Studies & Degrees in Liberal Studies
Choose where you would like to study Liberal Studies:
GhanaIndiaSpainThe United States“Liberal studies”, in 1990s, was the term used to encompass all the subjects that encouraged thinking and analytical skills above applications. Philosophy, communication, history, politics and other subjects that were considered fit only to land teaching and low wage jobs were, and still popularly are, clubbed under the umbrella of “liberal studies”. Today, liberal studies or liberal arts is used to refer to generic subjects like mathematics, history, philosophy, economics, languages, literature, etc. Liberal studies allow you to dapple in a wide range of subjects and help you develop employability skills, though the subjects are not always successful in landing the highest paying jobs in the market.
Qualities Required / Acquired
The educational requirements to pursue a degree in liberal studies are the same as the standards set by a university for its other arts programs. However, those inclined toward intellectual discussions, those with innate analytical skills and youngsters with a thinking mind are bound to perform better in liberal arts.
Liberal Studies Courses
The courses are structured to give you a wider base of knowledge, and you will be guided to look at life and people from different perspectives. Social, cultural, religious and political differences and their influence on populations will also be taught to you.
English literature, modern languages, history, anthropology, philosophy, economics, political science, economics are the major subjects listed by most universities in their liberal studies program. The course essentially develops a host of skills in students making them invaluable in the market.
Evaluating and critical thinking skills, pattern intelligence, numerical skills, information literacy, studying teaching methodologies and their effectiveness, learning and appreciating the various cultures that exist and are practices across the world, understanding and increasing religious tolerance, conducting researches in various sectors, data and equipment handling, judging skills, ethical and moral values and the roles they play, effective oral and written communication skills, analytical reading, creative thinking, time management, ability to meet deadlines, understand of the self and the concepts of esteem and confidence, and better interpersonal skills fueled by increased sensitivity to feelings and emotions. These are some of the skills that are acquired by a student of liberal studies.
Career Options
The career of options of a student of liberal studies are popularly projected to be bleak as people mistakenly believe it the holders of degrees in applied fields like medicine, engineering and business management who get all the well paying jobs. The common misconception is that arts degree holders must make do with low paying jobs.
This could not be farther from the truth, and a study conducted in USA and Canada proved that high paying positions were occupied by those with arts degrees to their credits. Your wide frame of reference, analytical and scrutinizing mind is an invaluable asset and will help you find employment at national and international agencies, especially those dealing with international communications and relations. Political jobs, mass communication and journalism positions, human resources management, team building at corporate offices, and being a part of the teams that work on strengthening international bonds are all options open to you.