Liberal Arts Education Should College Students Be

Liberal Arts Education

Should College Students be required to take Courses Outside of Their Major Field of Study?

An education that lacks of a world view may be more harmful than meets the eye. One could reasonably argue that the question of whether diversified educational background has value is highly dependent on what you value. There are a multitude of monetary reasons for an incoming freshman to concentrate on a specific field of education and not pursue courses outside of their area of emphasis. For one college is expensive, tuition averages over $13,000 a year at public universities and indecisiveness as well as unnecessary credits can drain a college savings account (Ronin, 2005). Furthermore in the modern American world of Enron and Lehmann Brothers, if you're not cheating you're not really trying, it's not cheating if you don't get caught, and I didn't do it, you didn't see me, and you can't prove it anyway, values are worthless, or at least they cost too much if you want to retire at thirty-five. These values are a result of a deficient understanding the qualities of citizenship.

Discussion

The conservative perennial presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan (2011) points out that of 31,000 students given the National Assessment of Education Progress, the so called "Nation's Report Card," most fourth-graders could not identify a picture of Abraham Lincoln or tell why he was important. A majority of eighth-graders could not name a reason the American forces had an advantage during the Revolutionary War, and most twelfth-graders did not know why America entered World War II or that China was North Korea's ally in the Korean War. Dishearteningly, only 20% of fourth-graders 17% of the eighth-graders and 12% of the twelfth-graders attained a "proficient" score on the test.

Buchanan (2011) believes that recent developments in K-12 curriculum have led to raising young people who are "historically illiterate." Textbooks too concerned with being politically correct. Minor historical figures that are currently fashionable are given considerable space, whereas people of major consequence are ignored or not given their due. Jeffery Hart (2006), in article from National Review, says much the same thing, "liberal-arts and social-sciences curriculum since around 1968…is clutter[ed]… with all sorts of nonsense, nescience, and distraction."

Hart (2006) claims one reason why the undergraduate curriculum at most institutions of higher learning is in chaos is specialization. Since World War II, success as a professor has depended increasingly on specialized publication. The ambitious and talented professor is not excited to teach introductory or general courses. "Indeed, his work has little or nothing to do with undergraduate teaching. Neither Socrates nor Jesus, who published nothing, could possibly receive tenure at a first-line university today."

This reasoning, specialization, is also applicable to incoming college students. Many freshman wonder why someone who wants to be an accountant or psychologist, businessman or doctor, should study subjects that have nothing directly to do with those fields. That is a reasonable question, why should you study history, literature, philosophy or any other subject outside of your major? Why study any subject that is nor relevant to the job you are training for?

Why Study History

There are a number of reasons to study history. History helps us to understand people and societies. It helps us to understand how the society we live in came to be. History is important in our own lives and contributes to moral understanding. History gives us identity and provides information about national institutions, problems, and values. It offers perspectives essential for responsible citizenship. Studying history helps us understand how recent, current, and prospective changes that affect the lives of citizens come about or may come about and what causes are involved. Furthermore, history promotes habits of mind that are essential for responsible public behavior.

Why Study Literature

World literature encompasses most of the available knowledge about humanity; our beliefs, our self-perception, our philosophies, our assumptions and our interactions with the world at large. Some of life's most important lessons are subtly expressed in our art. We learn these lessons only if we pause to think about what we read. Literature opens our minds to the ambiguities of life. It affords us the opportunity to understand other cultures and beliefs and appreciate why individuals are the way they are. Literature exercises our brains. It helps us to see individual bias and question accepted knowledge. It is a reflection of who we are and lets us know we are not alone. It helps to refine judgment, develop empathy, and learn to trust our beliefs and points-of-view.

Why Study Philosophy

The study of philosophy enhances the ability to think critically, creatively, and analytically. The study of philosophy promotes an interest in self-expression and reflection and asks us to examine complex problems with no easy answers. It prepares students for a wide variety of careers such as law, medicine, government, business, journalism, teaching and the ministry. It helps one to become a better citizen by encouraging us to listen carefully and critically, and then evaluate and respond thoughtfully to the claims that others make. These are the fundamental skills we need as citizens to engage in the sort of public discourse that is essential to a healthy democratic process.