The debate of STEM vs Liberal Studies career options is addressed from personal experience of helping students from all backgrounds discover career opportunities.

1. STEM vs. Liberal Studies:
Which Provides Better Career Options?
Phalgun Kumar
www.liberalstudies.in

2. S.T.E.M.
(Science,
Technology,
Engineering,
Maths)
Liberal
Arts /
Liberal
Studies
Industrial Age:
STEM-heavy
Liberal Arts /
Liberal
Studies
Question for the
Information Age: Is
this STEM-heavy
bias still relevant?
S.T.E.M.
(Science,
Technology,
Engineering,
Maths)

3. What is happening in the world today?
(Why we need Liberal Studies more than ever!)
Services Mfg.
De
mo
cra
cy
Participatory
Governance
Entertain
-ment
Boom
Ethics
Peace
Religious
Assertion
Increase in
Psychological
Disorders
Arts
Humanities
Sciences

4. Contemporary Times: A Transition Phase
Industrial Age
Information Age
Primary Human Effort in Objective, Repetitive Tasks
Objective, Repetitive Tasks replaced by Automation
Valuable: Ability to perform one semi-skilled task perfectly
Valuable: Ability to THINK, ANALYSE, INNOVATE, EXPERIMENT, EVOLVE
3D Printing.
AI. Sensors.
GPS. Drones.
STEM jobs
threatened by
technology

5. Conclusion
STEM
Liberal
Studies
Interdependency of STEM and Liberal Studies
Equal Importance and Need
Huge Career Opportunities in all areas
Specialists will work in the cusp of both streams
20th Century STEM focused, 21st Knowledge focused
Aptitude, knowledge and passion will emerge victorious
Lifetime learners and adapters will overtake the rest

6. Thank you!
Phalgun Kumar
www.liberalstudies.in