The document discusses the value of a liberal arts education. It defines a liberal arts education as focusing on general intellectual abilities rather than technical or professional skills. It notes that liberal arts degrees teach critical thinking and transferable skills that can apply to many careers. The purpose of a liberal arts education is to create a well-rounded individual who is broadly informed, able to think critically, and empowered to act in their own best interest. Employers value the skills learned through a liberal arts education like critical thinking, problem solving, and communication. To maximize the value of a liberal arts degree, students should gain work or internship experience, participate in extracurricular activities, and network.

1. The Value of a
Liberal Arts Education
Benjamin J. Howard-Williams, MAEd
Last Updated: Apr 30, 2014
benjaminjhw.strikingly.com
benjaminjhw@gmail.com Image by Will Folsom - Used Under a Creative Commons License

2. One:
What is a Liberal Arts
Education?

3. “The areas of learning that cultivate general
intellectual ability rather than technical or
professional skills…The word liberal comes from
the Latin liberalis, meaning suitable for a free man,
as opposed to a slave” (American Heritage, 2011).

4. Broad degrees with specific academic focus
● English
● History
● Political Science
● Psychology
● Religious Studies
● Communications, etc.
These teach you critical thinking and transferable skills
that could apply to many careers.
Image by Sigfrid Lundberg - Used Under a Creative Commons License
Associate of Arts / Bachelor of Arts

5. Assoc. of Science /
Bachelor of Science /
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Professional or Technical/Applied Degrees
● Education
● Nursing
● Fine Arts / Theatre Arts
● Musical Performance
● Engineering
● The Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, etc.)
These teach you to be proficient in a particular skill set
or profession.

6. Two:
What’s the Purpose of a
Liberal Arts Education?

7. “Well Rounded” student
● Broadly Informed
● Able to consider, evaluate, and respond to
information, opinions, etc.
● Able to articulate one’s own thoughts and
opinions.
Empowered to act in your own best
interest.
(Humphreys, 2013)
Individual Purpose...

8. “…if a nation expects to be
ignorant and free, in a state of
civilization, it expects what never
was and never will be.”
Thomas Jefferson, 1816
Image by Navin Rajagopalan, used under a creative commons license.

9. An educated citizenry is a democratic
value.
Educated, informed citizens can
meaningfully contribute to their own
governance.
(Humphreys, 2013)
Societal Purpose...

10. Three:
What’s the Value of a
Liberal Arts Education?

11. What are employers looking for?
Top 5 Areas:
Critical Thinking
Problem Solving
Written & Oral Communication
Applied Knowledge
Also Important:
Ethical Judgement
Intercultural Skills
Capacity for continued learning
(AAC&U, 2013)Image by BPSUF, used under a Creative Commons license.

12. What are You Learning?
Speaking
Writing
Analytical Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Problem-Solving
Adaptability
Broad Base of Knowledge...
(Gehlhaus, 2007-08)
Image by Tjsalo, used under a creative commons license.
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS...
You can take these skills to
ANY work environment.

13. ALL rated more important than
computer skills….why?
Employers can TEACH you how
to use their technical systems.
Employers will not teach you
to think, communicate, or
collaborate.Image by Glenn Fleishman, used under a Creative Commons license.

14. Four:
Making the most of your
Liberal Arts Education.

15. Importance of my major…?
Business School:
Yale School of Management MBA Program:
Only one in five of the 2010 class had a business or marketing background.
(Bast, 2010).
Law School:
Law school will teach you the law. To get in, a strong undergrad resume with
good grades and recommendations is important, a pre-law degree is not.
(Wunch, 2005).
Workforce:
“…most hiring managers care more about a job candidate’s skills than
they do about a college major.”(Gehlhaus, 2007-08).

16. “The most successful students have a flexible &
curious mind...Students must realize they will
have many jobs over the course of their
lifetimes and must prepare for that reality...”
(Anne Mahle, as quoted in Humphreys, 2013).
“Transferable skills and competencies are
vital in today’s labor market…”
(Keeling, Nielsen, Jones, Dickson, & Priori, 2013)

17. Major in Something you LIKE!
You’ll get…
Better Grades
More Marketable Experiences
Stronger Relationships with Faculty
Better Networking with Fellow Students
Image by University of Salford, used under a Creative Commons license.

18. Make the MOST of your College
Experience...
Beyond your Major:
● Minor in something(good place to add a “practical” discipline like Business or
Accounting…)
● Work or Volunteer
● Take an Internship
● Participate in Extracurricular Activities
● Pursue Student Leadership
● Travel Abroad
ALL can be marketable experiences to add to a
resume and/or interview response.
(Humphreys, 2013)

19. Bottomline...
A Liberal Arts Education = Good Investment
IF you make the most of it!
Adaptability and understanding how
to learn are always valuable assets
(Hofer, 2011).

20. Your Degree is a
Piece of Paper.
Your skills, experiences, and network
are what make you marketable.
Image by Will Folsom - Used Under a Creative Commons License

21. Works Citedi
Association of American Colleges (2007). College learning for the new global century: a report from the national leadership council for liberal education &
america's promise. Washington D.C.: Association of American Colleges. Retrieved from http://www.aacu.org/leap/documents/GlobalCentury_final.pdf
Association of American Colleges & Universities (2013). It takes more than a major: Employer priorities for college learning and student success. Retrieved
from http://www.aacu.org/sites/default/files/files/LEAP/2013_EmployerSurvey.pdf.
Bast, A. (2010, April 05). The case for a useless degree. The Daily Beast, Retrieved from http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/04/05/the-case-for-a-
useless-degree.html
Gehlhaus, D. (Winter 2007-08). What can I do with my liberal arts degree? Occupational outlook quarterly, 51(4), 02-11. Retrieved from http://www.bls.
gov/opub/ooq/2007/winter/art01.pdf
Hofer, B. (2011, August 11). Room for debate: preparation for a knowledge economy. The New York Times: The Opinion Pages, Retrieved from http://www.
nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/08/23/spending-too-much-time-and-money-on-education/preparing-for-a-knowledge-economy?scp=1&sq=Room%20for%
20Debate%20Preparation%20for%20Work&st=cse
Humphreys, D. (2013). Employers highlight experiences that matter. Leadership Exchange: Solutions for student affairs management, 11(3), 10-15.
Keeling, R. P., Neilson, S., Jones, J. D., Dickson, J., & Priori, A. C. (2013). Liberal education: A pathway to career and life success. Leadership Exchange:
Solutions for student affairs management, 11(3), 16-19.
Liberal Arts. (n.d.). The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Retrieved September 16, 2011, from Dictionary.com website:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Liberal Arts
Steinberg, J. (2011, May 24). New york times: the choice [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/whats-it-worth
Wunch, C. (2005, December 22). Interview by B Howard [Personal Interview]. Law school informational interview.

22. About the author
Benjamin is an educator, student services professional,
and academic coach living in the suburbs of Kansas
City.
Benjamin is a member of the Kansas Association
Student Financial Aid Administrators (KASFAA), the
Kansas Association of Colleges and Employers (KACE),
and the National Association of Student Personnel
Administrators (NASPA). In 2012, he was awarded the
Johnson County Community College Rookie of the Year
award and nominated for the NASPA Region IV New
Professionals Rising Star award.
Beyond his professional role, Benjamin also guest
presents and teaches workshops around the Kansas
City area on a variety of subjects including College
Financial Aid basics and the value of a Liberal Arts
education in a 21st century job market.
For more information, visit:
www.strikingly.com/benjaminjhw