational institutions. Society has labeled liberal education as too expensive, unnecessary, and out of date. Liberal arts are the baseline for education and the author exploits the untold truths of the benefits of obtaining a liberal arts degree. Ungar reveals to us that liberal arts still hold a worthy place in society ranging from communication skills, better writing, and having a degree that covers a wide range of topics that could be applied to a plethora of jobs in the work force. He tests
The liberal arts are becoming increasingly rare in schools and universities. However, Saint Catherine University makes it a priority to teach its students the core benefits to the liberal arts college. It requires students to take the course “The Reflective Woman” along with “Global Search for Justice” as an introduction and conclusion to a liberal arts education. Throughout this semester I became more knowledgeable on what the liberal arts truly are, honed my reflective judgment, developed my writing skills, and I now have a deeper and defined sense of self.
My education journey has been through some setbacks, but I have continued to push forward and conquered. I have felt that I have a fixed mind set and just am not capable of achieving some things. After learning the difference between growth and fixed mindset I have realized that everyone is capable of learning anything through hard work and dedication.